LA play host to the Philadelphia 76ers - and the time's right to really start applying some focus to what the team's goals are: a championship. Rested, and with a full roster the Lakers have a Philadephia team on the menu. And whilst Philly have been playing pretty well of late, they would have to be disappointed with their season thus far. This was a team that was configured to be on the elite tier, and it hasn't come close.
At every turn, Philadelphia's hit heartbreak.
Andre Iguodala's good... but he's a "Robin" - not a "Batman".
Elton Brand hasn't eventuated to be anything like 'as advertised'.
Lou Williams plays well, only to give way to Allen Iverson... who rejoins the 76ers, but has since had to leave the team.
LA? Post a loss to Dallas where the Lakers looked very much the tired team on the back of a back-to-back games, LA will be looking to assert themselves early and often.
Can the Philly bigs match up with their counterparts wearing purple 'n' gold? Dalembert's going to have his hands full with Andrew Bynum, and Elton Brand defend Pau Gasol? That... could get messy.
And Kobe... no-one here who's going to stop him, tho' I hope he takes on a facilitator role early - Bynum/Gasol/Odom could have a field day.
I can't even see LA's supposed PG woes slowing the Lakers down this game. Philadelphia simply lack the size to match-up with the Lakers.
LA by double digits.
Phil and crew discuss "close games"...
I also was lucky enough to interview Ricky from Sixers4guidos - a 76ers fan site based in Italy! Here's what he had to say:
Don (With Malice): Philadelphia seem mired in being a middle-tier team. What do they have to do to turn this around?
Ricky (Sixers4guidos): Fire the coach. I have seen a lot of bad coaches in the NBA but what Jordan did this year with this team is beyond any imagination. He basically took a mediocre team and turned it into a terrible one, creating troubles in the locker room, playing mind games with the (supposed) leaders and overall making them all perform less. If you add the overall weakness of the Conference, you realize you are just looking at a bad, bad picture.
WM: So on that... how's that Iverson-back-to-Philly deal working out for you?
S4G: I was/am a huge AI fan, and that was the reason why I was against his return.... Apart from his first game, really emotional, the rest of his season went exactly like everybody expected, which is not good for him nor for the team. He's clearly not the player he used to be, BUT he's Allen Iverson, so he has to start, get his load of minutes etc etc. I would have preferred that he'd join a contender, not a scrappy team like 2010 Sixers, where he is taking minutes from Holiday, Williams etc etc. To cut it short, he deserved a better end for his great career, I feel sorry for him.
WM: What's your favourite Italian food?
S4G: Of course, being a true guido, I love any kind of pasta. You can add almost any sauce to pasta: seafood, meat etc etc. I love meat also and all cold cuts.
WM: Kobe seems to have a special place in his heart for games vs Philadelphia. You seem to have a special place in your soul for Kobe. Please explain.
S4G: I don't like Kobe, I am being 100% honest here. As much as I have no problems in admitting his greatness as a player, he always seemed to be "too Hollywood" for my taste, you know what I mean. The fact that he's a Laker doesn't help him much, but I'd have the same opinion on him even if he was a Bobcat.
WM: I predict that at some point during the game, Pau loses it completely, and beats Brand like a piñata. Your prediction for the game?
S4G: Usually your bigs abuse ours, Bynum has built himself a reputation as Sixers killer, so he could have another great game. I hope Sixers make it competitive but I'm not sure. Please don't beat a dead horse, Brand is a former great player that is simply trying to manage his decline. Pretty sad. But he's signed for only 3 more years after this, pretty encouraging...
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