Sixers fans shouldn’t stomach another belly-up loss like Game 5
PHILADELPHIA » It wasn’t so much that the Sixers lost Game 5 in Miami, turning Thursday night’s Game 6 into a potential elimination game at Wells Fargo Center, but the way they took it that should alarm fans and management.
Pushed around much of the evening, the Sixers left without leaving a so un-Philly calling card. Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t about brawling. But in some way, you’ve got to let your opponent know you aren’t going to tolerate a blowout.
Take Game 5 of the series between the Suns and Mavericks. The Suns were throwing up three-pointers and high-fiving each other late in the game when Phoenix backup center Bismack Biyombo went up for a dunk with a 28-point lead and a couple of seconds to go.
Forward Marquese Chriss of the Mavericks stopped that attempt rather rudely, and the two got in each other’s faces and were ejected. The
Suns exited with a 11080 victory and a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series. They’ll also be looking around the next time they dunk.
Purists who maintain if you don’t want the other team bombing threes and dunking on you, then play better, are missing the point. Sending them a message when they add insult to injury tells them you care, and that you won’t forget. There’s a time and a place for that in almost every game.
“They were just more physical,” Sixers coach Doc Rivers said of the Heat. “Everything they did tonight was harder and better. Their stuff was better than what we ran, their energy was better, and their toughness was better.”
That’s about as damning a thing as a coach can say about his team.
Except for Joel Embiid, who was tired and banged up, the Sixers have too many nice guys. They need another enforcer, a P.J. Tucker or a Dwight Howard who can bring a physical presence when Embiid cannot.
And as for Rivers’ many critics … changing the coach isn’t going to make that happen.
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The NFL schedule officially is announced Thursday at 8 p.m., which is hilarious because the league has released times and dates for various games in recent weeks to heighten interest in the big rollout.
Like they don’t know when the rest of the games are, right?
The Eagles’ home opener is against the Minnesota Vikings on the second Monday night of the season according to the league. Guess the league doesn’t realize there would be a lot more interest and talk by releasing the Eagles-Commanders games featuring former Philly quarterback Carson Wentz.
If the NFL really wants to have fun and generate publicity leaking schedule stuff, it should unveil one game for each team for two weeks. Condition the fans instead of dropping most of the schedule on them in one night.
Everybody would benefit, including TV, radio heads and podcasters. They could count on giving their ridiculous analyses for a couple of weeks instead of a couple of days.
Let’s be honest, the Eagles already know what their schedule is, and they’ll have all their hotel accommodations taken care of before it’s released. Years ago, a copy of an alleged company email surfaced with the Eagles’ schedule several hours before the formal release. Its authenticity was denied although it proved to be almost completely accurate.
Unless you’re making travel plans, all you need to know is that just two teams have schedules softer than the Eagles this season, and they also play in the NFC East, the weakest division in football.
The Cowboys and Commanders have the easiest schedules in football, the combined records of their opposition of last season a sparkling 133-155-1 (.462). The Eagles’ have the 30theasiest schedule, their opponents 133-154-1 (.464). One spot and one percentage point ahead of the Birds are the Giants.
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Maybe it’s me but Dawn Staley has become a frequent guest at Wells Fargo Center during the playoffs.
The two-time national champion coach of the South Carolina Gamecocks, who have become the premier women’s program, rang the bell before one game and has been seated courtside for another game.
Staley has made no secret of her willingness to consider opportunities at the NBA level if presented.
At the same time, Rivers is being considered for other head coaching jobs according to rumors. Possibly even as the guy with the Lakers.
The question isn’t so much about the NBA being ready for a female head coach but is a force like Staley ready to break barriers and become the league’s first full-time head coach?
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The Eagles and USA Football awarded spring grants to advance youth football in the greater Philadelphia area.
That help couldn’t come at a better time as prices of football gear have increased like just about everything else these days.
Among programs slated to receive help locally are the Aston Athletic Association (Aston), the Chester Panthers (Marcus
Hook), the Chester Panthers Youth Empowerment (Marcus Hook) and the Greater 69th Street Wildcats Athletic Association (Yeadon).
“We are grateful to
USA Football and the
NFL Foundation for their joint efforts in supporting the game at the youth level through their annual equipment grant donation,” Eagles Vice President of Community Relations Julie Hirshey said in a release. “These muchneeded
resources will greatly benefit over 60 youth football programs and leagues throughout the Greater Philadelphia Area and provide increased access and opportunity for our city’s youth athletes to participate in sports in a safe, fun and engaging environment.”