Sixers vs Wolves Recap: Fly...

This isn't even coming from a "developing our young players is more important to me than winning 35 games" standpoint, although I do still consider that to be the case. This is coming from a "Jrue Holiday could have helped you win the game" standpoint. It's also one of the reasons I don't consider Eddie Jordan to be a long term solution at coach of this team.

With the Sixers struggling on both ends of the courts, Eddie Jordan kept resorting to trying to fix the offensive end. Jordan kept in the starting backcourt of Allen Iverson and Louis Williams until 2:47 remained in the third. By that time the Wolves had gone on a 26-13 run. That duo gave up continual penetration from Jonny Flynn. It required the power forward to double down on Corey Brewer, who was using his 9" height advantage on Allen Iverson to force a double team, causing Ryan Gomes to go off for 14 points, including 2 wide open three pointers in the quarter when his man left him to help Iverson, a mismatch created because of Jordan's insistence on playing the Iverson/Williams backcourt. The team committed turnover after turnover and took long contested jumper after long contested jumper (despite the fact that Minnesota doesn't have a shotblocker in their regular rotation), resulting in numerous transition opportunities which were defended horribly.

Did, at any point during the second half, Eddie Jordan try to get in a natural point to settle the ship? To deny dribble penetration? To get some size on the court to combat the mismatches? To get a point guard in there to get the players in their sets and try to run an organized offense?

The Sixers have precisely one natural point guard on the roster, and precisely one defender at the point guard spot. With the starting backcourt giving up 26 points in just over 9 minutes of game time (a pace that would give up over 130 points if continued over a full game), Eddie Jordan brings in Willie Green to fix the backcourt's defensive issues, keeping one of Iverson or Williams on the court at all times until the final 51 seconds in the fourth.

Is anyone surprised Flynn set a career high in points (29) while matching a career high in assists (9)?

The Sixers blew a 20 point lead, 17 at half time, largely because of putrid defense and turnovers and the coach, for the second game in a row, ignored the only natural point and defender at the position. They turned the ball over 6 times in the third quarter, gave up 59 points on 59% shooting in the second half. They blew a 17 point half-time lead to the second worst team in the league missing their second best player.

After the game?

"We talk about having a killer instinct, and that hasn't really come about yet. That's something that, I don't know how you get that if you don't have it now."

There was much more baffling about tonight's game. Why play Iverson 23 consecutive minutes in the second half (particularly when he was a defensive sieve)? Why sit Lou Williams and Allen Iverson out with a tied game, 4 seconds left and your ball from sideline out of bounds? Why leave Dalembert in for that play? Why have Louis Williams sit the entire 4th? Why play the final 51 seconds of the 4th and start out overtime without a natural point guard, especially when Willie Green had missed 4 straight shots ?

Better yet, after the game Jordan said that down the stretch he wanted Iguodala at the 2 and Green in for defensive purposes. Why did it take for the entire lead to vanish for Jordan to realize he needed to make defensive substitutions? And, going back full circle to the start of the recap, why leave your best perimeter defender (and only natural point guard) chained to the bench during the entire collapse? Was Iverson/Williams/Green really working well enough that the kid who had played well in the first half couldn't get a chance to keep Flynn out of the lane down the stretch?

I'm sure there were some positives in this game, but I can't readily find them after witnessing what I just did. Worst loss of the season? It's right up there.

But don't worry, we're on our way "uptown". Just as soon as we find a killer instinct.

And a new coach.

Boxscore (with rotations)

Next up: Portland, Wednesday, Jan 20th. Without Oden, Przybilla, and likely without Roy as well.