Game Recap: Golden State Warriors vs. Philadelphia 76ers

It was a game that should never have been close.  The best of the NBA facing the worst of the NBA.  At least, that is what the records of each team would tell you.  But the Sixers didn’t get the memo to roll over and die, and gave the Golden State Warriors a near historic upset. It was a shot by Harrison Barnes with .2 seconds left that enabled the Warriors to survive the resurging Philadelphia 76ers

On paper, the score should have ended up at 115-94 with the Golden State Warriors ending up as a clear never looked back winner. On paper this game should never have been close. And for three quarters of the game, the teams followed the script. Somehow, the Philadelphia 76ers clawed back from the 19 point deficit at halftime. But the game was foreshadowed by the words of head coach Brett Brown, who despite coaching the worst team in the NBA, was not shy about exhibiting some confidence of his own.

"We play, that we’re not intimidated by the moment, that we go play, and we compete. We feel like we got something to offer too. We can put our hand up and have our young guys say, ‘Look at me.’ You look at some of the plays and the way we have been playing recently, I’m proud of our effort, and proud of our play. I think that we’ve showed a balance. I think that we’ve showed a toughness. We want to go play. We want to go play, and not get caught up in records, or who’s on the court, and let these guys show our fans what we’re doing as well. We don’t back down. We run. We go. To all of a sudden come in and say, ‘Oh we’re playing Golden State, so let’s walk it up the floor because we’re fearful of their pace’ isn’t going to happen. It’s not going to happen. So we’re going to go do what we do. We have done what we have been doing lately quite well. We’re going against the league’s best at that. We look forward to entertaining an entertaining style of play, and showing the city and the fans how we play, too. I admit at times that could be dangerous, but that’s what we’re going to do.” – Brett Brown as interviewed by Brian Seltzer of Sixers.com  during pre-game warmups"

The Warriors were red-hot, as hot as an NBA can be in the midst of the season. Following a rare loss to the Detroit Pistons, the Warriors have defeated the likes of the Cleveland Cavaliers (132-98), the Chicago Bulls (125-94), the Indiana Pacers (122-110), the San Antonio Spurs (120-90), and the Dallas Mavericks (127-107).   Their offense was virtually unstoppable, and the Sixers were next in the path of the juggernaut.  How could they hope to survive?  By playing inspired basketball.

The Sixers, a team who struggled early in the season with turnovers, turned the tables on the best of the best.  It was almost enough.

The ending of the game was almost anti-climatic. But this was a game in Philadelphia, and the fans rose and acknowledged the effort their young Sixers team had placed in the losing effort.  This was not just a battle on the court. The greatest battle was within the Sixers players themselves. They were down by a perceived insurmountable score, and only had a single quarter to make up the difference.

They won the battle inside, and almost won the game. As often as fingers are pointed at the head coach of the Sixers in a loss, fingers should point to him now in this loss. Not due to the loss, but to the resilience and no-quit spirit that this team has grown.  A spirit that seemed to fill the stadium despite the loss. Fans in attendance, most of whom wore the colors of the Golden State Warriors, did not let the effots of the Sixers go unmarked.

This head coach, Brett Brown, has found a way to bring out the fighting spirit in a team which could easily be disheartened. But they are not. If the truth be told, this team is even more determined to scratch and claw and compete.

"“San Antonio, Dallas, Indiana, Chicago, and Cleveland. That’s the last five games that [Golden State] has beaten by an average of 25 points. And scored an average of 125. For us and to be down 24 and find a way to not roll over, not be all caught up in the moment – and find a way to give something back to our fans who were fantastic – is a great thing for our young team. It validates the work they have put in. It showed we have not let down, and no back down. I give us a lot of credit.” – Brett Brown following the last second loss to the Warriors"

Player of the Game

The team had seven players with double digits, and Robert Covington had a double double against a well coached opponent. Isaiah Canaan led the Sixers scoring with 18 points, with five of nine shooting on three-pointers. But the player of the game has to go to the spark of this new spirit, Ish Smith. He came in with 16 points, 9 assists, 4 steals and just one turnover. But the play of the game was the steal near the closing seconds that almost sent the game into overtime.

If the game had gone into overtime, the Sixers had enough momentum to believe they could have emerged victorious.

Looking Ahead

The Sixers will play host to the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday, February 3rd.