Game 8 vs. Philadelphia (3-4)
Projected Starting Lineup
1. Louis Williams | 6’1″ | 175 lbs. | 34.4 MPG | 15.0 PPG | 4.9 APG | 47% FT | 21.7% 3 | 81.5% FT
Not a pure PG, but somewhat effective when he is running the point. Learning the position this year. Looks to outquick defenders to get into the lane. Solid albeit streaky shooter. Must be physical with him.
2. Andre Iguodala | 6’6″ | 207 lbs. | 38.4 MPG | 20.0 PPG | 4.7 APG | 51.4 FG | 36.4 3 | 68.6% FT
Eddie Jordan’s two guard set will allow him to bring the ball up every once in a while, along with Lou Williams. The 6.0 assists per game average this preseason shows he may be embracing that. Super athletic, great finisher when he gets inside the paint. Streaky shooter, if he starts hitting, we need to watch out. Solid defender, gambles a bit…might be susceptible to back-door cuts.
3. Thaddeus Young | 6’8″ | 220 lbs. | 35.6 MPG | 12.9 PPG | 4 RPG | 40.7% FG | 8.3% 3 | 74.2 FT
His size at the 3 spot allows him to be a tough physical banger inside. Good shooter when given time, but if you contest, he is wildly inconsistent. Not the best ballhandler on the team, so you want to close hard on him to make him put it on the floor! Defensively, need to use speed to get by him, probably won’t be able to out-muscle him.
4. Elton Brand | 6’9″ | 254 lbs. | 27.6 MPG | 10.1 PPG | 5.6 RPG | 45.2% FG | 0% 3 | 83.3% FT
A PF that likes to bang inside. Must be physical with him and can’t let him catch it deep in the post. Face up game is solid too, and he can hit from 10-15 feet. Good passer, so you must be careful where you bring the double from. Tough rebounder, must box him out!
5. Samuel Dalembert | 6’11” | 250 lbs. | 22.1 MPG | 6.6 PPG | 6 RPG | 48.4 FG | – 3 | 84.2% FT
Not really an offensive threat from outside of 10 feet. Struggles to hit from inside 10 feet as well. Slow feet. Can be taken advantage of in the pick and roll set. Great timing and shot blocking ability though, must pump fake him! Terrific defensive rebounder.
Bench
F/C. Marreese Speights | 6’10” | 245 lbs. | 23.4 MPG | 14.4 PPG | 6.9 RPG | 63.5 FG | 0 3 | 84 FT
We should all be familiar with this guy from summer league. Possesses a great athletic ability for his size, and when he is hitting his shot he is tough to stop. Needs to take a lot of shots to put up his numbers. Good shot blocker, you can pump fake him though. He has shown to be foul-prone.
G/F. Jason Kapono | 6’7″ | 215 lbs. | 15.4 MPG | 6.7 PPG | 1.1 RPG | 50% FG | 45% 3 | 57.1% FT
One of the league’s best 3 point shooters. Has 30-foot range. Need to stick with him and can’t help off of him. Doesn’t do much besides shoot, so close hard and make him put it on the floor.
G. Willie Green | 6’3″ | 200 lbs. | 14.4 MPG | 6.3 PPG | 1.9 APG | 45.7% FG | o% FT | 80% FT
Not a true point either, but the truest point on the Sixers. If they struggle getting into the offense, Green will come in off the bench to try and settle things. Hard worker on defense, but he lacks the quicks to stay in front of his man from time to time.
F. Jason Smith | 7’0″ | 240 lbs. | 14.2 MPG | 3.7 PPG | 2.2 RPG | 31.3% FG | 50% 3 | 75% FT
Missed all of last year with a knee injury. Can play either the PF or C spot. Has a nice back to the basket game and a nice touch on his mid-range shot.
G. Jrue Holiday | 6’3″ | 180 lbs. | 11.7 MPG | 5 PPG | 1.7 APG | 75% FG | 75% 3 | 0% FT
Wildcard. Athletic and quick, but is an inconsistent shooter and he sometimes is a little loose with the basketball.
G/F. Rodney Carney | 6’7″ | 205 lbs. | 9.8 MPG | 3 PPG | 1.2 RPG | 35.3 FG | 33.3% 3 | 60 FT
Carney can run and jump as well as any wing player in basketball, but he’s a poor ballhandler who lacks good instincts. His lack of feel reveals itself in the poor assist rate and his inability to get shots near the basket to take advantage of his superior finishing ability. A real tough defender.
G. Royal Ivey | 6’4″ | 215 lbs. | 9.6 MPG | 2.8 PPG | 0.8 APG | 66.7% FG | 50% 3 | 50% FT
Defensive specialist with no real offensive game to speak of. Quick and athletic. Very aggressive and can be caught on back-door cuts. Tendency to foul a ton.
C. Primoz Brezec | 7’1″ | 255 lbs. | No Regular Season Stats
Played in the Italian league last year. Nice touch for a big man. Slow and weak on the defensive end.
Offensive Tendencies:
One of the worst three point shooting teams last year. Kapono helps, but he is the only 3 point shooting threat. Must keep their 3 front-court off the glass on both sides of the court. Must keep AI from getting hot. Eddie Jordan will be implementing a Princeton-style offense this year. Expect a whole lot of movement.
Defensive Tendencies:
A lot of aggressive athletic players who like to take chances. Need to pump fake on both passes and shots. Backdoor cuts can work against these guys too.
Keys To Victory:
Get Brook touches inside. He can out muscle Dalembert and negate his athleticism. Keep AI from getting hot. Rebound! Don’t let Elton Brand get position inside. Close out on Kapono, make him put the ball on the floor. Must always know where he is, he is the only one who can hurt the Nets from three.
