Gotta Box Out!

That's why the 76ers lost Game 2 96-87. I can think of at least five times or so the Sixers didn't box out and let the Magic get second chance points. Orlando got 14 offensive rebounds in that game. And as hard as Theo Ratliff played and as much as I am a fan of him, I counted like two or three times where he left Dwight Howard to dry and block a layup and then Howard got a put back dunk. I know Theo knows better than that. He has been in the league for a long time.

You know, the 76ers shot better from the floor than the Magic. The key really was second chance points and not stopping rookie Courtney Lee. Our boys did a decent job on Howard, a good job on the three point shooters of Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis, but a poor job on the rookie Lee. There is no reason why this guy should have dropped 24 points in only his second playoff game.

As far as the 76ers offensive production goes, Andre Miller scored too many points (believe it or not). Thirty points is way too much for him because he needs to take less shots and distribute the ball more. Andre Iguodala played well, but just in the second half. He only had one of his 21 points in the first half. Lastly, Samuel Dalambert has to calm down and stop acting the way he is. He only played nine minutes last night and that's because he was acting up.

Well, all in all, the series is tied at one game a piece now with two games at home on the slate. And if there is one bright point in this series so far, it's that last year the 76ers won Game 1, but got annihilated in Game 2. The second game was close this year. Don't count the 76ers out yet. If they keep defending the way they do, with improving on covering Lee and doing better on preventing second chances, there is no reason why they can't compete or beat this team (Knock On Wood).