It seems that there is a common trend evolving on many of the Philadelphia 76ers wins this season. If you come in with a losing streak or a team full of injured players the Sixers will play like a team possessed, somehow let you get back into the game, and if the stars align the Sixers will win.
This anecdote is exactly what happened Saturday night as the Philadelphia 76ers downed the Detroit Pistons 104-94 at Detroit's Palace of Auburn Hills. The Pistons came into Saturdays game on an 11 game win-less streak. Most of this was due to the fact that for most of the losing streak the team was playing without the services of perennial all-star's Tayshaun Prince and Richard Hamilton.
Getting both of those players back into the lineup helped but Saturday night nothing was going to stop Elton Brand and the Philadelphia 76ers. Brand was one of six Philly players to end in double figures and his 25 points were a game high. Once again Brand came off the bench logging just under 30 minutes of playing time.
All five starters for the Sixers (11-25) ended in double figures including Samuel Dalembert who ended with a respectable 16 points and nine boards.
The Pistons (11-24) were lead by guard Ben Gordon who ended with 20 points off the bench and achieved an NBA milestone at the 3:51 mark in the second quarter by scoring the 10 millionth point in NBA history. This would be the only memorable moment for the Pistons who only scored 30 points in the first half and allowed the Sixers to stretch the game to as many as 29 early in the third quarter.
The win helped the Sixers get back on track after going 3-1 in their previous four games.
Next up for the Sixers is a visit from Chris Paul and the (19-16) New Orleans Hornets. Game time is set for 7p.m.
Sidenote: If you have paid attention to the Philadelphia media there has been an influx of public outcry against Sixers management, specifically that of general manager Ed Stefanski and his recent front office dealings as well as the sporadic in game actions of head coach Eddie Jordan
For any Sixers fan there are a few articles that I would like to make you aware of. Sixers beat writer Kate Fagan did an excellent piece on her Deep Sixer blog entitled Piecing it together talking about how their is no flow to the in game management of Eddie Jordan and how it is destroying any semblance of consistency for the team. SportsNetwork.com NBA editor John McMullen was extremely critical (albeit needed) of general manager Ed Stefanski in his Sixth Man column. I have even had my reservations on the offensive strategies of the Sixers in a article I entitled System Failure on my blog Eternal Mulligan.
All three of us agree on one thing, there is a problem with this teams operations. Whether its Stefanski or Jordan or both something needs to be changed.
-b.chan
As always send me your comments to the Eternal Mulligan
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