Memo to Mo: Sixers need Smith, screwed into seventh
The Sixers got screwed on Fan Appreciation Night. They went to the locker room thinking that they won the game. The score was 90-89. Lou Williams keyed a strong fourth quarter with 11 points, including the game winner with 5.1 seconds left. Unfortunately, the referees didn’t get the memo.
After convening at the monitors, they determined that Sam Dalembert fouled Devin Brown at the buzzer on the ensuing possession. The baseline ref actually made the call, even though he was screened from the contact by Dalembert himself. Watch the replay. What do you think? The refs called the Sixers out of the locker room to watch Devin Brown take two free throws and shoot any hopes of winning the sixth seed goodbye.
Andre Miller had a great game with 26 points and Lou Williams shot 9-for-11 with 21 points, but Andre Iguodala only shot 4-for-17 and finished with 10 points. LeBron James had 27 and Zydrunas Ilgauskas added 22 for the Cavs.
The loss means that the Sixers will be the seventh seed in the playoffs and will face the menacing Detroit Pistons in the first round. The Pistons are a tough matchup for anyone. Rasheed Wallace makes a living taking Dalembert outside and raining threes.
With Rasheed’s mobility at center, rookie Jason Smith will be needed off the bench. Smith should play a big part in this upcoming playoff series. The problem is that Coach Cheeks hasn’t quite figured out how to best utilize the 7′0″ rookie. Granted, the rookie hasn’t exactly figured out how to use his skills either. Most of the time, he has an advantage on the offensive end, but fails to assert himself.
Image details: Philadelphia 76ers v Denver Nuggets served by picapp.com
Smith will be needed to help out on Wallace and hit some midrange jumpers to keep the Pistons from packing it in. Let’s hope that Mo realizes that Smith is key if they want to pull off the major upset. They need to play him big minutes in Charlotte on Wednesday to get ready for a bigger role in the postseason.
This entry was posted
on Monday, April 14th, 2008 at 10:01 pm and is filed under Mo Cheeks, Andre Iguodala, Sam Dalembert, Lou Williams, Sixers, Devin Brown, Fan Appreciation Night, Andre Miller, NBA Playoffs, LeBron James, Detroit Pistons, Philadelphia 76ers, Charlotte Bobcats, Jason Smith, Rasheed Wallace, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Cleveland Cavaliers.
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8 Responses to “Memo to Mo: Sixers need Smith, screwed into seventh”
April 14th, 2008 at 10:42 pm
Screwed doesn’t even cover what I just witnessed. That was some f’ing bull$@#!. I was center court for that game and it would have been the perfect game to see LeBron for the first time and the Sixers get a great come from behind win. Then the official remembered we are in Philadelphia and went ahead and f’ed us just like they did the other night with the Phils.
April 15th, 2008 at 7:37 am
REFS ROB A REVVED UP CROWD OF A VICTORY ON THEIR NIGHT!
2 nights in a row Philadelphia fans get screwed (even though I pull for the Yankees). During Lou’s amazing one-man fourth quarter and his game-winner I was thinking, this his a huge game for us. This would be a great way to send a message going into the postseason. My mouth was wide-open for the last 5 minutes and when it was finally over all I said was what just happened?
About 4 things happened on the play that should’ve ended up in a Sixers win. 1) Lebron took 3 or 4 steps but it is the NBA so I didn’t expect to get that one. 2) Lebron used his off hand when the shot was blocked by Sam on the first attempt. 3) The big one is Big Z gave Sam a shove while he was in the air sending his momentum into Devin Brown.
4) All of that should’ve been mute since the ref raised his hand for a foul after the red lights came on. (Your supposed to play off of the whistle but nobody in the arena heard the whistle since it was so loud.) The Ref signaled the game to be over and that is supposed to mean game over. Don’t do it until you confirm what just happened. That referee’s insecure and weak call could have caused a riot.
Sam’s sudden change in expression is priceless. Knowing he just committed the worst foul ever he cringes on the hoop stanchion and then he turns to his team celebrating and he raises his hand in triumph. Toughest loss of the season.
April 15th, 2008 at 9:07 am
Lou Williams fouled LeBron on the drive, so while he did travel, that could have gone against us. Of course, I’m biased there, so I’d call traveling. After that was blown, the right call would have been a foul on Zydrunas Ilgauskas for pushing Dalembert in the back. Since that wasn’t called either, then you have to go with a non-call. The fact that the ref who made the call was screened from the play makes this even worse. This was awful. The NBA: Where refs fixing games happen.
April 15th, 2008 at 9:09 am
What made it even worse is that they reviewed the replay and came up with this bogus conclusion. Like nothing but Dalembert’s incidental contact with Brown mattered. How do you think he ended up below Brown’s torso? The guy is 6′11″
April 15th, 2008 at 6:51 pm
uhm, I see I am pehaps the only Sixers fan that thinks that Sam committed the foul, and on time…
I think his expression after the whistle, before the “celebration” started etc says it all, he knew he fouled Brown..
whatever, I’m not disappointed for the game, just for the conclusion, but no big deal, we are in, that’s what it matters
April 16th, 2008 at 12:58 am
it doesn’t matter who won the game..coz the lakers will win all the way!
April 16th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
I agree completely that Smith needs to gte out there and go toe-to-toe with the wily Rasheed Wallace. He will get owned on the defensive side of the ball, but Rasheed is primarily a finesse post scorer meaning he would own Reggie all the same by just shooting over him.
Jason would spread the court, not allowing for Rasheed and co. to stand within 5 feet of the basket the whole game. I completely agree that Smith needs to get out there. Not to mention that this would either motivate Smith if he does basly or will give him major confidence if he does well. I see it as win-win. I think Smith has the ability to develop starting Power Forward skills though, unlike most Sixers fans.
April 18th, 2008 at 8:50 am
I agree that down the line, Smith could become a dominant power forward. The biggest thing he needs right now is experience.
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