The fast-break you speak is transition. Both Detroit and Philly tend to punish off turnovers.

Philly is going to try and establish themselves in Detroit’s paint again, which is how they do it, since the perimeter shots are not their specialty in the slightest. Detroit is going to bring their better-rated defense with a focus upon keeping Philly relegated to jumpers from farther away . . . Philly’s defense is going to try and keep Detroit guessing with playing straight-up man D on some guys, while slippin’ in some zone. Detroit loves the jumper, and they get stagnant if their ball-movement is limited.

Thanks for the respect, and I respect what I’ve read here, good blog and comments.

You’re echoing my argument, contra LB, that Detroit has a battle on their hands. These 2 teams have played 5 times, the Sixers have won 3, although I’m happy to throw out the last regular season game even though it does not reflect well on your bench. Each game has had to been won in the 4th quarter, and each winning margin has been less than 10. LB acts like game 1 was some crazy aberration and game 2 will be a 10+ point blowout. I think I have the evidence on my side that he is mistaken. I will echo David’s last paragraph that this is a team game and match ups do matter, and while Detroit is the deserved favorite, a cakewalk is not going to break out.

Frankly, I think the match ups would be even closer if Igoudala played SG and Thad Young SF, as Green is a below average SG, especially starting.

Also, I agree without your assessment of the Sixers as resembling the Pistons of ‘02. I think management wants to emulate your philosophy as well, albeit with a most fast breaking style.

http://www.hoopsstats.com/basketball/fantasy/nba/standings/08/19

http://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_2008.html

Morty, we don’t watch the Sixers all year, but you’ll find that a decent percentage of us follow the NBA pretty well, can tell you the names of actual players on the team, and in my case, can make an argument that Sixth Man award should not only be re-classified, but it should also feature some Sixers, maybe Louis Williams, as the winner or contestant among guys like Jason Maxiell. Yes, we noticed the Sixers. I, in particular, didn’t exactly clap my hands when Detroit missed Toronto. Looks like Detroit has another possible toughest road, yet again.

Anyway, we’ve seen teams like this, and your Sixers remind me of early 2k Pistons clubs, like this one, but with less 3-ball and more rebounding:

http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DET/2002.html

We know Philly isn’t the usual .500 club. We know they’re dangerous.

Kevin Ollie is about 82 and was never good. Shavlik Randolph shouldn’t be on any team’s active roster. Long story short, the squad needs to tie up some loose ends, but if Willie Green goes from their third best scoring option to their fifth being the first man off the bench, you’ve got yourself a squad.

You wanna talk talent, Detroit has the edge easily. You want to talk experience, Detroit by a mile, but if you want to talk matchups in this series and hunger and desire and coaching and good all around team energy, well then, we may just actually have something to talk about…..stay tuned!

I’ve been assuming you have not been watching the Sixers all year. I guess I was wrong.

That’s not a talented squad. That’s a squad who has a coach that motivates them to bust their butts and a coach who is getting results. It’s nothing more. A piece or two later, and this squad could be something. As presently constituted, calling them “a seven seed” is kinda generous.

Both teams had up and down games and the Sixers did just enough to win.