Orlando Magic vs. Philadelphia 76′ers 1st Round NBA Playoff Preview
I actually was going to pick the Sixers here because of how they limped into the playoffs. 1-6 the last seven might give one the impression the Sixers are gonna get blown out, but dude, they’re playing Orlando. Orlando is not an elite team in this league…yet. If they punch the Sixers in the mouth and then defeat the winner of Bos/Chi with the same precision, then I’ll be down. I’m expecting gigantic things out of Dwight Howard. it’s time for him to put up or shut up. If he really wanted the MVP this year, he could have won it. Crazy you ask? Not so much. Where is his true competition? Who is his peer? Yao? Yo…say no to drugs please. There is no one in the league who can stop Dwight Howard when he truly wants to get it done. He needs to work on his post game, a little baby jumper and get a little meaner before I believe him to be one of the best. I think playing for a soft team (they rely on way too many jumpers) might have something to do with it. The Sixers will look to create turnovers and get out on the break. We’ll see what happens in the half court. Click on the flick for the preview on SLAM. Enjoy what’s left of the weekend. Thanks for the pic Webster. Be Peace.
Sixers need shooters like all get out.
That streak shooting worked pretty good tonight. Iggy’s my man though. The Sixers are a work in progress and despite today’s win I don’t see them winning this series but the foundation is there to build something strong with Lil AI, Sweet Lou, Thad, and Speights. Mix them with vets like Brand when he comes back next season and Andre Miller then some things can happen.
Said that last season though but hey…
Barkley gave some good analysis tonight too about Big Dwight and the way Van Gundy uses him at the end of games. Dominant players get the ball at the end of games regardless if they’re strong free throw shooters or not according to Barkley. I agree and especially when Kornheiser said on PTI that Stan Van needs to stop riding the kid so hard and give him some praise at times.
Forget that. Ride his ass until he becomes the player HE wants to be. He’s a man off the court but he has some growing to do on it. There is no one in this league that can stop Dwight Howard but himself.
Mizzo:
I agree 100%. I don’t see how you can forge steel by turning down the temperature.
What’s Dwight Howard? 24? 25? He’s just now approaching his prime. I think his dominance is yet to be seen. I’m with Kornheiser though, give the kid some praise from time to time. Publicly, to the media, in private. He’s the franchise. Sure you form precious metals with the fire but you also handle them carefully to make sure they become exactly what you want them to be. Stan Van needs to ease up, if he loses Howard then he’s out of a job, point blank period. I’ve seen times when they’re up big and he’s still being critical. Come on already.
So what. He’s a man with a chance to be an all time great. No pink socks and flip flops…
Jerold:
Stan may need to be out of a job.
Mizzo:
I know how John Thompson would handle this. In all seriousness though, I don’t subscribe to the Larry Brown School of publicly embarassing professionals. Just because a reporter asks a question doesn’t mean they get the emotional unvarnished answer. A coach can be hard on a guy and still respect the WORK publicly. If the coach can’t do that, it’s usually because he believes himself to be bigger than the work — ala Larry Brown.
Oh no doubt. There is a right way of coaches calling out their players. It should neve be embarrassing. That’s just foul. If that’s what Van Gundy is doing, then he should be silenced.
SportsCenter just mentioned the site. Did anyone hear why?
I’m shocked that Philly won on the road. Good game.