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Class is now in session 76ers fans. Over the "course" of the Playoffs, Sixers TV broadcaster Marc Zumoff will give you an inside look at the 76ers 2003 Playoffs run from his educated view point. In his third lesson Professor Zumoff presents: random observations…ruminations…and a couple of questions just to make sure your heads are in the game…. |
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…For those who think basketball games are decided in “the last two minutes,” chew on this. In Game 4, the 76ers were leading 28-27 with about eight minutes to go in the second quarter. Out of a time out, Detroit coach Rick Carlisle had all bench players on the floor while Sixers coach Larry Brown had all of his starters. The result: a 14-2 spurt by the Sixers which gave them the cushion they needed to front run the rest of the game. The closest the Pistons would get was seven, 57-50… …Why is Derrick Coleman having such a great series against Ben Wallace, the man who has won Defensive Player of the Year the last two straight seasons. Well, one thing that’s helping is the Pistons overall defensive scheme, which has Wallace coming off of his man (Coleman) and challenging drivers into the lane. In many cases, that driver has been Allen Iverson who’s been able to find DC for easy looks… …Quiz time! When’s the last time the 76ers came back from a 2-0 deficit to win a best-of-7 playoff series. Think carefully. The answer at the end of Zoology III. And don’t cheat…! …Come playoff time, everything’s more intense. That goes for Head Athletic Trainer Lenny Currier too. The pressure to get an injured player back into the lineup is that much greater in the post season and especially in the midst of a back-to-back situation like the Sixers had in Games 3 and 4 this past Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday, guard Eric Snow continued to play with tendinitis in his right foot, while during the game, forward Kenny Thomas strained his right quadriceps. Bright and bushy-tailed Sunday morning, Currier was at the 76ers practice facility at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine dispensing treatment to both players. And both played later that night, going major minutes and making big contributions in the Sixers win… …As you know, the 76ers led the NBA in steals during the regular season. That included the trade for Kenny Thomas, acquired from Houston in a 3-way deal in December for little used Mark Bryant and Art Long… …So when was the last time the 76ers came back from a 2-0 deficit to win a best-of-7 playoff series? The answer: Never! In fact, only seven teams in NBA history have ever accomplished the feat. Sixers fans have probably blocked from their minds 1977, when Portland came back to win four straight in the NBA Finals after Philly took a 2-0 series lead. By the way, the Houston Rockets are the last team to comeback after being down 2-zip. They did it in consecutive years, 1994 and 1995, both times against Charles Barkley and the Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference Semifinals. When they did it in ’94, they had actually lost the first two games at home. Where did the Rockets eventually end up in 1994 and 1995? In both years, they became NBA Champions… |