12/19/12
It has been a tough stretch for the 76ers due to recent losses
for their last three games. In these games, they have had the inability to
defend anyone. This matchup doesn’t look good for the 76ers if they want to
contain teams from scoring a lot. The Mavericks have a top 10 offense and can
be a juggernaut on offense. They can shoot the three very well and can play
aggressively and get to the free throw line. The only problem the Mavericks
have is their defense. It’s one of the worst defenses in the league. Besides
Dirk Nowitzki not playing for the Mavericks since the beginning of the season,
former 76er Elton Brand sat out this game with a groin injury. Jrue Holiday was
out yet again for the 76ers with a foot sprain.
The first half was close, but the Mavericks were the better
team. They played aggressive basketball and were looking to draw contact on
their shots. They also took more high percentage shots, which are shots that
are easily made. The 76ers usually take a lot of low percentage shots like
shooting midrange jumpers and three point shots. Thaddeus Young was not
performing well in this half. He went 3-10 shooting and could not make his
shots when he got rebounds on the offensive side of the ball. The 76ers didn’t
make things better when they turned the ball over eight times. That’s
unacceptable for a Doug Collins coached team since he preaches about not
turning the ball over. The Mavericks led at halftime 57-52. Shawn Marion, Chris
Kaman, and O.J. Mayo led the Mavericks in scoring. They all scored 10 points.
Derek Fisher had to leave the game early for the Mavericks due to a right knee
sprain. Evan Turner led the 76ers in scoring with 12 points.
The second half looked like things could get better for the
76ers, but the Mavericks made sure the 76ers were not going to win this game.
The Mavericks kept playing aggressively all game and it showed when they went
to the free throw line a total of 29 times compared to the 76ers 15 times. The
Mavericks won the game with a final score of 107-100. Mayo has been having a
breakout season this year and he has led the team in scoring with the absence
of Nowitzki. He scored 16 of his 26 points in the second half. Kaman also had a
stellar shooting night scoring 20 points and collecting seven rebounds. Marion finished with 14
points and nine rebounds in the game. Darren Collison didn’t have a good
shooting night, but finished with 12 points due to his aggressiveness and his
ability to draw contact to go to the free throw line. Brandon Wright
contributed with 10 points off the bench. The 76ers had breakout performances
off the bench from Dorell Wright and Spencer Hawes. Wright finished with a
season-high 25 points while Hawes tied a season-high with 18 points. Turner
collected 17 points in the game. Thaddeus Young and Jason Richardson both had
poor shooting nights. Thad Young finished with 12 points while Richardson finished with
11.
Overall, the 76ers need Holiday
back in the worst way. Without him in the lineup, they look lost on offense and
can’t run an offensive play perfectly. The schedule is only going to get
tougher for them and, if they want to play with the big boys, they have to
tighten up on defense. The 76ers yet again were having a difficult time getting
to the free throw line. Someone has to be aggressive and drive to the basket to
draw some fouls. It’s annoying when they contest for midrange and three point
shots because, like I said earlier in this post, they are low percentage shots.
How can the 76ers
play a complete game without one of their top players? Sound off and stay tuned
tonight when the 76ers conclude their Texas road trip with a stop in Houston to
play the Rockets.
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