News Room: 11/03/08

Sorry, I went out to dinner tonight and I was not able to update until late.

Phillies Announce Amaro, JR as new GM.
As if we didn't see it coming, the Phillies announced that Ruben Amaro, Jr. is their new general manager. There is one surprise and maybe it is what Pat Gillick meant by, "We'll do it again next year." Gillick has decided to stay with the Phillies in an advisory role.

Amaro, Jr. will likely be suitable and some Phillies insiders felt that he was the one pulling the strings behind the many moves this year. Amaro, Jr. is definitely suitable and well-trained for the job. He's been an assistant GM since 1998 and he has been groomed by Ed Wade and Pat Gillick. The latter training will likely help him the most. Ed Wade and Mike Arbuckle did fairly well with the draft, but in terms of signing talent via free agency or making trades, he sort of fell off. Something Gillick was very good with, especially in August prior to the waiver trade deadline.

There is bad news. Mike Arbuckle who was responsible for heading the committee that drafted Rollins, Utley, Howard, Hamels, and etc will not be returning with the team. He told David Montgomery that he wanted to be the GM and that he will look for other opportunities.

The Flyers are talking to Brendan Shanahan
The Flyers are looking to add a forward who plays well in his own zone. They have inquired about winger, Brendan Shanahan. The Flyers will have to make a move to sign Shanahan because they are right up against the salary cap. I wouldn't expect it to happen, so don't get your hopes up.

Shanahan can still play and he'd likely only receive a contract for the rest of the season. He's 39 years old and he might accept less than $1 million, but I think the Flyers will be fine if they find a way for their forward to stop being pussies in the neutral zone.

Iverson is back in the Eastern Conference
The Sixers will get to see Allen Iverson multiple times this year because he was traded to the Pistons. In what looks to be a salary dump move for the Pistons next year, they traded all-star guard Chauncey Billups, reserve forward Antonio McDyess, and project Cheikh Samb.

To be honest, I'm not sure why Detroit made the trade, unless it was for the above mentioned reason. We'll see what happens.

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Sixers Basketball!

The 76ers are up 2-1 over the Pistons. 2-1! Samuel Dalembert led the Sixers in a blow-out 95-75 win. Dalembert had 22 points and 16 rebounds and he lead a defensive charge that forced 23 Detroit turnovers and had 15 steals. Reggie Evans provided amazing energy off the bench to spark runs for the Sixers and at helped Detroit miss their final 17 field goal attempts of the third quarter.

Another boost came from the free-throw line were the Sixers shot 84% after a dismal performance in game 2. The Sixers have come to play. Game 4 is on Sunday at the Wachovia Center

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Not This Time

When you shoot 39.5% from the field, 65.7 % from the line on 35 attempts, get out-rebounded 42-38, don't play defense, and only have 12 assists on 32 made field goals, you are going to get blown out. Well tonight, that happened. The 76ers lost to the Detroit Pistons 105-88.

The 76ers will try to bounce back Friday night at home.

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Sixers-Pistons Game 2 Preview

When: 7:30 on Comcast Sportsnet
Where: The Palace of Auburn Hills

After pulling out a stunning comeback victory in game 1, the Sixers are going to have their hands full again when they try to go up 2-0 in the best of 7 series. In game 1, the Sixers out-rebounded the Pistons 45-43 and held Detroit to 39% shooting. The Sixers will need Willie Green to shine again and for Reggie Evans to do what he's done all year on the boards.

I expect Samuel Dalembert to have a better game offensively and that will be a big if he can get Rasheed Wallace into early foul trouble. The Sixers are going to also need to improve their free-throw shooting. Hovering around 70% is going to hurt them in the playoffs.

My bold prediction: Detroit wins 91-82

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76ers Beat Detroit

The Sixers continued their winning ways at home with a victory over the Detroit Pistons. The Sixers shot over 50% as a team and they were led by Samuel Dalembert's double-double of 20 points and 13 rebounds. The 76ers never trailed in a game where they were able to run on the Pistons for 27 fast break points (26 combined in the previous 3 games.)

Andre Iguodala added 25 points and hit a season-high four 3-pointers to go along with 6 assists, 5 rebounds, and 5 steals. Louis Williams had 12 points and 7 assists off the bench.

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Sixers Beat Pistons 83-82

1st round playoff preview? Tonight the Sixers traveled to Detroit and defeated the Pistons 83-82 in a defensive battle, even while not scoring in the final 2:27. The Sixers shot only 40%, but used 14 offensive rebounds to get second-chance points. The Sixers also had 9 steals and only turned the ball over 6 times compared to 13 times by the Pistons.

Andre Iguodala led all scored with 22 points on 6-22 shooting (27%), but he shot 9-12 from the line. Four other Sixers were in double figures, including Reggie Evans who had 12 points and 11 rebounds. Samuel Dalembert had 15 rebounds.

Tonight was a huge win for the Sixers' confidence after they fell to Boston at home. Currently, the Sixers are slated to face the Pistons in a 2-7 match-up in the first round of the playoffs. Tonight, the Sixers played without Willie Green for the entire game and Andre Miller for a better part of the fourth quarter, because he re-aggravated a lower back contusion.

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