So, I know there are 82 games in a season and all, and I really didn’t expect the Sixers to beat the Magic, but did they even show up? They basically got blown out. I hope they figure out a way to work Brand into the game, and someone learns how to play defense, but I didn’t see much I was impressed with in the opener.
Well, it’s one and done again this year for the Sixers. This time, it was the Magic, minus Dwight Howard, who ended their season in 6 games. They showed promise at times, but not enough to win a series. To win in the playoffs, you need a a cohesive team, a well-executed game plan, and oh yeah, players who are good enough.
Ed Stafanski supposedly likes the Sixers’ first (and probably only) round match-up against the Orlando Magic, even though Kevin Garnett will not play for the Celtics (who the Sixers would have played if they had lost their last game of the season). Never mind the fact that they lost all three games to the Magic this season, or that they are limping into the playoffs without Brand and a 100% healthy Thaddeus Young.
That leaves Dalembert, Ratliff, and Evans to try to guard Dwight Howard (key word there is try). All he has to do if/when (believe me they will try) they double him in the paint is to kick it out to Turkoglu and Lewis who will inevitably knock down a ton of 3’s.
The Sixers have no answer = No shooters + No defense.
Outcome: Magic in 5.
Braves: 4 – Phillies: 1
Well, the Phillies lost their first game of the season as defending World Series Champs. It’s really getting old at this point, having lost 8 of their last 9 season openers, so we’re kind of used to it. No one is panicking, although every commentator in the country talking about the Phillies today will say, “It’s only 1 game, there are still 161 games to play”, as if we are really worried. Really, guys? I wish you could offer me more, but then again, I no longer expect anything better.
I promise I’m really not in a bad mood today. Got the NCAA championship tonight, which should be exciting. I think the Spartans can make any game exciting, and they definitely play like they want it the most. They’ll need everything they have though, going against a great NC team. It’s scary because they haven’t really struggled, including against Villanova, but clearly have not played their best yet. So, if they are really on tonight, watch out Michigan State. But I think/hope it will be a close game. Is anyone going to play a drinking game for how many times they cut to Magic Johnson in the crowd? Seriously, we get it.
Somewhat lost in the excitement of the Phillies starting a new season was the Sixers getting blown out by the Nets, a pitiful team that always gives us trouble (except when they don’t). But, it was the second game of a back to back, so I’m not worried. I think they’ll roll into the playoffs and probably get Orlando, which would be a good series if both teams were completely healthy. I don’t think we have anyone to match Howard (most teams don’t), but if Young isn’t back, it might not even be close. As we like to say, there’s always next year.
This is an idea I had to go back and look at past drafts and see what players were taken af ter our teams picked who we picked. In light of getting beat by Paul Pierce and the Celtics last night on a last second shot by Ray Allen, I decided to do a little research, since I knew we could’ve taken him awhile back. So here’s what I found. Obviously, I realize that if we take a different player one year, we probably wouldn’t have the same pick # the next year, so this is really just for fun to look at what this team could have been.
It’s not that I don’t care, I just don’t have the time. Do you? This holiday season brings with it a million extra things to do, and while I do still find the time to watch a lot of games, it’s not quite the same as those lonely summer days when you can dream about Game 7’s and mini-camp.
This is it for the Eagles. Win or go home 3 times in a row. Each game gets significantly more difficult, culminating in the finale at home against the Cowboys. Can we get a Jeff Garcia repeat and have Donovan wish us a Merry Christmas after he lead his team to victory and possibly the playoffs? Just thinking about it now is amazing considering everyone thought we were toast just before Thanksgiving.
So we have the potential to have a very exciting December. The Flyers are playing better and moving up in the standings. The Sixers are struggling to find their identity but also have some tough games ahead before the New Year begins. The Eagles are still in the mix for a Wild Card, which is significant considering that last year’s Super Bowl champs came out of our division in the same exact way. All that is just to say, anything is possible once you get there. I don’t think anyone in this town has expectations of another title out of any of the other 3 teams.
Speaking of the Phillies, isn’t it great to just sit back and not really care if the “Winter Meetings” (ps – it’s still technically the fall), produce any significant trades or signings? Sure, there are questions that need to be answered. Will we resign Moyer? Who will fill in at left field next year? What do we do if Utley isn’t ready for opening day? But really, it’s almost comical now watching the New York teams try to one-up each other by grossly overpaying for “the best available guys”. In the Yankees case, it means paying $163 million to one of the best starters in the game. But to those desperate Mets, it means taking their chances on a guy who has lost some velocity, and another one who is coming off an injury and doesn’t want to be a setup man. Even with all their moves, they still seem to have the same basic team that can’t finish a season by winning when it counts.
And, for now, it seems that no matter what the Phillies do, they can.
The Sixers made a splash in the free agent market over the summer, but it wasn’t enough to help them beat the Raptors at home. They moved up the game to 6:00 so people could watch the Phillies afterwards, but it would’ve been nicer to get the win.
However, it’s only 1 game, and I can’t really complain about anything when the Phillies just won the World Series. Right now it’s great to be a Philly phan.
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