SIXERS NEWS

After a shocking win over the red hot, Eastern conference #5 seed Milwaukee Bucks in their last game the Sixers looked to make it two shockers in a row as they welcomed the already playoff bound, and Eastern conference #4 seed, Atlanta Hawks to the Wachovia center tonight. For most of the night it was a pretty listless affair with a disinterested Atlanta holding a slim lead. Then late in the 3rd quarter Andre Iguodala slammed a back a rebound off a miss by Jason Kapono, to put the Sixers up 4 and they were off and running. Atlanta did come back to take an 88-87 lead with 6 minutes to play in the 4th, but then Jrue Holiday stole the ball from Josh Smith, and took all the way to the basket before making a perfect dish to Sammy Dalembert for the stuff and an 89-88 lead. The Sixers would never trail again as they used more Hawk turnovers to close out another shocker 105-98, in arguably the best game the Sixers have played all season.

Other than the steals the Sixer's defense was just okay, but they came up with 15 steals in all and they made all the difference, as the Sixers were able to get out and run and attack the basket, the two things they must do to succceed. While steals helped the Sixers greatly tonight, their new look lineup, with Mo Speights at center, and Jason Kapono again starting small forward, with Iggy shifted over to shooting guard. All I have to say is where has this lineup been all year, because it perfect tonight. Elton Brand, had 14 and 6 rebounds, Kapono had drilled 4 treys for 14 pts, and racked up 5 rebounds and 3 steals, Speights had 8 and 4 rebounds, Holiday was fantastic with 12, 13 assists, and 7 steals, Iggy was Iggy with 25, 9 assists, and 10 rebounds, and Sammy Dalembert was great off the bench with 14 and 7 rebounds. Put it all together and you an impressive win over the Hawks, especially considering both Lou Williams and Thad Young sat the night out with injuries. You just wonder how much the better the Sixers could have been this year if they had found this lineup sooner and how exciting things could be in the future if they stick with this lineup. For now anyway, the Sixers move to 26-47 overall, still 12th in the East, and 10 games out of 8th, that is just barely alive in the playoff race for another day at least.