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Sixers beat Jazz 100-85 to improve to 2-0 at RMR

The 76ers outscored the Utah Jazz 63-40 in the second half en route to a 100-85 victory over the host Utah Jazz at the 2007 Rocky Mountain Revue.

Philadelphia native John Cox led the 76ers with a game-high 20 points (7-11 FG, 4-4 3FG), all in the second half, and Jason Smith scored 17 of his 19 points in the second half. For the game, the Sixers committed only nine turnovers while shooting 51.5 percent (34-66 FG) and 69.2 percent (9-13 3FG) from long range.

Utah led 23-16 after the first quarter, as the Jazz shot 64.3 percent from the field in the first 10 minutes. The Jazz extended their lead in the second quarter and entered halftime with a 45-37 lead as Paul Millsap had all 12 of his points in the first half. Bobby Jones and Herbert Hill led the Sixers in scoring in the first half with 10 points each. The Jazz outrebounded the Sixers 21-8 in the opening half.

Smith and Cox took over for Philadelphia in the third quarter, scoring a combined 19 points to get the Sixers the lead going into four, 70-65. The Sixers shot 64.7 percent (11-17 FG) in the third quarter and continued their hot shooting in the fourth quarter, connecting on 55.6 percent (10-18 FG).

The Sixers finished the game with six players in double figures. Louis Amundson finished the game with a double-double with 15 points and a game-high 15 rebounds. Derrick Byars came off the bench to finish with 13 points and four assists.

The Jazz were led by Almond with 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting. Millsap added 12 points and four boards and Dee Brown dropped in 11 points and five assists. Despite the loss, the Jazz held the advantage in the paint 42-30.

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Sunday Notes From Utah

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The Philadelphia 76ers have continued their summer league action at the 2007 Rocky Mountain Revue in Salt Lake City, winning their first two games. Sunday, marked an off day for the 76ers, allowing everyone to catch up on some rest. Sixers.com took some time to look back over the first two days of the RMR:

CARNEY RECOVERING:
Sixers forward Rodney Carney has missed the last three games (low back spasms) and has spent most of the Sixers practice time rehabbing with head athletic trainer Kevin Johnson and assistant athletic trainer Scott Faust. Carney sat behind the bench for the last two Sixers games. During Saturday’s game against San Antonio, Carney still found a way to be active in the game by doing a sideline interview with NBA-TV after the first quarter break. That following games will be televised on NBA-TV on tape delay.

Rocky Mountain Revue NBA TV Schedule (All Games Taped, All times Eastern):
Wednesday July 18th
1:00 PM - Philadelphia 76ers vs. San Antonio Spurs (7/13)

Thursday July 19th
8:00 PM (and 8:00 AM on Fri.) - Philadelphia 76ers vs. Utah Jazz (7/14)

Saturday July 21st
1:00 PM (and 1:00 AM on Sun.) - San Antonio Spurs vs. Philadelphia 76ers (7/17)

A FAMILY AFFAIR:
Louis Williams, the Sixers leading scorer in summer league action, played the opening 14:58 of the Sixers-Spurs opener at the Rocky Mountain Revue and finished with 13 points (3-4 FG, 7-7 FT). When Williams was subbed for mid-way through the second quarter, Williams headed to the Sixers locker room… After all, he had a flight to catch. Williams will head to Memphis for his brother’s wedding, scheduled for Saturday. Williams will miss the Sixers-Jazz game on Saturday, but will return in time for the game on Monday against Chicago. As the saying goes, family always comes first.

SIXERS JEOPARDY:
Your clue: The 12th and 21st overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft. The 2006-07 D-League Rookie of the Year. A former high school player of the year. And the 36th overall selection in the 2006 NBA Draft. Answer: Who are the starters for the 76ers summer league team.

And to make matters worse for the Spurs, the first two subs off the Sixers bench: the 2007 SEC Player of the Year (Derrick Byars) and the 2006-07 Big East Most Improved Player (Herbert Hill). In the Sixers Rocky Mountain Revue opener against the Spurs, the starting lineup featured Thaddeus Young, Jason Smith, Louis Amundson, Louis Williams and Bobby Jones… A lineup with a pretty impressive resume over their young basketball careers.

The Sixers in fact, jumped out to a 12-0 lead forcing the Spurs to call timeout and try to regroup. Despite scoring out of the timeout, the Sixers continued their quick start, increasing their early lead to 22-5. While the Sixers offense was impressive early shooting 22-of-34 (.647) in the first half, but their active defense was the deciding factor. The Sixers held the Spurs to 11-of-36 shooting (.306) and converted 12 turnovers into 22 points.

NO REST FOR THE WEARY:
Free agent summer league roster addition Gerry McNamara has plenty on his mind. The 6-foot-2 guard out of Syracuse who played in Greece and the NBA Development League last season has had basketball occupy the majority of his life for the past few weeks. Since July 1, the Sixers have held a mini-camp in Philadelphia, played five games in Las Vegas at the NBA Summer League and are now in Salt Lake City for a five-game stretch at the Rocky Mountain Revue. With practices scheduled for most off-days and shootarounds scheduled for game-days, it all may seem like a hectic schedule.

In addition to McNamara’s second NBA audition in summer league though, McNamara has been logging some serious minutes on his cell phone going back in forth with his fiancé as they finalize their July 21 wedding plans. McNamara will return home on Monday, July 16, to finish the last bits of preparation for the wedding.

In the meantime, Gerry McNamara paid a visit to the local Gateway mall in Salt Lake City on Friday after the game to get a new pair of sneakers for the rest of summer league. Ironically enough, McNamara purchased a pair of Carmelo Anthony’s. McNamara and Anthony led Syracuse to an NCAA Championship in 2003.

LEADING THE WAY:
During the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, 76ers assistant coach/player development Bernard Smith directed the team from the sidelines along with assistant coach John Loyer and former 76ers and Philadelphia native Aaron McKie. The team will have a change of pace at the Rocky Mountain Revue as assistant coach Henry Bibby will serve as the head coach with assistant coach Jim Lynam and McKie also assisting on the bench. Head coach Maurice Cheeks continues to monitor the team and his staff from a nearby courtside seat at each game.

iPHONE CRAZE:
Every where Sixers forward Louis Amundson goes, he is sure to have his latest purchase, his iPhone. Amundson purchased his iPhone the day after they became available in stores. Sixers rookie Thaddeus Young didn’t wait long to get his hands on the latest gadget either, walking to the AT&T store the first day the team arrived in Salt Lake City.

COACHES HAVE FANS TOO:
While it isn’t unusual to see a 76ers jersey in the crowd, regardless of the city, on particular fan in Salt Lake City had another way to support the Sixers, as she sported an “I Heart Bibby” T-shirt. Who said coaches don’t have fans too?