The ever improving Sixers took another step in their development tonight when they defeated future hall of famer Tim Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs 77-71 at the Wells Fargo Center. It marked only the 9th time all season that the Spurs were on the losing end of a game.
Jrue Holiday who had been slumping recently had a solid bounce back performance en route to 27 points and 5 rebounds. The new point forward system coach Doug Collins is running through Andre Iguodala has taken the ball out of Holiday's hands. His assists, and overall game have suffered as a result. We can only hope that tonight is a sign that Jrue has embraced the change, adapted accordingly and made the proper adjustments necessary to succeed within the framework of the offense.
Consider this, the 76ers defeated the 44-8 Spurs on a night where Andre Iguodala and Lou Williams combined for 5 of 28 shooting and had only 13 points total. This young Sixers team is not suppose to be able to win games when that happens. Elton Brand continuing his best season in Philly, only had 6 points but was a major factor as he pulled down a game high 17 rebounds and blocked 2 shots. Spencer Hawes had one of his best games of the year with 13 and 8 respectively. Thats not suppose to occur vs. the likes of Tim Duncan, DeJuan Blair, and Antonio Mcdyess but it did tonight.
Every so often teams will sneak up and win a game they aren't suppose to win. Often is the case with young teams that don't know they are suppose to roll over and play dead when the top teams come to town. Its just the nature of pro sports. But this isn't one of those such instances. This has a different feel to it. This team has been building toward this for awhile now. The confidence has been growing, 1st with the moral victories found in narrow defeats and now with outright victories against the NBA's elite.
The biggest message that should be taken from tonight's victory is that this youthful Sixers group has learned how to win the close games. How to execute down the stretch and even more impressively, how to do it against the good teams. Thats something this team will take with them long after the enjoyment of tonight's victory has worn off. Even if they fail to realize it, they will reap the benefits of such success as it leads to future successes.
That shows just how far this group has come. They once had to derive their lessons from moral victories. Now they get to enjoy actual victories, against great teams, like the San Antonio Spurs.
Jrue Holiday who had been slumping recently had a solid bounce back performance en route to 27 points and 5 rebounds. The new point forward system coach Doug Collins is running through Andre Iguodala has taken the ball out of Holiday's hands. His assists, and overall game have suffered as a result. We can only hope that tonight is a sign that Jrue has embraced the change, adapted accordingly and made the proper adjustments necessary to succeed within the framework of the offense.
Consider this, the 76ers defeated the 44-8 Spurs on a night where Andre Iguodala and Lou Williams combined for 5 of 28 shooting and had only 13 points total. This young Sixers team is not suppose to be able to win games when that happens. Elton Brand continuing his best season in Philly, only had 6 points but was a major factor as he pulled down a game high 17 rebounds and blocked 2 shots. Spencer Hawes had one of his best games of the year with 13 and 8 respectively. Thats not suppose to occur vs. the likes of Tim Duncan, DeJuan Blair, and Antonio Mcdyess but it did tonight.
Every so often teams will sneak up and win a game they aren't suppose to win. Often is the case with young teams that don't know they are suppose to roll over and play dead when the top teams come to town. Its just the nature of pro sports. But this isn't one of those such instances. This has a different feel to it. This team has been building toward this for awhile now. The confidence has been growing, 1st with the moral victories found in narrow defeats and now with outright victories against the NBA's elite.
The biggest message that should be taken from tonight's victory is that this youthful Sixers group has learned how to win the close games. How to execute down the stretch and even more impressively, how to do it against the good teams. Thats something this team will take with them long after the enjoyment of tonight's victory has worn off. Even if they fail to realize it, they will reap the benefits of such success as it leads to future successes.
That shows just how far this group has come. They once had to derive their lessons from moral victories. Now they get to enjoy actual victories, against great teams, like the San Antonio Spurs.
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