Winnipeg Jets at Philadelphia Flyers Afterthoughts 1/31/12

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The Flyers hoped to come out of the All Star Break the same way they entered: with a win. The Jets, who have beaten them in five straight games prior dating back to when they were still the Atlanta Thrashers, made sure that wouldn't happen, beating the Flyers 2-1 in a Shootout behind the goal-tending of Ondreg Pavelec, who saved 27 of 28 shots.
   
It was Philadelphia's third straight shootout and their second loss in that stretch. Bryzgalov was starting in net and fans were hoping this break would be enough to completely take the chip off his shoulder. But let's get it right... tonight's loss was not on him. He saved 23 shots in regulation plus overtime and stopped his first two shootout attempts. The Flyers couldn't score in the shootout. They couldn't score on Pavelec minus the first goal by Schenn, which he worked hard enough to get poking the puck in three or four times before it finally crossed the line. Pavelec was nearly perfect minus that opening goal.
   
The Jets and Flyers along with the viewers were probably expecting another shootout, seeing as how their first two games had 27 combined goals between the two teams. It was another close one, but this one was a battle of the netminders. Bryzgalov, who has been pretty bad in shootouts, made two good saves to start tonight's. But Couturier, Giroux and Jagr came up short and Bryz couldn't make the final stop.

It happens.

There are many times I would be upset when we lost a close game such as this, but Winnipeg, and moreso Pavelec, really played well tonight. They should have ended it in the OT Period when Bryan Little got the puck above the glove of Bryzgalov, but it clanked off the post. Count that as a mulligan, and the Flyers failed to take advantage.

One argument, though: What was with that shootout lineup? Especially Jagr... he's 5-of-22 in his career. It's his first game back from injury. Why not have someone else out there? Read? Hartnell? Was that really the best lineup they had? It wasn't, and I put a bit of blame on Coach Peter Laviolette for that one. I understand they wanted to get Jagr off on the right foot, but in a situation where the game is on the line, I think the order and the lineup itself should have been changed. If it were me, I would've went Couturier-Hartnell-Giroux. But what do I know? At least they got a point tonight...

The Flyers welcome Nashville to Philadelphia on Thursday night for their final meeting of the season. Nashville won the first a little over two weeks ago 4-2. It'll be tough to score on Pekka Rinne, but they'll have to put one or two in net and hope Bryz or Bob, whoever ends up playing, puts up a good game. If not, you can chalk up another loss and cue complaints of Flyers fans across Philadelphia... I really hope the Flyers don't let that happen.

Orlando Magic at Philadelphia 76ers 1/30/12 Afterthoughts

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The Magic may have been slumping, but a visit to Philadelphia, whose 76ers were without their starting Center Spencer Hawes, could have been just what they needed. With the opportunity for Dwight Howard to break out, it was the perfect time for the Magic to turn the switch back on. I mean, after all, this is the Sixers. No one expects them to do anything against those “top tier” teams.

Oh, wait... the Sixers won the game 74-69. That final score might make it seem like a close game, but it was far from it. If it weren’t for the final 3:32, they would have lost by 19. The Magic were held to just 33.3% shooting, actually inflated from their final run—they were shooting less than 28% before that. The Sixers weren’t much better, shooting 37.5%, but their defense more than made up for the lack of offense.

Dwight Howard had a double-double, but he played badly tonight. He shot 6-of-17 and got blocked twice. He was 5-of-13 from the line; the Sixers were playing Hack-a-Shaq 2.0: Hack-a-Dwight and they won. Ryan Anderson grabbed a ridiculous 20 rebounds, also recording a double-double, but it was far from enough to give Orlando their first win in four games.

Andre Iguodala led the Sixers with 14 points, 11 rebounds and 6 assists. He was just 3-of-line from the line, however, which needs to change. He needs to realize that it’s no longer ok to go 0-of-2 or 1-of-2 consistently. It’s rare to see a Small Forward shoot 67% from the stripe. Tonight was worse than his average and it would be nice to see him improve his foul shot. But this far into his career, it’s doubtful that he’ll improve it much.

Elton Brand and Tony Battie did a great job containing Dwight; Brand had four blocks, two on Dwight, and Battie’s defense helped to make sure Howard didn’t go off on a hot streak in the middle of the game. Nikola Vucevic and Spencer Hawes both didn’t play again tonight, and some, including me, thought that Dwight would have a great game because of their absence. Turns out I was wrong. I thought it would be a close game throughout and the Sixers would have to grind out a win for the first time this year. I was wrong. I thought, watching SportsCenter tonight, I would see the Sixers finally get some love nationally. I was wrong. They talked about the Magic’s woes and the Sixers were nothing but a footnote.

One thing I wasn’t wrong about, however, was these Sixers. At 15-6, they are where they are because they deserve to be there. Even in a game where they struggled offensively, there was no point in the second half where anyone really doubted Philly would get the W. It’s something I’m not used to and it’s something most Sixer fans aren’t used to either. But I’m definitely enjoying the ride and the rest of this week has a chance to end badly, but right now I’m having so much fun watching this team play. It may be a longshot, but hopefully free agent-to-be Dwight Howard enjoyed watching them too…

State of the Sixers: 1/30/12 (PhilaPhans)

Image courtesy of Marc Serota/Getty Images

This past week was far from a challenge for the Atlantic-leading 76ers, facing four of the five worst teams in the Eastern Conference all at home. They did their job for the most part, with the only blemish being an overtime loss to the New Jersey Nets on a night where Deron Williams transformed into a superhuman. They should have won the game, but it’s just one loss in a 66-game season. The team is still one of the best in the league almost a third into the season. For as much that has gone the Sixers way, the team’s had to jump over some hurdles and they’ve pretty much come out unscathed.
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Read the rest of the column here!

NFL Pro Bowl or NHL All Star Game?

Since the NFL changed the date of the Pro Bowl from the week after the Super Bowl to the week before two years ago, it has coincided with the NHL’s All Star Game on the same day. Now, in the US, Football is much more popular than hockey; it shouldn’t even be an argument. But when it comes to All Star games? Festivities? That’s a whole different story… hockey’s got that in the bag. Especially since they implemented the fantasy draft system last season, maybe in efforts to have an extra edge on the NFL since they became competition, it’s been a much more entertaining weekend, about on par with the NBA and MLB.

Like I said earlier, Football might be the country’s favorite sport, but when your all star game takes place in Hawaii every year, when players from the most elite of teams are no longer able to play because they have to prepare for the Super Bowl next week, when there’s nothing else besides the game, which is usually lackluster, is it even worth watching?

The NHL’s All Star game is three hours before the NFL’s, presumably because they don’t want to deal with the competition. But honestly, as someone who is more of a football fan than hockey, I would much rather watch the NHL All Star Game. People have the whole weekend to get into it, from Friday’s Draft, to Saturday’s Skills Challenge, the league does a great job hyping up its most star-studded game of the year. I didn’t watch the All Star festivities last season just because I wasn’t home, but after watching the draft this year and watching the festivities last night, I’m more excited for today’s All Star Game than I’ve ever been for a Pro Bowl… even when the Eagles had four starters after the 2004 season.

Then again, that could’ve been because they had just lost the Super Bowl…

Regardless, I understand these All Star games are for fun. They’re not supposed to be competitive. Even in MLB, where the winner gets home-field advantage in the World Series, you don’t usually see serious competitiveness until halfway into the game. But the NHL has been on its way back up in popularity since the lockout in 2005. It’s not close to the NFL, but the Pro Bowl is nowhere near any of the other major sports’ All Star games. The NHL was better before, and with the league’s added all star events, it only widened the gap.

As I write this, the All Star Game is about to begin. So I’ll end with saying that, although Hockey isn’t as popular, it surely tries much harder to make for a successful and fun All Star Weekend. Football just goes on the name and hope people will watch because people always watch. It’s a Sunday. It’s a habit. But I, for one, will not be sucked in. I watch football 21 out of 22 Sundays from September to February. On this Sunday, Hockey gets the nod.

Frontcourt becoming a liability for the 76ers (PhilaPhans)

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The Sixers started the 2011-12 season on a tear, winning 10 of their first 13 games, surprising many who expected more of the same mediocrity that they have witnessed the past six seasons. Another surprise was Center Spencer Hawes, who had six double-doubles in his first 12 games played. While he played, he masked Philadelphia’s lack of depth in the frontcourt pretty well, but since he’s gotten hurt the Sixers have been 2-3. To make matters worse, backup Nikola Vucevic got hurt during Saturday’s loss in Miami. That leaves the Sixers top two centers as Tony Battie and newly-signed Francisco Elson, names that just strike fear into opposing teams.

Yeah, I don’t believe me either…
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Check out the rest of my first PhilaPhans.com column here!

"Lights Out" for Lidge in Philly

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When Brad Lidge came to Philadelphia before the 2008 season, fans were excited to have a true closer on the team for the first time since the now-despised Billy Wagner in 2005. After going through an aging Tom Gordon and the outspoken Brett Myers, who was a starter-turned closer-turned back into starter, it was a nice change of pace to have a player who the team could count on in the ninth inning. Good results were expected, but Lidge exceeded those expectations in his opening season with the Phillies. Now, four years after being acquired, Lidge is on his way out, signing a one-year deal with the Washington Nationals.

Lidge’s tenure with the Phillies was much of a roller coaster ride, but the 2008 season is the reason he will forever be loved by the Philly faithful. After going 41-of-41 in save opportunities in the regular season, Lidge was 7-of-7 in the postseason. His final save is one that no fan will forget. From the pitch, to the call by late great Harry Kalas… even after not watching it for over a year, I still remember that call…

“The 1-2 pitch… SWING AND A MISS! STRUCK HIM OUT! The Philadelphia Phillies are the 2008 World Champions of Baseball!!”

It was the height of my personal Phillies fandom and Lidge was at the center of it, jumping in the air with nothing but excitement as catcher Carlos Ruiz and the rest of the team pummeled him with happiness. That day is the day he permanently engraved his name into the fans’ hearts. That was the reason that his next season, a historically bad one, would eventually be forgiven. Even halfway into the year, when his ERA was above 5 and he was not pitching well, fans still wanted him in games because they know how much he did the year prior.

They changed their mind when his ERA continued to rise, but they stuck with him longer than they would have any other player. This is unusual in Philadelphia, especially. Whenever players start showing any sign of decline, fans are quick to throw the player under the bus and call for a change. Lidge was an exception to the rule. He was made famous in 2008 and, although fans wanted someone different later in the year, they still supported Lidge through his struggles.

The following year was much different for Lidge, who ended the 2009 season with a dreadful 7.21 ERA. But it didn’t faze him; he came back the next season looking like his old self, posting a 2.96 ERA in an injury plagued year and converting 17 of 18 saves to end the season.  Fans wanted to see him close out the season with another World Series victory. It didn’t happen, but he wasn’t at fault.

To say that fans, as well as the Phillies front office, were emotionally invested in Lidge is an understatement. In 2009, Manager Charlie Manuel was under fire for keeping Lidge as closer by much of the media and fans late in the year, but he did not want to relinquish the closer duties from the man who was a key reason for them winning the championship in ’08.

In 2010, injuries were a problem, but on-field play was not. In 2011, it was more of the same, but injuries really caught up to him. He only played in 25 games, half of how many he played the year prior. Ryan Madson took over Closer duties officially and it was foreshadowing the end of Lidge’s stint in Philly. He played well in his limited role, sporting a 1.40 ERA in 19.1 innings pitched.

Now, three months after season’s end, Lidge is headed to the Nats, a division rival. His stay in Philly, albeit not too long, made its mark in Phillies history. Now, a little over three years after the greatest moment in Phillies history since 1980, the man on the mound is no longer on the team. His nickname was “Lights Out Lidge.” Today, it is truly Lights Out for Lidge in Philly, owner of one of the greatest seasons by a Closer in MLB History and forever remembered in Philadelphia for bringing the World Championship back home.

New Jersey Nets at Philadelphia 76ers Afterthoughts 1/25/12

Image courtesy of NBAE
Deron Williams leads the Nets to victory

The Sixers welcomed the New Jersey Nets to the Wells Fargo Center tonight, loaded with confidence coming off their dominating victory against the Wizards on Monday night. The Nets would prove to be a tougher matchup, however, and four quarters wasn’t enough to decide a winner, as Deron Williams led New Jersey to a 97-90 overtime victory.

It was the Sixers second home loss of the year. Their first came a week ago against Denver, and that matchup also went into overtime.

Williams had 34 points and 11 assists for the Nets and he scored the game-tying bucket in regulation as well as the tying jumper and go-ahead three with 26.8 seconds to go in overtime. Philadelphia had no answer for the Nets’ star. Power Forward Kris Humphries also played extremely well, scoring 13 points and grabbing 19 boards, well above his season averages. The Sixers have prided themselves on their defense this whole year, and both Williams and Humphries upended the team with their best games of the season.

Lou Williams led the Sixers with 17 points, while Elton Brand scored 16 and Jrue Holiday added 14 points and 7 assists.

The Nets came out in the first quarter and showed they weren’t playing around. They led by four at the end of the quarter, and went up 29-20 in the second. The Sixers followed with an 11-0 run and went into halftime with a two-point lead. New Jersey wouldn’t let up, though, taking that lead back in the third quarter, while the fourth was much of a dogfight.

Critics of this Sixer team recognize their victories thus far have all been blowouts and they wanted to see the Sixers pull out some close wins. This is something that the team needs to show. They’re good, but what viewers have seen thus far are either blowout wins or, for the most part, close losses. Fans of this team want to see those close losses as close victories. They want to see this team grind out victories, fighting for all 48 minutes on the floor, or even more if necessary.

Tonight, they went up 90-88 in overtime and gave up two crushing baskets to Deron Williams. They had 27 seconds to play, down three and the team looked like a collective group of deer in headlights. Lou Williams ended up missing the three-point attempt and that was it.

Spencer Hawes and Nikola Vucevic were both out again tonight, which could account for the team being out-rebounded… and who knows? It could’ve been the difference between the loss and the win. Everyone knows the Sixers depth up front isn’t much. They’re working out Dan Gadzuric this week… that should tell any fan all they need to know about how good their frontcourt is.

But who played and who didn’t tonight does not matter. The Sixers had an opportunity to win this game. The door was open, but Deron Williams made sure the door closed on that opportunity not once, not twice, but three times.

They’re still in first place in the Atlantic Division, but if the Sixers big-man problems don’t get solved soon, more specifically by next Monday, they could be headed on a downward spiral. After the start they’ve had and the excitement their fans have shown, a lengthy losing streak in a season that is still pretty young could have adverse effects. Especially if it gives those “they haven’t played any good teams yet” critics more ammunition, as losses in the next couple weeks will do nothing more than prove them right.

For the team’s sake and the fans’, let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.

Philadelphia Flyers at Florida Panthers Afterthoughts 1/24/12

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Bobrovsky stops one of three Panthers' shootout attempts

It was the Flyers second straight shootout and their fourth of the year. They were 0-3 prior, and the Flyers shootout history since it was implemented in 2005 was not much better. So, all things considered, confidence was not too high when the overtime period ended at Florida and the game was still tied at 2.

Two days after Ilya Bryzgalov gave up six goals against Boston while letting both of the Bruins’ shootout attempts get through, Goalie Sergei Bobrovsky made sure the Flyers went on the all-star break with a victory, stopping all three shootout attempts. Claude Giroux scored on Philly’s second shot and the Flyers left Florida with a 3-2 victory against the Panthers.

The Panthers got on board quickly, just 2:49 into the first period, as Mikael Samuelsson scored on the Power Play after a very unnecessary charging penalty by Tom Sestito, further reminding everyone that he’s not on the Phantoms only because of the multitude of injuries to Briere, Jagr and JVR.  

Brayden Schenn and Jakub Voracek followed with two goals to give the Flyers a 2-1 lead going into the second. Tomas Fleischmann scored with 4:20 remaining in the second period to tie the game at two. That was the last goal until Giroux’s game-winner in the shootout.

After stopping 11 of 13 shots in the first period, Panthers backup goalie Scott Clemmensen didn’t make any more mistakes, not letting the Flyers’ next 24 shots get in net. He stopped 35 of 37 on the night. Clemmensen is 6-2-5 while starter Jose Theodore is 14-9-5, not much better. Just like the Flyers, it seems like Florida might have a goalie controversy on their hands.

Bobrovsky had no room for error and he showed up when it mattered… something Bryzgalov has failed to do. After being upset with the media following Saturday’s victory against the Devils, Bryzgalov followed with an abysmal effort at home against the Bruins, a game that could have easily been won. The team bailed out Bryz and he answered by giving up more and more goals.

After going down 3-1, the Flyers went up 4-3 with a hat trick from Hartnell in the second period. Not even six minutes of gametime later, the Bruins were back up 5-4. No team should expect this from their starting goalie and the sad truth is that Flyers fans have gotten used to Bryzgalov’s not-so-great goaltending. Fans expect a bad game from him and it’s s surprise when he shows up.

Before the loss, he had two one-goal games against the Devils and Wild. No one got excited because he’s done this before. The wins were against average teams. Enter the B’s? A top team in the East? No chance. The Rangers? There’s a reason Bob was in net during the Winter Classic. Bryzgalov gave up four goals on 24 shots in their pre-Classic Matchup a week prior.

I’ve tried to be optimistic when it comes to Bryz, but it’s hard to be now, especially when Bobrovsky has consistently played better whenever he’s been out there. He stopped 23 of 25 shots tonight and did not let up once in the shootout. The team is now going on the All Star Break, and. if they want to win, or even complete for the Stanley Cup in June, a drastic change may need to be made, even if that change could cost the team $51 million dollars…