Sixers Lose Two Games In Texas

Dallas Ends Sixers' Streak At 1

After beating the lowly Clippers on New Year's Eve, the Sixers hoped to play up to the competition two nights later and for a while they did. But they ultimately lost to the Mavericks. The Sixers scored 86 points and they can't expect to win too many games scoring less than 90. Other notes:

For once, the three-point line wasn't unfriendly, but it wasn't kind either. Philly shot 5-14 and the Mavs 8-22, but the Texans, led by Jason Terry and Dirk Novitzky, hit a flurry of three's in a late-game rally to break the game open. Novitzky, because of his size, is always tough to stop but Terry got too many good looks.

Thaddeus Young reverted to his recent pattern, scoring but 8 points in almost 40 minutes. Not enough for a primarily offensive player.

Sam Dalembert scored 0, that's spelled Z-E-R-O, IN 21 minutes. It's easier to find a parking spot in mid-town Manhattan than for a 7-footer to get shut out in the NBA. In the meantime, Theo Ratliff continued to play much younger than his 35 years.


Sixers Lose in Gut-Wrenching Fashion to Spurs

Tony Parker may as well have been blindfolded when he put up his last second, turnaround baseline jumper, but the ball hit nothing but twine and the Sixers lost again. Parker's shot negated a valiant effort by Thaddeus Young, Andre Iguodala and especially Andre Miller. But near-misses in the NBA don't count for much:

Three-Point Watch: Sixers 4-12, Spurs 15-26. Enough said.

Dalembert Watch: 16 minutes, 3 rebounds, 1 block, 2 points. Ratliff was again much more effective and Speights shot well. Why Speights did not play the night before is material for an Agatha Christie mystery.

Willie Green scored 2 points in 21 minutes. Starting Lou Williams in his place may or may not be the answer. Whether he, Miller, Iguodala and Young would blend well together is not a foregone conclusion but Green's inconsistent production may force coach DiLeo to make a change.

Remind me again why the Sixers made a coaching change.