A Breakdown Of The Sixers Game One Win

As you know by now, the Sixers stole one from the Pistons in game one of the seven game series. Haven't caught Sixers fever just yet? No worries, our buddy Goot wrote up a nice quarter-by-quarter breakdown of the game.

1st Quarter
Thaddeus Young got the start and made Mo look good, with an early steal, dunk, and a couple of nice put backs.  Rasheed Wallace heated up and scored 8 of the Piston's first 12 points.  The Sixers shooting went cold and they didn't hit a shot in the last 4:28 of the quarter allowing the Pistons to take a 27-22 lead after 1.

2nd Quarter
The Sixers playoff inexperience showed in the 2nd quarter, they had too many turnovers, poor shot selection, and the Pistons owned the glass.  After a 'Sheed 3 to put the Pistons up 11, Mo realized he need Reggie Evans and Dalembert in to defend against 'Sheed and bench player Jason Maxiell(who ended with 10pts and 9reb. at the half).  The refs wanted to make sure 'Sheeds stat line was full and T'ed him up for arguing a foul called against Prince.  The Sixers entered the locker room down 13, 31-58.

3rd Quarter
The Sixers were determined to make this a game and came out hot, going on an 8-0 run to start the half.  After a Pistons' timeout, they answered with a 9-0 run of their own.  After trading a few shots, the Sixers went on another 10-0 run and eventually ended the quarter down 70-63.

4th Quarter
Andre Miller came out like a man possessed and stole the ball from Hamilton and hit a layup to set the tone.  Miller went on to score 12 of his 20 points in the first 6 minutes of the quarter and the Sixers took their first lead since the 1st, 78-77.  Reggie Evans hit a turnaround at the top of circle as the shot clock expired to keep the Sixers ahead.  92% free throw shooter Chancey Billups missed 3 of 4 foul shots and Lou Williams hit a 19-footer, and the Sixers held a 84-80 lead with 2 minutes to play. The Sixers came out of a timeout and Iguodala booted the ball driving to the net, the Pistons scored on their next possession down the floor to pull within 2.  Andre Miller missed a running jumper and Reggie Evans was there to tip in to put the Sixers up 86-82.  'Sheed takes off his headband to show he means business and draws a foul at the other end and knocks down his foul shots.  Iguodala got fouled, made his first, missed his second, and Maxiell got called for a lane violation, but Iguodala missed again. Billups regained his form and sunk 2 foul shots to pull within 1.  The Sixers got the ball out of a timeout and Iguodala made a pass to Sammy, who then got called for an offensive foul (personally, I think it was a bad call;  Maxiell got to the spot after Sammy was already in the air).  With 26 seconds left on the clock, the Sixers were up 1 and the Pistons had the ball.  The Sixers defense clamped down, Tayshaun Prince missed a 19 footer, and Iguodala collected the rebound and got fouled at 11 seconds.  With Iguodala at the line, he missed his first... NOOoooo.. but hit his second to put the Sixers up 2.  Pistons took their last timeout.  Right before play was about to start, 'Sheed leans in on the Sixers huddle. He had a smile on his face, but that's messed up... you don't pull that crap in the playoffs.  The Pistons run their play and it's to 'Sheed, Karma pays him back and he misses it . Iguodala secures the rebound, gets fouled, and thankfully makes both shots to end the game.

Notes
If the Sixers are going to stay in this series, Reggie Evans (11-14) needs remain a factor down low, Rasheed Wallace (24-9, 7 blocks) and Maxiell (11-12, 6 off) were eating them up in the second quarter.  The Sixers really stepped up the defense in the second half, when they held to Pistons to 35 points on top of 39% shooting for the game.  Andre Miller took the game over to begin the 4th and was the primary reason the Sixers pulled out a win.  The Sixers need to make their free throws, and they were lucky to win after shooting 19 of 27 at the line. It's not often Chauncey Billups is going to miss 3 free throws in the 4th quarter.  Game 2 is set Wednesday night 7:30pm.

-Goot

(Inquirer Image)

Comments

[phil]

I think the Pistons lost this game just as much as the Sixers won it.

No way Detroit shoots that poorly in game two.

[gootman]

@phil: I agree, both teams missed a bunch of 'bunnies'. The Sixers weren't able to run as much as they wanted to either. Iguodala is going to have to play much better if they stand a chance the rest of the series.

[Mike'M]

Pistons coach Flip Saunders disagrees:
"They played hard. I thought that we're extremely aggressive, and it's not that we lost the game, they beat us. There is no question about it."
- from ESPN's Daily Dime

[Mike'M]

Oh, and I too think that both teams can play better. But here's to the Sixers getting better and the Pistons playing the same.

[Matt P.]

clean me off another one of them bunnies, i gonna eat it.

/carl

[How do you spell retard?]

The Sixers need Shaq to teach them how to shoot free throws.

[TheCoz]

Hey Sixers.com, the final score of the game was 90-86, not 90-88. Anyway, awesome job Sixers!!! Win or lose Wednesday, the Wach will be fucking rocking on Friday night!!!