The Sixers welcomed the Toronto Raptors to the Wachovia center tonight for an afternoon matchup. Toronto came into the afternoon clinging to the 8th seed in the Eastern conference, so they desperately needed a win to move closer to clinching themselves a playoff berth. Fresh off an embarrassing loss to Ok City Thunder Sixers didn't figure to fair any better in this one. All the signs pointed to another lopsided Sixers's loss. However, the Sixers actually came to play in this one for a change and while Toronto did eventually get the win, they had to earn it. For 4 quarters the Sixers matched them shot for shot as Andre Iguodala put 33 and 11 assists, and Jrue Holiday pumped in 25 and 7 assists, to almost lead the Sixers to the upset. The Sixers actually trailed by 13 heading into the 4th quarter, but a furious Sixer rally early in the quarter, allowed them to cut the lead to singe digits, before knotting up at 111 with a little under 2 minutes to play.
From there Holiday and the Raptors traded threes to send the game into overtime tied at 114. In OT the Sixers continued to match Toronto shot for shot until the Raptors pulled ahead with under a minute to play. A few Sixer misses and mistakes later and Toronto had prevailed 128 - 123, not really a surprise at all. Once again the Sixer's defense didn't show up in this one, allowing Toronto to shoot 56% from the field with 11 three pointers. That just isn't going to get it done against the Raptors. Still, it was fun to watch and nice to see the Sixers actually exhibiting some effort. You just wonder why Iggy doesn't score like he did today in every game and whether Jrue Holiday can cosistently become the kind of scorer he was tonight. In the meantime, with the loss the Sixers drop to 24-60 overall, still 12th in the Eastern conference.
Saturday, April 03, 2010
Friday, April 02, 2010
FLYERS NEWS
The Flyers welcomed the Montreal Canadiens to the Wachovia center tonight in a huge matchup between the two teams tied for 6th in the Eastern conference. In fact Peter Lavoliette, described it as the biggest game of the season for the Flyers. Unfortunately, for the Orange and Black, Jaroslav Halak owned the night for the Habs. The Flyers threw everything but the kitchen sink at him, and he stopped it all, with 35 saves. Meanwhile, Montreal got a lucky score midway through the 1st period and thanks to Halak that was all they needed for a 1-0 win. The Flyers really dominated for good a portion of this one, so to lose 1-0 in a game they had to have is disheartening.
The Orange and Black don't have time to feel sorry for themselves though. With only 4 games left to play they sit 8th in the Eastern conference, just 2 points ahead of the Rangers and Thrashers at this point. That means they'll have to win at least 2 of those 4, if not 3 of them in order to hang on for a playoff spot. If nothing else the performance of Brian Boucher tonight, saving 22 of the 23 shots he faced, was an encouraging sign that perhaps they can do so. If they do hang on for a playoff spot it doesn't feel like at this point that they'll go any further than the an embarrassing first round exit. So maybe getting to the playoffs is not worth it for the Flyers this year anyway. I don't know, I am not sure what to think anymore.
The Orange and Black don't have time to feel sorry for themselves though. With only 4 games left to play they sit 8th in the Eastern conference, just 2 points ahead of the Rangers and Thrashers at this point. That means they'll have to win at least 2 of those 4, if not 3 of them in order to hang on for a playoff spot. If nothing else the performance of Brian Boucher tonight, saving 22 of the 23 shots he faced, was an encouraging sign that perhaps they can do so. If they do hang on for a playoff spot it doesn't feel like at this point that they'll go any further than the an embarrassing first round exit. So maybe getting to the playoffs is not worth it for the Flyers this year anyway. I don't know, I am not sure what to think anymore.
EAGLES NEWS
The Birds continued their suddenly busy off season today trading CB Sheldon Brown and LB Chris Gocong to the Cleveland Browns for a 4th and 5th round pick and LB Alex Hall. Gocong never really fit with the Eagles and it was highly probable he wasn't even going to be in the starting lineup when the season began, so losing him is no big deal. Brown was going to be 31 this season and his health had been declining a bit in recent years. He had also openly talked about his displeasure with his contract with the Eagles. So it is not a huge surprise that he was dealt. However, as pretty much the only veteran leader left on the Eagle's defense he is going to be hard to replace. Basically his absence leaves one more hole in a defense that was already full of them. Sure if he is completely healed from the neck injury that ended his season last year, Ellis Hobbs could replace him, but after that the Birds have no one capable of doing so. Thus, they'll have to add CB to their list of needs on draft day. Having those 2 extra picks, 10 overall, in what is supposed to be a deep draft, should make it easier for them to find a CB there if they so choose. As for Hall, he is a big 6-5 250 strong side LB who will compete with Moise Fokou for the job there, assuming the Eagles don't bring in someone else. Who knows, he could be a good fit there, much better than Gocong would have been. Only time will tell.
Thursday, April 01, 2010
FLYERS NEWS
The Flyers traveled to NY tonight for a matchup with the Islanders as they looked to string together back to back wins for the first time in a while. Considering they came into the night with a Flyer's record 16 straight wins over the Isles, a 2nd straight win overall shouldn't have been too much to ask for. Unfortunately, Brian Boucher had a horrid and unlucky night allowing 3 goals less than 8 minutes into the game. First two bounced off Flyers and into the net leaving the Orange and Black in a shell shocked state from which they never recovered. It was 4-0 just 3 minutes into the 2nd period. Then after Aaron Asham finally got the Flyers on the board late in the 2nd, NY made it 5-1 just 2 and a half minutes into the 2nd period and Boucher was actually yanked from the game in favor of rookie Jeremy Duchesne, who was just called up from the AHL yesterday.
He only allowed one more score the rest of the way, but that was enough to for New York to hold off the Flyers. James Van Reimsdyk, Danny Briere, and Darroll Powe all scored in the 3rd, but it was too little too late, as the Orange and Black eventually succumbed 6-4. With only 6 games left in the regular season and the Flyers desperately needing every point possible to lock up a playoff spot, this was exactly the kind of night they didn't need. It's hard to see Boucher being good enough to help the Flyers hang in there for another 6, but what other choice do the Flyer's have? at this point no matter what he's going to be the only goalie on the roster eligible to play for the Orange and Black in the postseason until Micheal Leighton returns, but that would be sometime after the playoffs start. So basically the Flyers are really going to have pick things up defensively down this last stretch of games or they're not going anywhere this season. For now they're still somehow 6th in the East, with tiebreakers over the 7th and 8th seeds(Montreal and Boston) and 2 points ahead of 9th place Atlanta.
He only allowed one more score the rest of the way, but that was enough to for New York to hold off the Flyers. James Van Reimsdyk, Danny Briere, and Darroll Powe all scored in the 3rd, but it was too little too late, as the Orange and Black eventually succumbed 6-4. With only 6 games left in the regular season and the Flyers desperately needing every point possible to lock up a playoff spot, this was exactly the kind of night they didn't need. It's hard to see Boucher being good enough to help the Flyers hang in there for another 6, but what other choice do the Flyer's have? at this point no matter what he's going to be the only goalie on the roster eligible to play for the Orange and Black in the postseason until Micheal Leighton returns, but that would be sometime after the playoffs start. So basically the Flyers are really going to have pick things up defensively down this last stretch of games or they're not going anywhere this season. For now they're still somehow 6th in the East, with tiebreakers over the 7th and 8th seeds(Montreal and Boston) and 2 points ahead of 9th place Atlanta.
PHILLIES NEWS
The Phils finally returned to Philly tonight and completed their spring training schedule against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Jamie Moyer got the start and was rock solid again, allowing just 2 runs over 6 innings as the Phils held off Pittsburgh 4-2. Unfortunately, some of the Phils other pitchers weren't so lucky yesterday. Joe Blanton went down with an injury will be out for the first 3-6 weeks of the season. Which means Kyle Kendrick will in fact be in the Phils rotation until then at least. J.C Romero and Brad Lidge, who both spent the spring rehabbing were also placed the on the 15 day DL, but hopefully that's all the time they'll need to get back. In the meantime Ryan Madson will close the games for the Phils and they'll just have to figure out who the setup guy will be.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
SIXERS NEWS
The Sixers traveled to Charlotte tonight for a matchup with Larry Brown's Bobcats, currently the #7 seed in the East. I want to tell you the Sixers came out and at least put up another decent,y respectable performance in this one, but I would be lying. The truth is it was a total embarrassment. They turned the ball over 24 times, and threw up 21 shots from beyond the arc, hitting just 5 of them, everything you don't want to do against a defensive minded team like the Bobcats. Charlotte jumped out to a 6 point lead after the 1st quarter and never looked back. They were up 10 at the half, and 18 ending into the 4th quarter, before winning easily by 19, 103-84. The Sixers played again without Lou Williams and Thad Young, as well as Rodney Carney, but that's really no excuse. They simply stop caring about winning and losing tonight and they'll probably stay like that the rest of the season.
Even Jrue Holiday, who's been the teams lone bright spot as of late, had a horrible night with 7 turnovers. Andre Iguodala was the leading scorer as usual with 14, and Jason Kapono drilled 3 treys for 13. The rest of the scoring for came from the bench where Willie Green added 12, and Mo Speights scored 13. As they have in most of their losses this season the Sixers failed to regularly attack the basket in this one. They drew just 11 fouls to 35 for the Bobcats, and gathered just 10 points at line to 54 for the Bobcats. You are not going to win too many times with that kind of discrepancy. Incredibly despite the loss, the Sixer's are still 12th in the East, and well who cares now how far out of 8th they are. I mean how can that many other teams in the East be that much worse than the Sixers.
Even Jrue Holiday, who's been the teams lone bright spot as of late, had a horrible night with 7 turnovers. Andre Iguodala was the leading scorer as usual with 14, and Jason Kapono drilled 3 treys for 13. The rest of the scoring for came from the bench where Willie Green added 12, and Mo Speights scored 13. As they have in most of their losses this season the Sixers failed to regularly attack the basket in this one. They drew just 11 fouls to 35 for the Bobcats, and gathered just 10 points at line to 54 for the Bobcats. You are not going to win too many times with that kind of discrepancy. Incredibly despite the loss, the Sixer's are still 12th in the East, and well who cares now how far out of 8th they are. I mean how can that many other teams in the East be that much worse than the Sixers.
PHILLIES NEWS
The Phils continued spring training today against the Toronto Blue Jays. Roy Halladay got the start against his old team and seemed a bit affected as he was roughed up for 4 runs on 5 hits as the Phils lost 5-2. He also struck out 5 and didn't walk any so I wouldn't worry too much. I think he was giving his old boys some batting practice. He just has to be sure not to do that to for them in the regular season.
EAGLES NEWS
The Eagles continued to lock up their own players today re-signing Omar Gaither to a one year deal. Gaither has been the Eagles backup middle linebacker to Stewart Bradley. He started for a while last season after Bradley, and looked alright before missing the rest of the season with an ankle injury. Now that Bradley is back he'll just be a backup again and he may push Akeem Jordan for the weakside LB spot.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
SIXERS NEWS
After back to back shocking wins over the Bucks and the Hawks, the Sixers looked to make it 3 in a row as they welcomed Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder to the Wachovia center tonight. Ultimately, the Thunder proved to be too much in this one. Durant poured in 26 and 10 rebounds to lead all scorers and OK City shot 50% from beyond the arc and rolled to 111 points. Meanwhile, the Sixers shot just 27% from beyond the arc and Elton Brand was the leading scorer with 22, as the Sixers failed to reach triple digits in yet another game. So it was pretty much all OK city, all the time. The Thunder led by 10 after the 1st quarter, 11 at half, and 10 heading into the 4th quarter, before winning easily by 18, 111-93. The Thunder really were dominant in every facet of the game, with 10 more assists, rebounds, and steals then Sixers and 10 fewer turnovers. Basically they played like a team that wanted it while the Sixers played like they didn't care.
Now for their part, the Sixers didn't play that poorly. Brand had 22, Iggy dropped in 21, Jrue Holiday scored 11, and Rodney Carney and Mo Speights each posted 10. So they had sufficient scoring. They just struggled from beyond the arc and their defense wasn't good enough. Not even close to good enough really. Three shockers in a row was just too much to ask. At least they didn't totally embarrass themselves. At ant rate with the losss the Sixers drop to 26-48 overall, still 12th in the East, but now 10.5 games out of 8th and mathematically eliminated from playoff contention. Better luck next year I guess.
Now for their part, the Sixers didn't play that poorly. Brand had 22, Iggy dropped in 21, Jrue Holiday scored 11, and Rodney Carney and Mo Speights each posted 10. So they had sufficient scoring. They just struggled from beyond the arc and their defense wasn't good enough. Not even close to good enough really. Three shockers in a row was just too much to ask. At least they didn't totally embarrass themselves. At ant rate with the losss the Sixers drop to 26-48 overall, still 12th in the East, but now 10.5 games out of 8th and mathematically eliminated from playoff contention. Better luck next year I guess.
PHILLIES NEWS
The Phils continued spring training today against the Houston Astros. They lost 5-2 despite another solid but abbreviated outing by Kyle Kendrick. In more important news the Phils announced today that Jamie Moyer will be the number 5 starter for the Phils, at least to start the season. Kendrick for his part won a spot in the Phils bullpen. Given that this is likely his last season Moyer deserved at least the chance to finish up the way he began as a starter. Moreover, Kendrick shouldn't be affected at all by moving to the bullpen. So all in all I think the Phils made the right move.
EAGLES NEWS
The Birds continued their not so busy offseason today, signing their own restricted free agents, LB Chris Gocong and CB Ellis Hobs to 1 year deals. Hobbs was very valuable last season as the 3rd CB and kick returner for the Birds, but he got hurt just 8 games into the season so we never really got a chance to see how valuable he could be. Gocong was the Eagles starting weakside LB until last year. Then he lost his job to Akeem Jordan. With Will Witherspoon gone now he'll probably have to be a start for the Birds again so hopefully he'll be alright,
Monday, March 29, 2010
PHILLIES NEWS
The Phils continued spring training today against the Braves. J.A Happ got the start and was a bit shaky walking 5 in 5 innings, but allowed just 2 runs and kept the Phils in it. Unfortunately, Ryan Madson allowed a leadoff solo homer in the top of the 9th and the Phils fell 5-4. For Happ, just the fact that he was able to hold Atlanta to just 2 runs, despite all the walks, shows he still has the mental toughness that served him so well last year. As for Madson he's not had a very good spring and will need to turn things around this week or so of spring or the Phils will have all kinds of trouble closing games when the season starts.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
FLYERS NEWS
The Flyers welcomed the Devils to the Wachovia center tonight as they looked to snap a 5 game losing streak. Coming into tonight the Flyer's had owned New Jersey this season, with just one loss against them all year. In fact the last time these two teams met the Flyers swept New Jersey in a home and home. Desperately in need of 2 points, the Orange and Black could not have picked a better time to face New Jersey again. They basically picked up right where they left off in the home and home, with a couple quick scores in the 1st period by Matt Carle and Ville Leino for an early 2-0 lead. Just seconds into the 2nd period Kimmo Timonen scored off the power play for a 3-0 lead. With just seconds left in the 2nd period Lukas Krajicek deposited a rare goal for a 4-0 lead. Just past the halfway point in the 3rd, Ilya Kovalchuk finally got New Jersey on the board to cut the lead to 4-1 but it was too little too late for the Devils.
Only about 30 seconds later Leino and Danny Briere set up Simon Gagne for another score and an insurmountable 5-1 lead. Thanks to Brian Boucher and his 32 saves that lead held up the rest of the way and the Flyers got their 2 points. While Boucher was fantastic the Flyer's defense really stepped up in this one. They did allow 33 shots on goal but for once few of those shots represented good scoring for New Jersey. Perhaps more impressive though were the 5 goals they scored. With all the scoring struggles they have had lately, just the fact that they were able to score 5 just like that tonight shows what this team is capable when they focus and give it their all. They'll need to keep doing that from here on out if they still want to lock up a playoff spot and go anywhere this season. For now with 82 points overall, they're back up to 6th in the East, 4 points ahead of the 9th place thrashers and 6 ahead of the 10th place Rangers.
Only about 30 seconds later Leino and Danny Briere set up Simon Gagne for another score and an insurmountable 5-1 lead. Thanks to Brian Boucher and his 32 saves that lead held up the rest of the way and the Flyers got their 2 points. While Boucher was fantastic the Flyer's defense really stepped up in this one. They did allow 33 shots on goal but for once few of those shots represented good scoring for New Jersey. Perhaps more impressive though were the 5 goals they scored. With all the scoring struggles they have had lately, just the fact that they were able to score 5 just like that tonight shows what this team is capable when they focus and give it their all. They'll need to keep doing that from here on out if they still want to lock up a playoff spot and go anywhere this season. For now with 82 points overall, they're back up to 6th in the East, 4 points ahead of the 9th place thrashers and 6 ahead of the 10th place Rangers.
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