MVN: Most Valuable Network

VOTE IGUODALA FOR ALL-STAR

After sweeping the Home-and-Home from the Knicks over the weekend, many of us were cautiously optimistic about the Sixers. Did they turn a corner, or were they just taking advantage of an inept opponent. Well, if tonight’s dominant 100-88 win over the Houston Rockets at the Wachovia Center was any indication, the Sixers might have found a little something to build upon. And, at the risk of repeating myself, it was truly a team effort and a balanced attack that gave the home team the victory.

Willie Green had a solid game, with 20 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. Andre Miller has continued his stellar floor play of late by notching 17 points and 12 assists. It is Miller’s fourth straight game with double-digit assists. Those 4 games also make up the Stefanski era thus far. Coincidence? Maybe, or maybe not. Either way, the Sixers will take it.

Speaking of people stepping up their game lately, Sam Dalembert continued his solid play with 8 points, 13 rebounds, 2 blocks and several alterations. He outplayed Yao Ming, who scored just 12 points on 3-11 shooting. This after a weekend of shutting down Eddy Curry. Sam had a tremendous block of a Tracy McGrady drive that ignited a Sixers break that culminated in an Iguodala slam. One of Sam’s more humorous intimidations happened to Chuck Hayes. Hayes was wide open on the right block but noticed Sam coming over to challenge the shot, so he rushed it and arched it really high over Sam’s outstretched arm. The ball went so high that it came down roughly two feet short of the rim, hitting nothing but air and landing back into Hayes’s grasp for a traveling violation. For all of you out there that Sam lacks “presence,” let that play be a lesson to you. How many times have you seen anybody cause someone to catch their own shot?

Andre Iguodala chipped in 16 points, including a ferocious full windmill slam off a breakaway that had me checking his heritage jersey to see if his number had been flipped from 9 to 6. That dunk did have the old Doc effect; Adelman immediately called a TO, his team looked demoralized and the Sixers and the crowd looked pumped. Just the kind of play I want to see from our future superstar.

Thaddeus Young continues to get the playing time and continues to play well. He was inconsistent with his offense, but his defense was solid, including a very savvy blindside strip of Yao Ming in the low post that created a break ending in a Kyle Korver three that pushed the lead to 15 just before the half. Thad Young displayed his nice jump shot, but he seemed very excitable and rushed some things in this game. Overall, these past few games have been a good showing for the rookie, who continues to impress and improve each day. He will be a player, no doubt about it.

Speaking of future stars, the Sixers missed their point guard of the future Lou Williams, who was out for this game due to him slightly fracturing his big toe due to David Lee’s NFL Blitz style mid-air takedown Saturday night. He is listed as day-to-day and is expected back for the Minnesota game on Wednesday. Ironically, the point in the game where they really missed him was at the end of the 3rd quarter into the 4th, when their lead had ballooned to 30 points. Kevin Ollie was running point with the Young Rascals Mo Cheeks has been playing as a second unit of late, Rodney Carney, Kyle Korver, Thaddeus Young and Jason Smith.

From the beginning, you could see that this unit was used to running with a different style of point guard, because it seemed like they kept expecting Ollie to make things happen when the original play broke down. Unfortunately, that is not Ollie’s strength, so the offense went very stagnant and dead, and it took Mo bringing the starters back into the game to restore order and keep the Rockets at arms length. With Lou in there, I don’t think that quarter plays out like that. The problem was that the combination of Ollie, Korver, Carney, Young and Smith lack an offensive creator. All of those people need to feed off someone, whether that is the Andres, Lou Will, or even Green. But, to paraphrase Kyle Korver’s post game comments, if the Sixers are near the point where we can nitpick their victories, things are definitely looking up.

Things might be beginning to look up for this team anyway. The Stefanski era, which provoked Mo’s decision to use his bench, has allowed his team to look light years better. It reminds me of how the decision to start Steven Hunter after being demolished by the Memphis Grizzlies in Memphis helped spark a turnaround in their play that lasted the rest of the year. In order to win, the Sixers have to play an energy-based game that relies intense defensive pressure that creates a frenetic fast break pace that favors the team’s bevy of athletic thoroughbreds. The problem with Mo using the short 8-man rotation is that the pressure needed to create that pace wears down your players, which causes lapses late in games. This team has gotten off to big leads in other games before going stagnant later and allowing teams to come back. Now, players such as Iguodala, Dalembert and Miller are much fresher for the second half, which has been a key to them putting teams away in the 3rd quarter in each of the last two games.

If they keep this up, we might be talking playoffs. Think I’m crazy? Well, ESPN’s John Hollinger would disagree with you. If things go as he’s projected, the Sixers would face the Celtics in the first round. Wouldn’t that be fun! Just like the old days! This team is young, competitive, fun to watch and getting better by the game. If they can continue to consistently create transition offense from their pressure defense to run teams into the ground, there is no reason why they cannot compete for a playoff spot this year. I would be feel a little more cautious if the Sixers 3-game streak had featured close games they had to eek out, but they have been simply dominant. They are playing good basketball, and absolutely crushing teams as a result.

Hopefully, they can keep the run going against the Timberpups come Wednesday. Al Jefferson has been a beast of late. But hopefully Sam and Reggie Evans can do something about that. And maybe Minnesota guard Marko Jaric might bring his new lady friend to town as well. With the way the Sixers have been playing of late, distracting them with eye candy might be Minnesota’s best bet.

BONUS: Previously on Passion and Pride, Memo to Management: Assessing the Sixers after 20 games | RECAP: SIXERS DOMINATE KNICKS AT THE GARDEN | SIXERS/KNICKS RECAP: Sixers Team Effort dooms Knicks | Passion and Pride: Having our cake and eating it too | GameThink: “Dear Mr. President…”

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