“With [Howard] being out, it takes some pressure off them. They have
really nothing to lose.” Andre Iguodala
Keys to Game 6
[1] Attack Redick. If Willie Green and Lou Williams can’t score on J.J. Redick, they should be the ones getting suspended.
[2] Go to the basket. The Sixers are simply settling for too many jumpers. Without Dwight Howard in there, it should be a parade of dunks and foul shots.
[3] Run, run, run. The Magic obviously have a thin bench tonight. Raise the tempo and make them use guys like Tony Battie and Anthony Johnson.
NBA. The Sixers were already in a must-win situation tonight. Now they’re in a should-win.
All-universe center Dwight Howard is suspended for tonight’s Game 6 thanks to a vicious elbow to the head of Sam Dalembert Tuesday night.
Howard and Dalembert were grappling when the normally mild-mannered “Superman 2” appeared to lose his cool.
“He just probably woke up on the wrong side of the bed and said ‘I’m gonna get the Haitian guy,’” Dalembert joked before yesterday’s practice.
Howard, who is averaging 24 points and 15.8 rebounds in the series, would be back for a potential Game 7. But his absence can’t be measured in statistics. Every time the Sixers go to the basket, Howard is there to clog up the lane.
Now it will likely be Polish reserve Marcin Gortat in the starting lineup, along with former Duke standout J.J. Redick (Courtney Lee has been ruled out of tonight’s game as well with a fractured sinus).
This skeleton Orlando lineup means anything but forcing a Game 7 would be a choke for the Sixers.
“The players know that we have to win the game or it’s over,” said coach Tony DiLeo. “They’ve been fighters and battlers all season. It’s not just like a normal game.”
