Written by Ricky - Sixers4guidos | 07 February 2012

Wow. Just wow.

Where to start? From the finish, obviously.

Lou Williams' fourth quarter burst gave Sixers (18-7, .720) a terrific 95-90 comeback W over the Lakers to send home the (too many for my taste) fans in yellow that helped to sell the Wells Fargo Center out (20,064).

Playoffs atmosphere? Check. Usual Kobe-in-his-hometown explosion? Check (but only in one half). Related boos? Check. Kobe-Iguodala outstading matchup? Check. Usual Bynum howardesque dominance under the glasses? Check.

You see, it was pretty much your average Sixers-Lakers game in Philly.

The main difference this time was the final outcome. Sixers won, to snap a four game (extremely annoying) losing streak at home against Los Angeles.

It's like I saw three or four games in one, and it's a tough race among many pretty unbelievable stats/facts that you have to recap and analyze.

Roughly:

• the ridiculous 55-30 Lakers rebounding edge. That would have been the story of 99,7% of NBA games. Put this in the 0,3% left.
• the ridiculous 27/4 assist-to-turnover ratio by the Sixers. F-O-U-R TURNOVERS in a game like this, are you kidding me? I think I could remember them all if I'd think for a while...
• the start of the game by Kobe Bryant, that had 14 in the first quarter alone and scored 24 of Lakers' first 50 points, on twelve shots and four made threes (!!), with more than five minutes to play in the SECOND quarter !
• the stunning fourth quarter show by Lou Williams, that simply won the game for us in crunch time by scoring 12 of Sixers' last 14 points in less than four minutes. He's easily your Player of the game, of the week and of the month, having shot 4/5 in that stretch, including two threes made and an ill advised drive, ended with a tear drop shot that I just ...loved and applauded as soon as the ball swished in for the 93-88. (Wake me up when Iguodala takes over a game like this)
• Iguodala and Sixers' defense on the same Kobe, that shot 2/12 after halftime, and 1/10 in the fourth, being constatly doubled and harassed by the guys (Turner and Jrue were also on him on the perimeter, sometimes Thad).

Meex picking up two fouls in 25 seconds (!!) wasn't a nice way to start, and the 78-84 Lakers lead with 5 minutes left and Kobe still "quiet" had me thinking "uhm, let's get ready for another disheartening loss".

But Sixers, and Lou, had different ideas. (more after the break)

 

These were more or less the main points, but the whole 48 minutes were just a fantastic display, that of course the happy ending made sweeter. Close score, countless lead changes, hustle plays, incredible shots (Iguodala banked one, plus a foul, while facing ...our own basket !), intensity, everything you would expect from a great basketball game, including the resounding "Beat LA !!" chants by a finally passionate Philly crowd.

I just wish we are up 1-0 in the Finals now, LOL.

With the exception of the two bricks from the line by Iguodala with 5 seconds left (1/5 overall, dropped to 60,8% for the season, and I am at a loss of words for that), I am more than willing to forgive the (few) negatives such as Hawes not boxing out, all guys not named Williams being unable to get to the line, Evan Turner sitting WAAAAY too much on the bench in the third (in with only 1.04 left).

Ouh, I nearly forgot: Sixers were without Elton Brand. Does that make the win bigger? I'm not sure it could.

Sixers sweep the season series vs the Lakers. Yep, no BS, see you next year. Or in the Finals.