The Sixers, riding a 24-4 run to open the game, got their best win of the season tonight, thumping the Detroit Pistons 89-69 in South Philly tonight. It’s the biggest margin of victory for the Sixers this season (only the 2nd time they’ve won by double digits – the first time being twelve days ago against the short handed Pelicans) and the lowest point total for an opponent. Bobby Buckets led the Sixers with 19 points, while McDubs returned from a one-game absence with an almost trip-dub with 19pts-9rebs-10assts. The Sixers now have 9 wins, tying the win total from that infamous 1972-73 season that damn near everyone was convinced this squad would be worse than. Man … how bad was THAT squad?
It feels like each of the 3 games the Sixers have played against the Pistons has featured a different iteration of the D-Town squad. There was the With-Josh-Smith Pistons, who the Sixers beat in OT for only their second win of the season (cementing how horrible those Pistons were). Then there was the WithOUT-Josh-Smith Pistons who, basking in the glow of less Smoove and more winning, trounced the Sixers 107-89, leading for the whole game save thirty seconds. Those Pistons went 12-3, including 7 straight in celebration of Smoove’s brutal excommunication. Their greatness knew no boundaries.
Tonight we got a look at the WithOUT-Brandon-Jennings Pistons who, if early returns are to be believed, are pretty bad. Jennings went down with a season-ending Achilles injury 3 games ago, and the Pistons promptly dropped 3 in a row. The Pistons were on SEGABABA and looked every bit as tired and disinterested. I will say, I watched the Pistons play the Cavs last night, and they gave the Cavs all they could handle so, perhaps not surprising they were completely sapped. Still, remains to be seen if the Pistons can bounce back from such a disappointing injury, and if Spencer Dinwiddie can rock this stache all season.
While the Pistons search for a permanent identity, the Sixers bring it the same way every night: we D you up, and hope we can hit a basket. The D part came through tonight as the Sixers had 11 steals and 10 blocks, including 2 rejections apiece for Nerlens, MCW, Sims, and that hardworking Son-of-Harvey-not-Horace Jerami Grant. The ability for some of these young Sixers to block shots is pretty remarkable, especially when you consider how many blocks come out on the perimeter and not in the paint off weakside help. Jerami Grant erased Anthony Tolliver on a corner 3 at one point, and KJ tipped away another jumper leading to a run out dunk. The Sixers currently have 3 rookies (Nerlens, KJ, Jerami) averaging more than a block per game. Nerlens logged a wacky line of 5pts, 4rebs, 5assts, 4stls, and 2 blks. If my man can log a 5×5 this year, well hell, I’ll eat a shoe.
The offense was there as well tonight, despite the low point total (likely due to our 19 TOs). The Sixers started hot going up 20pts on the Pistons in the first quarter, and only cooled a bit after that. They finished the night shooting 47% from the floor, including 7/21 from downtown. They put 6 players in double figures and got nice contributions from Jakarr Sampson (13pts on 5/6 shooting) and Henry Sims (10pts on 5/7). They looked comfortable in their sets all night and moved the ball well, logging 27 dimes on 37 buckets. It was a fairly dominant performance in a season mostly devoid of dominant performances, and further proof that this squad continues to grow and improve.
Next up we get a preview of the BBVA Rising Stars Challenge from All-Star weekend as Team USA headliner MCW faces Team World Headliner Andrew Wiggins when the TWolves visit on Friday. The Sixers first two wins this year came against the TWolves and Pistons, so if I’m you I’m taking the points AND the money line on that puppy. If gambling was legal in the fine state of Pennsylvania that is …
