Game 16 Preview: Philadelphia 76ers @ SA

Starting lineups:

PHI (8-9, 2-6 away)

PG Allen Iverson
SG Andre Igoudala
SF Kyle Korver
PF Chris Webber
C Samuel Dalembert

SA (12-3, 6-1 home)

PG The French Layup Machine
SG Michael Finley
SF Bruce Bowen
PF Tim Duncan
C Rasho Nesterovic

PHI is coming off a loss last night to the not-as-bad-as-you-think Hornets.  I enjoy watching the 76ers for three reasons:

A)    Allen Iverson can do some things.
B)    Igoudala can jump really high.
C)    I love to make fun of Chris Webber.

Webber is playing better than I thought he would, but that's not saying much.  Yeah, he's scoring 20 PPG but it takes him 19 FGA to do it.  He's shooting only 43.5% from the field and his assists are well off his career numbers (thanks at least partially to AI, no doubt).  He still cannot guard a tree and not surprisingly the team defends better when's off the court, their eFG% allowed improving by 3.3%.  However, this number may be misleading because Webber plays 40 MPG; therefore a significant portion of his bench time may occur when the game is out of hand (and the stats less meaningful).  I would expect his production to taper off as the season progresses.  He's playing more minutes than any year since 00-01 and it's just a matter of time before he starts his annual injury/sulk-fest.

The Sickness had a dreaded MRI done on his right foot/ankle on Friday which revealed nothing more than a bone bruise.  I expect him to miss at least a couple more games but there's been no official word from the Spurs.

I freely admit the following assertion is based in exaggeration and slight delusions of grandeur:  offensively speaking, Tony Parker is a dependable jump shot away from being Allen Iverson.  That thought runs through my mind when I see Parker repeatedly get by opposing guards in two steps.

Tonight's line:  SA -10
Tonight's total:  SA 192.5
My pick:  PHI
Matty da Blade's plays:  SA | Under
The Spurs are 6-9 this year ATS.  I am 3-12.  (At this point even my mother is ashamed of me.)  Da Blade is 8-6-1 ATS | 3-4 TOT.