Lou Williams and Andre Iguodala both had good games for the Sixers tonight in a 97-94 win over the New Jersey Nets tonight at the Wachovia Center. After a horrendous performance the other night against Boston, the team shot the ball well tonight, including going 8 for 16 from 3 point range. In what was a pretty close game throughout the entire contest, the Sixers needed a late 3 pointer from Iguodala to secure the win in front of a crowd of just 10,054. The team had some trouble keeping the Nets from scoring down low, especially Center Brook Lopez, who had a game-high 22 points and 11 rebounds for the Nets, who are still looking for their first win of the season. It certainly did not help that Thaddeus Young, Elton Brand, and Samuel Dalembert all failed to reach double digits. Lou Williams had a great game, scoring 18 points to go along with 9 rebounds and 6 assists. Williams has been one of the biggest surprises so far this season, averaging 17 ppg along with about 5 assists. His play tonight may have very well saved the game for the Sixers since they got no production from their frontcourt. Along with good play from Iguodala and Jason Kapono (4-6 from 3 point range), the team was able to scrape out a very forgettable win against New Jersey. It is becoming clear that so far this season the Sixers are nothing more than an average team who are able to win close games against the inferior teams, and are being thoroughly dominated by the best of the East. However, a win is a win, and hopefully they will find their stride soon. Next game is Sunday afternoon against the Detroit Pistons at the Palace of Auburn Hills.
PHILLIES: Back To The Bronx..
Well, at least they sent it back to New York.
Facing elimination on Monday night after two crushing losses at home, the Phillies, led by an herculean effort by Chase Utley, barely held on to a 6-run lead against the Yankees, winning game 5 by a score of 8-6.
First of all, let me just say that if the Yankees blow this series, it will be one of the biggest collapses ever in all of professional sports. A team who has been regarded as the “best team in baseball” and has the likes of Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Mariano Rivera (all who are going to be first-ballot HOF’s) on the roster has no business not being able to partake in a victory parade when they are up 3 games to 1 in the World Series.
However, if any team can shock the world, and send Bud Selig into a tantrum, it’s the Phillies. They are the only team in all of baseball who can go punch for punch with the Yankees in both a battle of the bats and a pitchers duel, something that they’ve proven in their two wins so far in this fall classic. In addition to that, the Phillies have been there before, shown by their title as the defending World Series Champs.
In order to keep that title though, the Phillies now have their work cut out for them, as they will have to beat the Bronx Bombers in New York, twice, the team with the best home record in all of baseball in 2009.
However, there are some issues that need to be addressed before the start of game 6.
First, Ryan Howard needs to get out of his slump, and he needs help doing it. Since the Yankees are most likely going to be reluctant to pitch to Chase Utley, as his five homeruns in the 2009 WS have reached legendary status, they will probably take their chances with Howard going against a left-handed pitcher in Andy Pettitte.
Here’s an idea to neutralize this.
If Charlie Manuel wants Utley to see more pitches in this game, why not make a small lineup change, with Jayson Werth hitting cleanup, and Ryan Howard moving back to the 5-spot? Splitting up the lefties with Werth, who hit 2 HR’s in game 3 with Pettite pitching, will either allow Utley to see more strikes, or will give Werth an opportunity to see good pitches against left-handed pitching, which he has dominated throughout the season. Also, if Pettitte is reluctant to pitch to both of them, then he faces Howard, the reigning RBI champion (tied with Prince Fielder) in the NL, with an automatic two runners on base.
Just a thought.
Secondly, in response to reports questioning if Shane Victorino is going to play in game 6, there is no question. Shane Victorino needs to play. Now I’m not one to say how painful or destructive a 95 mph. fastball to the fingers can be, but it’s the World Series. I’m sure that Victorino is opting to play because that’s the type of player he is, but this is on the Phillies medical staff. If Victorino doesn’t play, the season is over. Take that for what it’s worth.
Lastly, it’s time for Pedro Martinez to prove why the Phillies were so eager to sign him in July. I have to say this though. At this time, hours before game six of World Series, facing elimination in the Bronx against the Yankees, I don’t think there is a person I’d rather see on the field in Phillies uniform (besides Cliff Lee and Chase Utley) than Pedro Martinez. Three Cy Young awards, and 250+ wins, and a sure-fire hall of fame career, and a new lease on life should account for something, right?
Hopefully, they will Wednesday night.
Sixers: Celtics-Sixers Preview
Tonight’s game: Boston Celtics (4-0) at Philadelphia 76ers (2-1) 7pm from the Wachovia Center. Line: Celtics -7
Key Players
For Boston:
PF Kevin Garnett: There is no doubt the Sixers focus on this game is going to have to be defending the perimeter. With sharpshooters Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, along with Rasheed Wallace off the bench, the Celtics can light it up from down town. The Sixers have never been the best at defending the 3-pointer, so they must key their concentration on limiting Boston’s shooters. This will mean that the Celtics will need Kevin Garnett to shine for them. If Garnett is on tonight, it could be a very long game for the Sixers. He has the ability to neutralize any defense with his inside game, combined with his excellent mid-range jumper. He is coming off a serious injury and is still trying to get used to playing every game again.
PG Rajon Rondo: Rondo is the X-Factor for the Celtics. He is their most underrated player by far, and is quietly becoming one of the best point guards in the game. Always a threat to put up a triple-double, the Sixers cannot allow Rondo to dictate the game. He is at his best when he has control of the offense, weaving in and out of lanes to get Pierce and Allen their open shots from the outside. If they can force Rondo to take shots rather than distribute the ball, their chances of winning will improve.
For the Sixers:
PG Lou Williams: Williams has had a tremendous first three games for the Sixers. Now his biggest test arrives tonight, where he will be asked to step up on both sides of the court. Offensively, he must keep the Sixers transition game moving, getting the easy buckets off turnover as well as working the Princeton offense effectively. This will be a talk task considering the Celtics are allowing just 81.4 points per game this season. Defensively, he will be charged with the job of shutting down Rajon Rondo, not an easy task. How well Williams plays Rondo may very well be the determining factor in the game.
C Samuel Dalembert: Sammy needs to stay out of foul trouble and control the point. When he is in there, the Sixers are much better at preventing second chance opportunities for their opponents, something they cannot give the Celtics if they hope to come out on top. He can also provide some scoring down low, along with offensive rebounds, something the Sixers will also need if they hope to pull off the upset tonight.
What the Sixers must do to win:
A lot. They need to be able to contain the Boston offensive game. They can’t let them get any easy points, nor allow them any open looks from 3-point range. Play physical but play smart, they can’t afford to get in foul trouble. Offensively, they need to be very efficient every time they have possession. Boston is a great defensive team, so the Sixers must have good shot selection throughout the entire game. They also must get some points via the fastbreak by forcing turnovers.
Prediction:
The Sixers will have their hands full tonight. Boston is undefeated and looks very much like the team that won the NBA Championship two years ago. However, the Sixers have played well recently against them at home, losing both games last year by a total of 3 points. If they execute on offense, and play very strong defensively, they will have a shot. Unfortunately, I don’t think they will be able to do enough to get it done tonight, although I do expect this game to be close for the majority of the game.
Celtics by 8.
With an off day in the 2009 World Series, this seems like a good time to recap the Sixers first three games. Before I get into the Sixers, I want to give a shout out to Cliff Lee. He is without a doubt the best pitcher we have seen in a Phillies uniform since the days of Curt Schilling. No matter what happens in the rest of the series in New York, Cliff Lee deserves all the credit in the world for getting this team as far as it’s come. Let’s keep thinking positive and focus only on Game 6, one game at a time. Lets Go Phils!
Now onto the Sixers. I’ll admit I have not been able to watch any of the first three games due to the Fall Classic but have caught all the highlights and read all the articles, so here is what I have to say about the first three games. After a terrible opener in Orlando, the Sixers rebounded nicely with wins against Milwaukee and New York. However, there are several issues to address.
Number 1: Defense
It hasn’t been there at all for the two games against Orlando and New York. The Magic shot 55% from the field, and 55% from the 3-point mark, torching the Sixers in a lopsided 120-106 game that was never as close as the final score. Against the Knicks, they blew a 23 point lead to allow them to force overtime. Thankfully, Andre Iguodala and Lou Williams brought their A-games, combining for 59 points, 21 rebounds, and 11 assists to lead the team to a 141-127 overtime victory at Madison Square Garden. The team is struggling to defend both inside the paint and from beyond the arc, something that they need to remedy immediately. They did play a great defensive game against Milwaukee, taking their home opener by a score of 99-86 behind strong performances byAndre Iguodala (19 pts, 9 reb. 7 ast.) and Samuel Dalembert (10 pts, 12 reb., 2 blk.). One of the most important things I noticed about that game was that Dalembert only had one foul. He went on to have a great game and had a +18 for the night. In the two poor defensive games against Orlando and New York, Dalembert has 5 and 6 fouls, respectively. This led to his inability to contribute, which hurt the Sixers defensive game tremendously.
Good start overall offensively, as it seems the team has adjusted well to Eddie Jordan’s Princeton offense. But the team has to be able to defend the opposition better. Otherwise they have no shot.
Could the Eagles of old be back for good?
I was one of the lucky 60,000+ Philadelphia Eagles fans afforded the opportunity to watch the team’s best performance thus far during the 2009 season live at Lincoln Financial Field. The Eagles were firing on all cylinders and proved that they can be a contender in the division and more importantly in the NFC Conference.
After a devastating loss to the Oakland Raiders two weeks ago, the season looked like it was practically over. Donovan McNabb looked like a 50-year-old behind center, the offensive line was reminiscent of the Little Giants, and it seemed as if Andy Reid’s sons were calling the plays. Around that same time, the New York Football Giants were the “team to beat” in the minds of sports experts and everyone in the Empire State. It’s amazing what a few games can do to the outlook of the 2009 season.
The Giants suffered their third straight loss. And in case you didn’t read my previous article about how the Giants were the most overrated team in the NFL, then click here because let’s be honest…I told you so. Five straight weeks against mediocre teams does not prove that you are the best team, it just proves that you can win the games you are supposed to win. Now that they have faced three teams with winning records, the true New York Giants have surfaced.
I didn’t know what to expect coming into today’s game against the Giants. I can tell you one thing though, it didn’t involve a 40-17 spanking. With no Brian Westbrook in the lineup, the fear of an Oakland Raiders performance was looming in the back on my mind. However, the Eagles came out with a swagger that we have not seen from them this year. They played a complete game and utterly dominated their conference foe. Eli Manning looked like a poor man’s Tim Couch on Sunday, throwing off balance for most of the game and connecting three different times with the Eagles secondary. Brandon Jacobs couldn’t really get anything going because the Eagles front seven was sharp from start to finish. All in all, it was a good old fashion beat down and the statement game that the Eagles needed to make heading into the second half of the season.
Now here’s this week’s report card:
Quarterback: A
First off, I want to congratulate Donovan McNabb on becoming the 21st player in NFL history with 30,000 passing yards and 200 passing TD’s. For the first time in awhile, McNabb seemed to be comfortable in the pocket and not force throws. He connected with DeSean Jackson for another bomb and was efficient in the red zone throughout the game (great passes to both Celek and Maclin). One aspect of his performance that deserves recognition was his ability to make a few plays on the ground. He converted a third down by using his legs, which is something that Eagles fans have not seen in awhile and wish would occur more often. Keep it up D-Mac.
LeSean McCoy is the real deal
Running back: A+
Heading into the game, the Giants run defense ranked in the top of the league. They were probably licking their chops once Brian “Giant killer” Westbrook was ruled inactive. In came two rookies, running back LeSean McCoy and full back Leonard Weaver. The tandem gave Eagles fans a reason to believe in the depth at the running back position and for the first time Andy Reid decided to attack the Giants on the ground. I think we can all agree that it worked out pretty darn well. Both McCoy and Weaver broke for long touchdown runs and combined for 180 yards on the ground and averaged over 7 yards per carry. Take your time to get healthy Brian.
Wide Receivers: A-
Sunday marked another strong performance from the young Eagles wide receiver core. DeSean Jackson is establishing himself as a Pro-Bowl caliber wide receiver in just his second year in the NFL and Jeremy Maclin is making fans quickly forget the name Kevin Curtis. Tight end Brent Celek continues to be McNabb’s favorite target on short yardage situations and improves with each game.
Offensive Line: A -
Trust me, I am not saying that the Eagles offensive line has finally reached its pinnacle in talent. However, much of McNabb’s success through the air was directly related to the offensive line shutting down one of the top defensive lines in the game. They only allowed two sacks and committed far fewer penalties than they have in previous games. More importantly, there were no Winston Justice-like blow ups against Osi Umenyiora (He was held to just one sack and one tackle for a loss).
Defensive line/Linebackers: B+
As always, the defensive line and linebacker core were the catalysts to the defensive turnovers. Trent Cole continues to dominate the line and has been the true difference maker for the Eagles on defense. His pressure, along with other linemen such as Chris Clemons and Broderick Bunkley, has really made a difference in the overall performance by the Eagles. As I mentioned in previous articles, the Eagles still have a trouble with opposing tight ends. Kevin Boss caught a few big passes for the G-Men, including a 30-yard first down from Manning. I understand that the blitzing schemes are going to result in a lack of coverage, but there is no excuse for tight ends leading a team in receiving yards. Period.
Sheldon Brown tallied one of the Eagles three interceptions
Secondary: A
This was without question the most impressive outing for the Eagles secondary. Three interceptions in the first half gave the Eagles a hefty lead going into the second half. The secondary took advantage of an injured Mario Manningham and seemed to have several changes to intercept balls on Sunday. Asante Samuel recorded another interception to place him in the top percentile in the NFL. Despite dropping two potential interceptions, I was very impressed with the play of Quintin Mikell. He has done an unbelievable job filling in for Brian Dawkins and repeatedly comes up with big plays.
Special Teams: A –
After weeks of bashing the return game, Ellis Hobbs finally showed up to play against New York. He averaged 22 yards per return (including a long of 39) and gave the Eagles offense superb field position throughout the game. Akers knocked down a field goal, but had one extra point blocked in the first quarter. I know it didn’t play a role in today’s game, but missing extra points could come back to bite the Eagles in later games. Rocca also seemed to be on his game today, averaging over 47 yards per punt and landing two inside the 20-yard line.
Call me nice, but the Eagles really surprised a lot of people today. They flushed away the heartache from the Raiders game and proved they can win without their most explosive offensive player. Raiders or no Raiders, the Eagles are officially the top team in the NFC East.
Next up: Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday Night Football. Let’s see if the Eagles can keep the momentum and further separate themselves in the division standings.
FLYERS: October Recap
The first month of play for the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2009-2010 season ended exactly how it began: with a win over the Carolina Hurricanes. On Friday, October 2nd, the Flyers came in to the RBC Center in Raleigh, North Carolina and blanked the home-standing Hurricanes, 2-0 behind Ray Emery’s first shutout as a Flyer. Yesterday, the Flyers rode a fight filled Halloween-day contest to a 6-1 decision over those same Hurricanes, with Ray Emery making 30+ saves in the victory. However, in a month that began and ended with a win, the games that fell in between cast a cloud over the Flyers’ overall performance during the season’s first 30 days of play.
Ray Emery got his 6th win of the season yesterday
Just to refresh: after 11 games in 2009, the Flyers are a sub-par 6-4-1, good for 13 points. The Flyers are currently 4th place in the Atlantic Division, with only the New York Islanders behind the Orange and Black. Overall in the Eastern Conference, the Flyers are holding on to the 8th and final playoff spot, something that at this point means a first round playoff date with the defending Champion Pittsburgh Penguins. So, what went wrong this month, and what went right? Who shined? Who struggled? What should we look forward to in November? Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered.
What went right in October?
The truth? Not much. The scoring has been balanced, but it hasn’t been as high as last season. Captain Mike Richards leads the way for the Orange and Black, tallying 12 points (6 G, 6 A) in 11 games. Obviously it’s not horrible, and the Flyers do have four players (Richards, Carter, Carle, JVR) who are in the double digit point total already. However, the fact is that the Flyers offensive power was supposed to be a lot stronger. As far as the team as a whole is concerned, the main word to characterize the Flyers is “Inconsistent”. The Orange and Black have flip-flopped wins and losses far too often in the early stages of the season and need to improve upon that coming into November. Perhaps not taking every other game for granted would be a nice start.
What went wrong in October?
Too much. Most notably: injuries and defensive play. The Flyers, as has become the all too uncomfortable scenario in early season play, have been hit by the injury bug plenty of time so far this season. Currently, Simon Gagne has not one, but two hernias and his return is up in the air. Danny Briere left practice friday with a slight groin pull and missed yesterday’s contest against Carolina. Those two are the big highlights to what has been an unhealthy month for the Orange and Black. Defensively, the entire group has been a disappointment. The Flyers are -2 collectively as a unit, with Chris Pronger and Matt Carle being the only players on the positive side. With the talent that the Flyers blue-line has, it’s not acceptable to post such number as a unit.
Who shined in October?
Carle's first month was Norris-worthy
Pretty easy answer here. Matt Carle had a tremendous October, posting 2 goals and 10 assists in 11 games, and he is currently tied with Mike Richards for the title of leading scorer on the Flyers. He’s reaped the benefits of playing alongside a future Hall of Famer in Pronger and has shined at both ends of the rink. The Flyers helped his cause tremendously when they opted to send Randy Jones down to the Phantoms (who has since been claimed off waivers by Los Angeles), because it solidified a permanent spot in the Flyers’ line-up. Carle hasn’t looked back since. Hopefully the young gun from the University of Denver can keep it going for the rest of the season. If he has a repeat of October next month, it would be wise to assume a potential All-Star selection may be in his future.
Who struggled in October?
Giroux was atrocious in October
I take personal offense to Claude Giroux’s performance in the first month of the season. I selected him as the Flyers breakout offensive player in my season preview, and thus far #28 has been anything but. In 11 games, Giroux – who was counted on to find the back of the net a plethora of times this season – has only scored once. He only has three assists. In watching him play, it’s very easy to notice that Giroux is taking himself for granted. He knows he’s talented, but he’s not playing with anything to prove like he did in the stretch run last season. If and when Giroux starts to notice that it takes work to be successful at the NHL level and not just one good playoff series, he will find his stride. Let’s just hope it’s sooner rather than later.
What should we look forward to in November?
Well, the good thing moving forward is that the Flyers have no where to go but up. After starting the season 2-0, the Flyers became very average the rest of the way. There’s a chance now for the Flyers to make the move up the standings as it is still very early in the 2009 season. If the injuries can settle down and the defense can get a grip on themselves, I think we will see the Flyers team we’ve been waiting for since Emery and Pronger came aboard this summer. Let’s hope this team can right the ship and continue upon their month-ending victory with some more success in the near future.
PHILLIES: Game One Recap
One down.
Lee's complete-game gem carried the Phillies to a huge Game 1 road victory
The Cliff Lee/ C.C Sabathia much anticipated Game 1 pitching matchup lived up to the hype.
Well, at least for one team.
It wasn’t that Sabathia pitched bad. He may not have been as sharp as he had been in his other three playoff games in 2009 (3-0), but he did not pitch bad. Exiting the game after 7 innings, giving up just 2 runs and scattering four hits, his performance should have put him in line for the win, or at least a no-decision, a testament to how his Yankees lineup usually performs.
Not on this night.
When Sabathia left the mound for good before the seventh inning stretch, his Yankees were down 2-0. His former teammate and current friend, Lee, was still on the mound pitching a gem, continued to do so for the next two innings as the Phillies poured on four runs of insurance off of a shaky Yankees bullpen to virtually guarantee a crucial Game 1 victory for Philadelphia on the road.
In all reality, all things considered in Philadelphia’s 6-1 victory, two pitches separated Lee’s and Sabathia’s performance and defined game 1.
Two pitches.
Both of them, however, landed in the right field bleachers in the short porch of the Yankees stadium, giving the Phillies all the run-support they needed with their ace on the mound. Chase Utley’s 3rd and 6th inning solo shots gave the Phillies enough cushion to knock Sabathia out of the game destined for his first playoff loss in 2009.
While Utley’s first homerun in the 3rd was probably more personally disheartening for Sabathia since it was a pretty darn good pitch that Utley golfed two rows deep in RF to break a scoreless tie, Utley’s second longball (note the word longball) arguebly took all the potential momentum that the Yankees and Sabathia had, and placed it across the diamond into the Phillies dugout.
With two outs in the top half of the sixth, Sabathia had retired eight straight batters in a row when Utley stepped up to bat. Cruising since Utley hit his first HR, Sabathia worked himself into a perfect situation for a pitcher, one strike away from ending the inning without any potential threats.
The mistake..
A 95 mph fastball that caught the inner-half of the plate instead of being out of the strike zone, allowing Utley to use his quick reaction time to pull his hands through, put the barrel of the bat on the ball, and launch the ball about 390 ft., well over the fence in right-center field fence in Yankee Stadium. As Yankees RF Nick Swisher turned around and watched the deficit he faced double with Utley’s bomb, he was also able to watch his team’s positive moral exit the confines of the field with it.
Needless to say, it was a crushing blow.
Given a two-run lead, Lee was spectacular the rest of the way. As Ryan Howard, Shane Victorino, and Raul Ibanez each capitalized on their opportunities to produce runs against the Yankees bullpen, the Yankees lineup had no such luck against Lee. Baffled by Lee’s sharp combination of a fastball, slider, and “spiker” curveball, the Yankees hitters left the stadium Wednesday night only able to produce one run (on an error), searching for the offensive swagger that made them the most dynamic offense (7 guys with 20+ homeruns) in recent history.
Huge win for the Phillies, as the Game 1 victory on the road in the Bronx will surely give Philadelphia the initial momentum in this series.
Momentum is an extremely valuable thing to have for any team in the World Series.
For that team to be the defending champs, that could be downright dangerous.
PHILLIES: 2009 World Series
The matchup has been determined.
Phillies vs. Yankees, Dynasty vs. Destiny, Broad St. vs. Broadway.
All I can say is..wow.
Ever since the Brad Lidge slider that produced a can-of-corn fly ball that clinched the Philadelphia Phillies a trip back to the World Series six days ago (feels like six months ago), Phillies fans have been left to wait.
And wait..
And wait..
Now, the show must finally go on, starting Wednesday night, with the first pitch slated to go on as scheduled (not without a scare from mother nature) at 7:57 PM in the Bronx.
For the Phillies, it’s a return to the promise land once again. Two trips to the World Series in as many seasons, that’s not bad for a team was predicted to exit the playoffs in the first round, both years. In 2008, the Phillies cruised through the divisional and league championship series in four and five games respectively en route to the World Series. In 2009, the Phillies did, well, the same exact thing.
Quite frankly, on paper, the Phillies are a much better team than at this point a year ago. Same nucleus of players, just an upgrade in the outfield with Raul Ibanez over Pat Burrell, and the mid-season addition of the 2008 AL Cy Young Award winner in Cliff Lee to solidify the starting rotation. Add that with a year of playoff experience, and living up to enormous expectations, this team is built to win the World Series.
On the other hand, this time around, the Phillies won’t be fortunate enough to play the Tampa Bay Rays.
No disrespect to them, but they weren’t the New York Yankees.
Now, the Phillies will have to face the team with arguably the greatest legacy in all of professional sports.
That’s without mentioning that this team has the highest payroll in baseball, had the most wins in baseball in the regular season, and have been the odds-on favorites to win the 2009 World Series since the all-star break.
Here’s a quick breakdown:
OFFENSE
PHILLIES: Five all-stars in the middle of the order, four of those with 30+ homeruns. Not many teams, none actually, have that type of power. The Phillies overpowered teams offensively throughout the team, and that did not change once the playoffs started. On the road to the World Series, the Phillies were offensively superior to both the Colorado Rockies and and Los Angeles Dodgers, averaging over six runs a game, almost at run and a half better than they did in 2008.
YANKEES: Led by a half-healthy A-ROD and Mark Teixeira, the Bronx Bombers lived up to their nickname. They were arguably the offensively explosive team in baseball for the entire regular season, leading MLB in homeruns (seven guys with 20+ HR’s), 20 ahead of the 2nd place team in that category, the Philadelphia Phillies.
Advantage: Phillies, but ever so slightly. The Yankees have a more balanced lineup 1-9, but the Phillies are the more hot offensive team going into the World Series, and the DH in game 1 and game 2 will give them an extra bat in the lineup. Either way you look at it, this could shape up to being one of the best offensive displays in World Series history not only because of the players, but also because of the ballparks.
STARTING PITCHING
PHILLIES: Enter Cliff Lee. Fortunately, Lee has been more than just a breath of fresh air for this Phillies pitching rotation. 2-0 in the playoffs with around a 1.00 E.R.A, he is the unquestioned ace of this staff. Combine him with the resurrected Pedro Martinez and the ex-World Series MVP Cole Hamels in supporting actor roles as the projected starters for game 2 and game 3, the Phillies are far deeper than they were at this point last year.
YANKEES: For what Cliff Lee is to the Phillies, CC Sabathia is to the Yankees. Actually, he’s probably worth more. The 160 million dollar man for the Yankees was the ALCS MVP, and is a favorite to finish in the top-3 in the AL 2009 Cy Young Award race. Accompanying Sabathia is the enigmatic A.J Burnett in game 2, and the ageless wonder in Andy Pettitte, who is now the baseball’s all-time leader in post-season wins, for game 3.
Advantage: Slight advantage to the Yankees. I’m going to consider Lee and Sabathia as equals for this argument. A.J Burnett has the stuff to be dominant, while Pedro Martinez ironically has the mentality to be more effective, so they cancel out, with Burnett having a larger upside for a potential gem. What is big in this category is third starter. It’s crazy to think that Cole Hamels could be considered a weak link, but Pettitte, his game 3 projected opponent, has pitched much better down the stretch, especially the the LCS.
BULLPEN
PHILLIES: What a difference the playoffs make. Aside from a game 2 meltdown against the Dodgers in the NLCS, the Phillies bullpen has been pitching much like the ‘08 Phillies in this post-season, not the ‘09 Phillies that in the regular season blew 16 saves. Most people will say the key to this bullpen is Brad Lidge. If the Phillies are lucky that’s the case. I believe that Chan Ho Park, Brett Myers, and Chad Durbin will play a huge role in this series, especially against a Yankees team who has a penchant of knocking starters out of games early.
YANKEES: The Yankees may not have as many quality relief pitchers as the Phillies, but the ones that they do have are very, very good. With Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes, the Yankees have two potentially dominant set-up guys. Note that I say set-up. Once the games get into the 9th, the Yankees bullpen consists of one guy. Mariano Rivera.
Advantage: Not even a question. Yankees.
PREDICTION: I’m obviously bias here, so no analysis required.
Phillies in 7.
It was not pretty, but I guess a win is a win. In this division, I will take any win.
The Eagles defeated the Redskins on Monday night by a score of 27-17. But this is not the same Redskins team that swept the Eagles last season. This Redskins team has a head coach that can only roam the sidelines and watch as Sherman Lewis makes the play calls from the press box. This is a Redskins team that is 2-6 and lost to the Detroit Lions and Kansas City Chiefs.
To be honest, I expected a lot more from the Philadelphia Eagles. Coming off arguable the worst loss in franchise history, I was ready to see Donovan McNabb pass for 350 yards and 4 touchdowns. Instead, the Eagles remained scoreless in the second half and looked mediocre at best. They only converted 11 first downs the entire game, which is three less than the “Game that will live in infamy” against Oakland last week. With that being said, here are this week’s grades:
Quarterback- C -
On the surface, McNabb completed 60 percent of his passes including a bomb to DeSean Jackson. In retrospect, however, McNabb looked terrible. Of the 25 pass completions from Monday night, 18 of them went for five yards or less. So I would hope that he is completing 60 percent of his passes. He looked out of his element and missed a lot of key opportunities to convert big plays. More specifically, McNabb looks like a completely different quarterback on third downs (well the entire team looks completely different on third downs). The Eagles are 1-21 on third downs over 10 yards this season, ranking them last in the NFL. Maybe he is concerned about getting sacked, but the Eagles need to start moving down the field and taking risks if they want to be successful later in the season.
It will be interesting to see how the Eagles respond if Westbrook is not cleared to play Sunday
Running back- B -
Injuries continue to haunt running back Brian Westbrook. He suffered a concussion in the second quarter on Monday and only rushed three times the entire night. LeSean McCoy filled in for the rest of the game, but struggled getting anything going. He finished with 14 rushes for 37 yards, averaging just 2.6 yards per carry. Despite the poor rushing numbers on the whole, the biggest play of the night came on the Eagles’ third offensive down. DeSean Jackson converted an end-around for 67 yards and a touchdown. It still really bothers me how little Jackson is used in the offense. The team cannot play scared if they want to be a top team in the NFC. He has the talent and athleticism, let him work his magic.
NOTE: Westbrook will undergo tests for his concussion on Wednesday morning to see his status for Sunday’s game.
Receivers- B
The receiving core didn’t see much action against the Redskins given that the Eagles scored 27 points in the first half. Jackson looked like a man amongst boys in the first half; most noticeably on the move he pulled to get open for a 57-yard touchdown reception. Jackson suffered an ankle sprain in the game, but I expect him to be ready for next weekend’s matchup with the Giants. Rookie wide receiver Jeremy Maclin is quickly establishing himself as one of McNabb’s favorite targets. He finished with a team-high five receptions along with Brent Celek’s five receptions.
Offensive Line- C –
The offensive line is currently the kryptonite of the Eagles. The offense, like most offenses in the NFL, relies heavily on the offensive line to have success. Allowing three sacks and seven tackles for losses isn’t exactly the way to show improvement. Todd Herremans made his comeback, but did not make his presence felt. He committed a few penalties and was beaten several times by the Redskin’s defensive line. A lot of McNabb’s struggles have to do with his lack of pass protection. Allowing five QB hits is not a very good way to gain trust from Donovan.
Welcome to the Eagles Mr. Witherspoon
Defensive Line/Linebackers- A-
I thought this was the strongest and most complete game by the Eagles linebackers and defensive line. They combined for six sacks, seven tackles for losses, a fumble recovery and an interception for a touchdown. One of the strongest aspect of the front seven was their run-stopping ability. They held Clinton Portis to 3.1 yards per carry and held the team to just 62 rushing yards. They pressured the quarterback better than they have all year, hitting Jason Campbell nine times throughout the game. Acquired this past week, Will Witherspoon proved to be the linebacker that the Eagles have been waiting for all season. He was responsible for the interception for a touchdown, eight tackles and one sack against Washington. Also, both of Trent Cole’s tackles went for losses and he led the team with two sacks.
Secondary- C +
For the amount of talent in the Eagles secondary, there is no excuse for Jason Campbell throwing for 284 yards and two scores. Tackling continues to be a big struggle for the defensive backs, most noticeably with Asante Samuel (although he did have one good stick against Chris Cooley). The secondary completely broke down when Campbell threw his first touchdown to Devin Thomas, allowing him to sit in the corner of the end zone uncovered. The Redskins might not be an offensive powerhouse, but I can assure you that the Giants and Cowboys will take advantage of a struggling secondary.
Special Teams- B –
David Akers looked fresh, knowing down two field goals from 40+ yards. The main concern in the Eagles special teams is their kick returning. Ellis Hobbs has gotten his chance all season, but he has yet to prove that he can be a consistent kick returner. He averaged a mere 18.5 yards per return on Monday night. Field position is key to an offense’s success and I would not be opposed to another kick returner getting some action (Maclin, Demps).
Now it is time for the biggest game of the season. The Eagles only faced one team with a winning record in the first six games (Saints). Nine of the ‘Birds next ten games are against teams with .500 records or better right now. Now it is time to see just how much talent this Eagles team has going forward.
SIXERS: 2009-10 Season Preview
The Philadelphia 76ers are about ready to kick off the 2009-10 campaign Wednesday night in Orlando. The Sixers, under new head coach Eddie Jordan, started the preseason 4-0 and finished with a 5-3 record. Jordan has said that he is pleased so far with what he has seen, but we won’t truly know how good they are until the regular season begins. The team has made their final roster decisions, so let’s go through each position to see who will be playing for the Sixers this season.
Point Guard
Starter: Lou Williams
This will be by far the the biggest question for the Sixers this season. The loss of veteran point guard Andre Miller to free agency has caused a lot of questions among critics as to whether or not the Sixers will be able to fill that spot capable of producing the same numbers as Miller. Rather than put all the burden on one player, the Sixers will most likely rotate in and out different players to play point guard in the beginning of the season. If one player appears to stand out from the rest, look for that man to become the full time starter. However, for now, Lou Williams will get the start and see the most playing time at point guard. This will be Williams’ first season as a starter, and depending on his play, we’ll see if he remains there throughout the duration of the year. Williams was very effective coming off the bench for the Sixers last season, averaging nearly 13 points per game. He has also done well so far this preseason. I am glad to see Lou get the opportunity to start after putting in several years coming off the bench. I expect him to have no trouble scoring, forcing turnovers, or hitting clutch free throws with the game on the line. What concerns me about Williams is his poor shooting percentage, especially from beyond the arc, as well as his ability to take care off the basketball. He also will probably struggle early on in running the offense, including the fast-break which Andre Miller ran so well, until he gets comfortable playing over 30 minutes every night. It will be a struggle for Lou early on, but hopefully he will be a quick learner and adapt to the change from being a reserve to an every day starter as soon as possible.
Reserve: Jrue Holiday
Backing up Williams, will be 1st round draft pick Jrue Holiday. While the team has high hopes for Holiday down the road, this will probably be a building year for the Sixers top draft choice. Holiday is still very raw, having only played one year at UCLA before leaving for the NBA. He was regarded as the best high school player in the country in 2008, but struggled to live up to the hype last season at UCLA, having a very mediocre year for a very mediocre Bruin team. The Sixers love his potential to dominate, but still realized he is a work in progress. It may take a couple seasons before Holiday is able to play to his potential. Until then, he will serve as a backup seeing limited time in the beginning of the season. Depending on how well he plays, Holiday could see his minutes increase as the season progresses.
Shooting Guard
Starter: Andre Iguodala
No surprise here as Andre Iguodala begins his sixth season with the 76ers. The Sixers will turn to Iguodala to provide the majority of their points every game. Iguodala has usually been an 18-19 points per game player, a number the Sixers would like to see increase this season. If Iguodala ever wants to be among the elite of the NBA guards, he will need to improve both his 3 point shooting and free throw percentage. Iguodala averaged barely over 30% from beyond the arc last season. This has to improve as the team cannot continue to get poor three point shooting from its backcourt. In addition, he was inconsistent from the free-throw line all year, including the playoffs. He shot 72% from the free throw line, about 3% fewer than his career average. As the Sixers go-to player, Iguodala needs to be able to hit free throws to close out games. Recall all the games last year that the Sixers lost on a buzzer beater. Buzzer beaters usually occur because a team failed to close out the game at the free throw line. Hopefully Iguodala will have improved since last season, which should result in him averaging over 20 points per game, something the Sixers have lacked from one player since the departure of Allen Iverson. One thing we should not have to worry about are Iguodala’s defensive abilities. He continues to improve each season, and should draw the opposing team’s top perimeter threat each game.
Reserve: Willie Green
Willie Green will be a solid backup for Iguodala. He should see between 15-20 minutes per game unless he struggles, which could allow for Jason Kapono to get more playing time. Green has struggled in the past when he was chosen to start games, but has usually excelled when coming off the bench. Green can be inconsistent in terms of his scoring production, but can be counted on to take care of the basketball when he is in the game. He is, however, a major defensive liability, so it is critical that Iguodala stays out of foul trouble so that Green will not have to play for a large portion of the game.
Reserve: Royal Ivey
Ivey should see limited time off the bench for the second straight season. He can provide a little offense but is of little value beyond 10 or more minutes of playing time.
Small Forward
Starter: Thaddeus Young
Thaddeus Young is the player I expect to improve the most from last season. He is entering his third season in the NBA, and has gotten better each year thus far. Now it is time for him to the next great leap forward. He shoots a great overall field goal percentage (49.5 % last season), but I would like to see him get more involved with the offense. Despite averaging over 15 points per game, the former Georgia Tech star would often take fewer than ten shots per game. Getting him more involved in essential for the Sixers, as he is also the best 3 point shooter (34%) of their five starters. The best thing that Thad has going for him is that he is only 21 years old. He hasn’t even come near to reaching his prime. This gives all of us great optimism that he will continue to progress and become a great NBA player.
Reserve: Jason Kapono
Kapono will see a lot of time off the bench this season, mainly in place of Young. The Sixers’ newest acquisition should help the team improve from its league-worst ranking in 3 point shooting. Kapono is a pure 3 point shooter, and he won’t hesitate to take plenty of shots from beyond the arc. This can really add a new dimension to an offense which is mainly known for its fast-break abilities.
Reserve: Rodney Carney
Carney returns to the Sixers looking to get his NBA career back on track. He is good for eating up some minutes while grabbing some rebounds and providing offense from down low and beyond the arc. He is currently nursing a strained hamstring, which will limit his minutes for the first few weeks of the season. But Coach Jordan has liked what he’s seen from Carney and says he will see significant playing time this season.
Power Forward:
Starter: Elton Brand
Elton Brand is healthy (for now) and ready to make an impact on this Sixers team. He was signed last season to give the Sixers a dominant low presence that they have lacked for many years now. Instead all he gave them was inconsistent play and a spot on the injured reserve list for most of the season. Now that he is back, Brand needs to step up his game and give the Sixers a consistent presence in the post that both provide easy points, as well as making it difficult for the opposition to dominate the Sixers down low they way they have recently (Dwight Howard in last year’s playoffs). For the 29 games that Brand did play last season, all his numbers were significantly less than his career averages. He needs to be scoring between 16-22 points each game, along with around 10 rebounds each night. The only way the Sixers will have a chance to contend in the Eastern Conference is if Brand has a great year. The Sixers need to have that low post presence that can go to for easy buckets and to limit all the big forwards (i.e. Howard, Kevin Garnett, Shaquille O’Neal) they will face in the East.
Reserve: Marresse Speights
Last season’s first round pick Marresse Speights should take big strides this season. His offensive skills alone will get him more minutes this season. If Brand or Dalembert struggle, Speights may see himself play over 20 minutes a game. He has tons of potential and on a team that is desperately looking for a consistent scoring big man, Speights is going to play a big role on this year’s team.
Reserve: Jason Smith
Smith has a very solid rookie season before missing all of last year with a season ending ACL injury in the preseason. The 7-0″ Smith will see limited time off the bench, mainly to eat up minutes for Brand and Dalembert when they’re in foul trouble.
Center: Samuel Dalembert
Dalembert is back as the starting center once again for the Sixers and the same question remains as always: Can he stay out of foul trouble so that he can actually make an impact on the game? Well if history is any indication, then the answer will continue to be no. Dalembert’s biggest strength is his ability to control the paint defensively. However, he has not been able to do it without constantly fouling the opposition. This leads to a massive reduction in his minutes and never allows for him to get into the game. When Dalembert is able to stay out of foul trouble, he usually plays very well. He can score down low as well as rebound on both ends of the court. If Dalembert can finally stay out of foul trouble, he can help the Sixers solidify their front court play which well greatly improve their chances to win against the top teams in the league.
Reserve: Primoz Brezec
The Sixers signed the seven foot Brezec to give them a defensive presence off the bench when Dalembert goes out for foul trouble. He will be expected to fill the role that Reggie Evans played last season. Expect him to come off the bench and provide rebounds and some scoring.
5 Keys to the Season
1. Elton Brand–>Brand must play well for the Sixers to have a chance to contend this year. It’s as simple as that. Enough said.
2. Consistent point guard play–>The team took a big hit when they did not resign Andre Miller, who was the quarterback of the fastbreak that was so big in the Sixers offense for the past two seasons. They will need Lou Williams to come through for them, otherwise it will be tough for this offense to get on track.
3. 3 point shooting–>The Sixers have ranked last in the league for the past two seasons in 3 point shooting. The addition of Jason Kapono should help that ranking improve, but it is still not enough. Andre Iguodala, Thaddeus Young, and Lou Williams need to be able to hit 3 pointers for this team. Iguodala especially must improve, so that defenses will be forced to play the Sixers on the arc, rather than around the paint in anticipation of a drive to the basket.
4. Smart Defense–>The team needs to play defense without fouling. The Orlando Magic were always shooting free throws during last year’s playoff series. Samuel Dalembert especially must stay out of foul trouble so that he will be able to assert himself as a major defensive presence in the paint.
5. Strong Start–>The Sixers play a relatively easy schedule in the first month of the season. If they’re able to start strong while working out any problems at the same time, they will give themselves a great chance to contend for a top-4 spot in the conference. If they start slow, they will still probably make the playoffs but will find it very difficult to get one of those top spots which would allow them to avoid playing Cleveland, Orlando, or Boston in the first round.
Regular Season Prediction: 45-37 to finish 2nd in the Atlantic Division behind Boston and 5th in the Eastern Conference behind Cleveland, Orlando, Boston, and Atlanta.
Josh Getzoff
Alex Cohen
Stephen Watson
Zach Field