Wheels fall off Sixers in loss

What happens when you go 5-30 from the field in the second half?

When you go the last 10 minutes and 38 seconds without a field goal?

When you miss your last 18 shots from the field?

Well, generally, you lose. Even after building a 17 point third quarter lead at home against a sub .500 team who had lost 8 of their previous 9 games.

It's hard to really tell where the wheels fell off on this one. The players seemed to start showing frustration at the officiating in the beginning of the 4th, frustration that would only mount as the game wore on.

I sat there at the 2 minute mark, with the Sixers up 82-80, asking myself whether this team could hold the Nets scoreless over the final two minutes, as I had no faith the Sixers would score any more the remainder of the game. As it turned out, the Sixers would get a point, and only one point, the rest of the way. Up until 16 seconds were remaining, that was enough.

Sure, the refs were bad. Very bad. And seemingly lopsided against the Sixers. I think the block by Hassell on Speights was a foul, as he came down and landed on Speights' back. I think the charge called against Speights on the next series was a missed call as well, as I don't feel he had time to stop before contact. An and-one there instead of an offensive foul changes the game completely. I even think there's a possibility Andre Miller was fouled on that incredible pass inside by Iguodala.

Ultimately, the refs decided that they were going to swallow their whistles in the final two minutes (except for the charge/block by/on Speights that had to be called, one way or the other). I don't necessarily agree with that philosophy, but that's generally how it is in the NBA. For as many bad calls as there were, the Sixers lost because they didn't make a basket in the final 10 minutes and 38 seconds.

Over 10 freaking minutes.

Wow.

I feel that the game clock was merciful to us. There's no telling how long that dry spell could have lasted if the game continued. There wasn't a player on the Sixers (outside of possibly Speights) who didn't look offensively inept during that time.

Just an absolutely inexcusable loss. Now going 3-3 in their last six games, with Boston coming up, this ship needs to be righted.

Quick Hits

• I think Ivey might have been able to draw the foul on Harris on that final (well, second to last) shot. I think he had the time to make the move, and put him on the line for 3 free throw attempts in a 2 point game. That being said, you can't expect Ivey, who isn't accustomed to having the ball in his hands and making last second shots, to have that kind of presence.
  
• The old '77-'97 logo is everywhere in the building. On the jumbotron. As the Sixers logo on the scoreboard. Promoting the next home game. Even on the Sixers Dancers warmup shirts. Makes me wonder about the rumored return of the classic uniforms and logo.
  
• The house was relatively packed and excited today. 17,783 as the official figure today, and it actually seemed like a legit number, which is much higher than the Sixers average (14,500) attendance on the year, and the crowd for the most part was into the game. Attendance seems to be steadily increasing over the last few weeks. Not sure whether that's the improved play of the team, the Eagles season being over, or the hoopla over the Phillies finally subsiding. Probably a combination of all 3. That being said, I don't expect to see many sold out games until the playoffs.