Sixers (6-19) at Celtics (20-4) 12/18

[nickagneta]

Brand comes off the bench now?

They have been using him as their 6th man this season. Depending on whether they move Willie Green into the starting lineup or move Iguodala to SG,and Young to SF, they may start him with AI being out. 

I read that Eddie Jordan loves having Thad Young at the 4, Iguodala at the 3 and Iverson at the 2 with Holiday at the PG and Lou Williams there when he returns. He thinks brand is a great matchup problem as a 4/5 coming off the bench while the starters run like all heck in a small ball lineup.

[Tai]

Let's beat the Sixers so hard that AI starts talking about practice. 

[Who]

I think that's the Sixers best lineup with Brand coming off the bench. Iggy and Young haven't been as effective out on the wing as they are at the forward spots and Brand simply hasn't been good enough to make up that difference. Brand's defense at the four has been poor, particularly against those quick or perimeter orientated power forwards.

Elton Brand will be a lot more effective as a sixth man when (1) he's matched up against more backup players, less talented offensive players (2) allowed to be the primary offensive focus of the team while in the second unit (3) allowed to play the center position instead of power forward where he's more effective defensively. I think all those things are helping Brand have a higher impact on the game.

The Sixers bench is horrific too. Having a guy like Brand who off the pine will help take some of the pressure of guys like Kapono, Carney, Green and Ivey.

Jrue Holiday looked very good against the Warriors the other day. In the past I haven't been impressed with him but he could be serviceable big defensive minded point guard alongside Allen Iverson. Somewhat similar to what Eric Snow brought to the table. Then allow Louis Williams to come off the bench and be a sparkplug alongside Elton Brand. That would be a nice seven man rotation ... if Holiday can do enough to stay in the rotation.

[Who]

Speights is back ... I think that's bad news for the Sixers. I reckon Eddie Jordan is going to limit Sam Dalembert's minutes again and play Speights instead.

The Sixers need Dalembert's defense + rebounding. He's a valuable player. He needs to be getting more than 20 minutes a night. They need to keep him up above 30 minutes.

There's going be a minutes squeeze there for somebody. I'd like it to be Speights (defense) and Smith. Let Young, Sammy, and Brand get the majority of the big man minutes and have one of their two come in as the fourth big depending on matchups.

Unfortunately, I think it will be Dalembert that loses his court time again (bloody Eddie Jordan -- Brendan Haywood was capable of his current season six years ago only Jordan wouldn't play him).

[Surferdad]

Speights is capable of going off, but yeah I agree they need Dalembert in there as much as possible.  Of course Perk is going to have a huge gaem against him tonight, mark my words. 

[Kiorrik]

Hear hear!

[Drucci]

Hear hear!

I was waiting for you to appear on the thread within 5 minutes.

Welcome aboard, ready for a great night of basketball and some "wow Rondo is really good" plays?

[USG]

My 11-year-old sister who doesn't even care about basketball is at the game today while I'm sitting in a dorm room hundreds of miles away with a final tomorrow.

Life isn't fair.

Ah well. This is my study break. Make it good Celtics!

[j804]

Hear hear!

I was waiting for you to appear on the thread within 5 minutes.

Welcome aboard, ready for a great night of basketball and some "wow Rondo is really good" plays?

Hows the garden it loud? U said u were going to be at the game rite

[Drucci]

Hear hear!

I was waiting for you to appear on the thread within 5 minutes.

Welcome aboard, ready for a great night of basketball and some "wow Rondo is really good" plays?

Hows the garden it loud? U said u were going to be at the game rite

By "watching the game live" I mean live in front of my computer. I'm in France so it's hard for me to go to the Garden.

[hwangjini_1]

so, how many points will the celtics win by?

assuming the celtics do not play down to the level of their competition tonight, 20+ and the bench get lots of minutes.

but dang, i said about the same thing about the gruesome grizzlies.

[USG]

so, how many points will the celtics win by?

assuming the celtics do not play down to the level of their competition tonight, 20+ and the bench get lots of minutes.

but dang, i said about the same thing about the gruesome grizzlies.

Which is why I never ask questions like that.

[Donoghus]

Nice to honor Ray before the game.

[nickagneta]

Sweet ceremony and bonus for tonight's game. Congrats Ray.

[nickagneta]

Iverson got afeard of the men in Green and decided to stay home.