Game #18: Major let down
Posted by pistonsnation
The Pistons were teeing off on the Brand-less Sixers. Being up by as many as 15 as late as the third quarter before the Sixers erased all the good feelings with a 38-24 fourth to steal one on the Palace floor {box score}
There’s really no excuse for this loss. You’re at home. The Pistons hadn’t played since Tuesday’s big win in San Antonio so there’s no fatigue factor. Philly struggled all season to get back to where they left off last season and they were without their leading scorer (and rebounder). Through 3.5 quarters there was plenty team cohesion. Not to slight what the 76ers did but the Pistons really blew this game.
The game started with so many positives. Rip got off to a great start hitting 4/5 for 9 first quarter points. Stuckey (16 pts, 6 ast) showing brilliance in his floor game. The bench was rolling. Then it all just sort of came unraveled.
The Sixers turned up their defensive intensity and the Pistons didn’t seem to respect that. The Sixers also got a boost by hitting the offensive glass. Louis Williams (16 pts) was agressive helping the Sixer scrap back into the game. Then it was time for Donyell Marshall to play Mr. Hero.
Donyell Marshall hit the big go-ahead triple that with 35 seconds to play that sealed W for Philly. Mind you Marshall was only activated because Brand was out, and hadn’t played in Philadelphia’s last 9 games. Didn’t matter though, he was ready when called upon scoring all 8 of his points in the fourth.
Being down by three the Pistons for whatever reason didn’t call a time out to set up a play and ended up with an arrant fumbled 3-point heave. I guess the thought was not to let Philly set up their D, but you pretty much always get the time out to draw up a play for your best chance of scoring. That one’s on Curry.
Michael Curry said. “We had a lot of wasted possessions and we just didn’t take care of the game the way we needed to – Detroit News
Funny, aren’t wasted possessions what Nuggets’ coach George Karl beams about not having nowadays?
GAME NOTES: Rip ended the night with 19 points … The two teams combined for 5/23 from beyond the arc … The 700 level: Pistons frozen by Sixers role players …
This entry was posted on Saturday, December 6th, 2008 at 11:51 am and is filed under 76ers, Game recap. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
