Flyers win, will face Washington in first round

The Flyers didn't play with nearly as much intensity as they did against the Devils on Friday night, but they did just enough against the Penguins to win 2-0. The victory vaults the Flyers into the 6th seed in the Eastern Conference and sets up a series against the Washington Capitals, who finished with fewer points than the Flyers yet still won their division.

The Penguins played without their star player, Sidney Crosby, and looked like they didn't want to win the game. They played with very little energy and even went 0 for 8 on the power play. Flyers goalie Martin Biron needed to stop only 20 shots to record his second shutout in a row. Offensively, Scottie Upshall scored a goal late in the second period off a faceoff, and Mike Knuble added an empty net goal at the end of the game.

If the Penguins had won, they would have clinched the top spot in the Eastern Conference. It would have guaranteed them home ice advantage until they reached the Stanley Cup Finals. A win would have also meant they would play the Flyers in the first round, instead of their current opponent the Ottawa Senators. The Penguins would never admit it, but they are much happier playing the Senators than the Flyers. The Flyers would wear the Penguins down in a grueling series, so even if the Pens managed to get past Philly, they would be exhausted for the subsequent rounds. Playing the Senators allows Pittsburgh to play their style of hockey, and will keep them fresher for the later rounds.

The Flyers will meet the Capitals in the first round. The season series is tied 2-2 between the teams, with the Flyers outscoring the Caps 15-14 in those games. Alexander Ovechkin will make the Caps a tough team to beat, but they don't have much depth beyond him. I will post the schedule for the games as soon as it becomes available, and I will have an in-depth preview posted in the next few days.

Highlight of Scottie Upshall's game winning goal:

Penguins Avoiding Flyers by sitting Crosby? Game Chat: Flyers vs. Penguins

The Flyers playoff opponent will be determined today, and it looks like the Penguins don't want to face Philly in the first round. Sidney Crosby will not be sitting out of today's match-up. Crosby has been injured, but he has played through it in the last four games. Chat about the Flyers season finale in the comments section if you want!

Remember:

• Flyers win, they play Washington
• Flyers lose, they play Pittsburgh

Flyers first round opponent yet to be decided

After yesterday's win, the Flyers know they will be in the playoffs, but on the eve of their final game against the Penguins, they still don't know who they will be playing in the first round. The Flyers can finish in either the 6th or 8th seed, so they have two possible playoff opponents: Pittsburgh or Washington. Here are the standings as of Saturday evening:

Rank		GP	W	L		OT	Pts
1	y - Montréal Canadiens*	82	47	25		10	104
2	y - Pittsburgh Penguins*	81	47	26		8	102
3	y - Washington Capitals*	82	43	31		8	94
4	x - New Jersey Devils	81	45	29		7	97
5	x - New York Rangers	81	42	27		12	96
6	x - Ottawa Senators	82	43	31		8	94
7	x - Boston Bruins	82	41	29		12	94
8	x - Philadelphia Flyers	81	41	29		11	93

The Flyers remain in the 8th seed, but thanks to a loss by the Boston Bruins today, they can jump all the way to the 6th seed with a win against the Penguins tomorrow. Earning the 6th seed means they would play the Washington Capitals, a dangerous team, but one that would end up with fewer points than Philly.

If the Flyers lose tomorrow, they would remain in the 8th seed and would play the Penguins in the first round. The Penguins are currently in the 2nd seed, but if they defeat the Flyers they move to the top of the Conference.

It the Flyers tie but lose in overtime tomorrow, the would still play the Penguins. A tie would keep the Flyers in the 8th seed as both Boston and Ottawa have tie-breaker advantages over them. Pittsburgh would still jump past the Canadiens to the top of the East because they would earn two points if they beat the Flyers.

It all sounds complicated, but basically this is how it breaks down:

• Flyers win tomorrow, they play Washington
• Flyers lose tomorrow, they play Pittsburgh

So which of these scenarios do the Flyers want? The Capitals would be the easier opponent, although Alexander Ovechkin makes them dangerous. The Penguins are familiar, although they have been dominant over the Flyers lately. They have a ton of weapons, and put out two dominant offensive lines. Philly knows that they can beat Pittsburgh, because they handled them earlier in the year.

The Flyers look like they have avoided their toughest possible first round opponent, Montreal. The Canadiens beat them all four times this year, outscoring them 15-6. The Bruins will face the Canadiens regardless of the outcome of tomorrow's game.

The Flyers hold the key tomorrow, and with both Philly and Pittsburgh playing for something, it should be a great game, just like Friday's game against the Devils. The playoffs have basically already started for the Flyers, who can make things easier for themselves if they can pull out a win tomorrow.

Sixers beat Hawks, Clinch Playoffs!

Philadelphia is wrapped up in playoff fever tonight, as the Sixers joined the Flyers in wrapping up a postseason bid. The Sixers defeated the Atlanta Hawks 109-104 to ensure they would be playing basketball beyond the regular season. The Sixers held small leads most of the way, as the Hawks, who were riding a five game winning streak, proved to be pesky and wouldn't be put away until the very end.

The Sixers got their typical stellar play by the Andre's, Iguodala and Miller. Iguodala was all over the court, making a number of dunks, big shots and one sweet block, shown in the video below. Iguodala finished with 30 points and 1o assists. Andre Miller continued his solid play that should be garnering him more attention for MVP. Miller put up 23 points, 6 assists and 5 boards. All 5 starters also finished with double-digit points.

The playoff berth is a big step in the evolution of this Sixers team. They have gone from a young team with a lot of promise to a playoff team that could do some damage. The Sixers are currently tied for the 5th seed in the East with the Washington Wizards. If the season ended today, they would face LeBron James and the Cavaliers in the first round. You can bet that no one wants to face the surging Sixers in the playoffs, as they are just the type of hot team that will cause fits for any top team who has just been coasting.

While some may hate on the Sixers because they are only 2 games over .500, they have still improved by leaps and bounds over the last few months. They are an exciting team that runs the fast break with the best of them. No one expects the team to win a championship this year, but any playoff experience their young guys can get will be good for them down the road.

Enjoy this feeling Philly fans. Two of our teams will be entering the playoffs, and neither one will go down without a fight. More importantly, both teams are on the right track and have bright futures ahead of them. We may be seeing the beginnings of our next Philadelphia championship in one of these two teams.

Highlights of the game courtesy of Comcast SportsNet:

Flyers defeat Devils, Clinch Playoffs!

The Flyers have clinched the playoffs! They defeated the New Jersey Devils 3-0 today, and that victory coupled with the Carolina Hurricanes losing to the Florida Panthers assured the Flyers of a spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Tonight's game had all the feel of a playoff game, with a packed Wachovia Center making a ton of noise and the Flyers playing inspired hockey. Martin Biron shut the door on the Devils, stopping 22 shots as he out-dueled Martin Brodeur, who the Flyers chased from the game after their third goal midway through the 3rd period. Offensively, the Flyers got goals from Joffrey Lupul, Scottie Upshall and R.J. Umberger. The Flyers played with high energy, making big hits and hustling all over the ice.

The playoff berth completes the Flyers' amazing turnaround from worst team in the league to legitimate contender. While it would have been nice to see them earn a higher seed, it would be unrealistic to expect too much more from a team that has so many new players and young players trying to learn to play together. Everything was clicking in tonight's game, so this could be the start of a great run. None of the higher ranked teams will want to play the Flyers, who play the type of hockey where if they don't win, they will at least beat you up and wear you down.

The Flyers currently sit in the 8th seed in the East, but if they win their final game against the Penguins on Sunday, they would move past the Ottawa Senators and into the 7th seed. Their opponent will either be the Penguins or Canadiens, who remain tied atop the conference. The Flyers don't match up well with either team, but they do have a long history with the Pens and they know how to get under their skin.

No matter what happens in the playoffs, we should be ecstatic that the Flyers have turned things around so quickly. Many hockey teams get stuck at the bottom of the league and go years without making the playoffs, but the Flyers stormed right back after one terrible season. Things will only get better with this team, so we should all enjoy the ride.

Highlights of the game courtesy of Comcast SportsNet:

Capitals win pushes Flyers further from the playoffs

If the season were to end today, the Flyers would not be a playoff participant. The Washington Capitals defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-1 to move past the Flyers and into the 8th seed in the Eastern Conference. The Flyers find themselves one point behind the Capitals, although they do have a game in hand. To make matters worse, a team the Flyers had a chance of catching, the Ottawa Senators, destroyed the Maple Leafs 8-2 to put themselves just out of reach, three points ahead of the Flyers. Here are the standings as of April 3rd:

6	Ottawa Senators	81	43	30		8	94
7	Boston Bruins	80	40	28		12	92
8	Washington Capitals	81	42	31		8	92
9	Philadelphia Flyers	80	40	29		11	91

The Flyers find themselves in a tough, but not hopeless, situation. They have two games remaining, and there are still several scenarios that would allow them to make the playoffs. The easiest would simply be if they won both of their remaining games against the Devils and the Penguins. Easier said than done, but winning both games would guarantee a playoff spot. The problems arise if they only win one of the two. If that happens, the Flyers would have to hope that either the Capitals or Bruins slip up in their final games, but neither team has as difficult a schedule as the Flyers:

Boston: Ottawa (Fri), Buffalo (Sat)
Washington: Florida (Sat)
Philadelphia: Devils (Fri), Penguins (Sun)

The Flyers are the only one of these three teams who will play on the last day of the season, Sunday, so it is very possible that everything will ride on that showdown with the Penguins. The Flyers owned the Penguins early in the season, but lately the Pens have had their number.

No matter what happens, it's going to be a fun final few days. The Flyers have a difficult task ahead of them if they want to get to the playoffs, but if they do make it, they will have truly earned it. Either way, the 07/08 Flyers team has been vastly more entertaining than last year's team, and they have plenty of youth and a ton of upside, so the next few years should be even better.

Flyers playoff hopes slip with loss to Penguins

In a critical game that would have nearly clinched a playoff berth had they won, the Flyers came up short and lost 4-2 to the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Flyers played a solid first period, but looked like a different team in the second and third periods as the Penguins used better special teams and goaltending to win the game and clinch the Atlantic Division title. The Penguins victory also moved them back into the 1st seed in Eastern Conference.

If the Flyers had won the game, they would have moved all the way up to a tie for the 5th seed in the Eastern Conference. Instead, they lost and dropped down to the 8th seed, leaving them only one point ahead of the Washington Capitals. The Flyers remaining schedule is difficult, with games against the Devils and Penguins remaining. The Capitals have it easy in comparison, as they will play the Lightning and Panthers, two bottom-dwellers.

This loss puts a damper on the Flyers playoff hopes. Without more inspired play, the Flyers might be sitting out the playoffs yet again. Even if they manage to hold on to the 8th seed, a possible match-up with Penguins awaits, which would likely lead to a quick exit. Needless to say, the outlook isn't pretty for the Flyers.

Tonight's game was chippy throughout, with lots of typical Flyers rough play. There were some questionable calls throughout the game, including a clear high stick to the face of Scott Hartnell that the refs somehow missed. One of the highlights of the game was an early first period fight between Riley Cote and Georges Laraque, two heavyweights that have battled several times before. Watch the fight in the video below.

LeBron too much for Sixers

LeBron James proved to be too much for the Sixers to contain as he nearly singlehandedly led the Cavaliers to a 91-88 victory. James, who finished with 26 points, 9 boards and 9 assists, broke an 88-88 tie in the final seconds with a driving shot. Andre Iguodala missed a shot at the buzzer that would have sent the game into overtime. The loss likely ends any hope the Sixers had of climbing all the way up into the 4th seed in the East, but with Toronto also losing today, Philly will still be in the hunt to improve their playoff seeding.

James was dominant all game, as was his teammate Delonte West. West hit several key shots down the stretch, including two big threes to tie the game up in the fourth quarter. West finished with 18 points, 11 assists and 6 rebounds. For the Sixers, Andre Iguodala led them in scoring with 19, but Andre Miller had the better all around game, netting 16 points, 9 assists, 4 rebounds and 5 steals.

The Sixers had several large leads in the game, but couldn't stop LeBron when the game was on the line. Their schedule lightens up this week, with a game against the Nets and two against the Hawks. The Sixers will need to stop this slide and make a quick turnaround if they want to avoid playing the Pistons in the first round. Judging by the way the Sixers couldn't slow LeBron down, it might be ideal if the Sixers finished with the 6th seed, where they can take a crack at Dwight Howard and the Magic. With 8 games left, the season definitely remains interesting for the Sixers.

Highlights of the game, from ESPN News:

Flyers Defeat Islanders in Shootout

Although it took a shootout to make it happen, the Flyers continued their dominance over the New York Islanders by defeating them 4-3. The Flyers were down most of the game, but kept rallying back, and a late goal by Mike Richards forced the game into overtime. After no one scored in OT, Danny Briere scored a spectacular goal to win the shootout.

The Flyers peppered Islanders goaltender Wade Dubielwicz with a season-high 54 shots, but the Islanders goalie was sharp enough to keep his team in the game. Antero Niitymaki, who started in goal despite Martin Biron's ownage of the Islanders, also played well, stopping 27 of the 30 shots he faced, including several big saves in overtime.

The Flyers featured a well-rounded offensive attack tonight, with four different players scoring goals. Richards added an assist to his one goal, and also fired 11 shots on net.

The win temporarily moves the Flyers into a tie with the Rangers for the 6th seed in the Eastern Conference, but the Rangers have played two less games than Philly. The Bruins could also pass the Flyers if they win their next game. The Flyers have three tough games remaining, two with the Penguins and one with the Devils.

Highlights of the game, from Comcast SportsNet:

Devils down Flyers in Shootout

The Flyers just can't win in New Jersey. It took a shootout, but the Devils won their 12th straight home game against the Flyers, 5-4. The Flyers did well to come back from a 3-1 deficit to earn the point, but couldn't earn the all important second point in the shootout. The point pulls the Flyers past the idle Boston Bruins into the 7th seed in the East, but they remain two points behind the Rangers, who have played one less game.

The Flyers featured a well-balanced attack, with 4 different players scoring. Mike Knuble scored the game tying goal late in the third period following a sweet pass by Mike Richards. Danny Briere and Vinny Prospal continued to show their on-ice chemistry on the first goal of the game, where Briere slid the puck to Prospal who blasted it home. For the Devils, Johnny Oduya scored two goals, and Jamie Langenbrunner notched the clinching shootout goal.

The game also featured a spirited fight between Randy Jones, who just returned from an injury, and Mike Mottau in the first period. The fight seemed pretty even, and both players received fighting majors and matching minors, with Mottau's minor being an unsportsmanlike conduct for pulling Jones' hair.

The Flyers have four games left, the next one against the Islanders tomorrow, and then a pair of games against the Penguins next week with the Devils sandwiched in between. The Flyers appear to be a solid bet to make the playoffs, unfortunately it will likely be in the 7th or 8th seed, meaning an early playoff exit might be inevitable.

Highlights of the game, from Comcast SportsNet:

Sixers handed a dose of reality by the Suns

Well, the good times weren't going to last forever for the Sixers. The Suns gave them a little dose of reality, beating them 107-93. The Sixers fell behind early when they missed their first 13 shots, and made numerous efforts to get back in the game, but the Suns proved to be too good. At one point, the Sixers were down by 24, but they managed to pull within 10 in the third quarter before the Suns went on a run to widen their lead again. The loss, coupled with the Raptors beating the Knicks, pushes the Sixers down into the 7th seed in the East.

Andre Iguodala had an off night, shooting 3 of 12 from the field and finishing with only 13 points, although he did have a highlight dunk, which you can watch below, in the third quarter. Andre Miller had a solid game on paper, finishing with 16 points and 10 assists, but he also shot poorly from the field, making 6 of 17 shots. The Suns had a balanced attack, with 5 players finishing with double digits in points. Steve Nash had only 5 points, but he was still solid distributing the ball and finished with 10 assists.

The Sixers next game is Sunday against possible first round opponent Lebron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. The schedule lightens up after that game, with a game against the Nets and a home and home with the Hawks on tap for next week.

The lone highlight of the game, another amazing dunk by Andre Iguodala, this time over the helpless Grant Hill:

Two Big Games Tonight

It's been a good week for Philly fans. The Sixers and Flyers have both been on a roll lately, with neither team losing since last Friday, March 21st. Both teams have gone a long way to solidifying their playoff positions, with the Sixers becoming near locks to see postseason action. Both teams have tough games tonight, however, with the Flyers traveling to New Jersey to take on their nemesis the Devils, while the Sixers welcome in Steve Nash and the Phoenix Suns.

The Flyers, despite winning 4 games in a row, will need to finish strong if they want to make the playoffs. With 5 games left, they are currently tied for the 8th seed in the Eastern Conference with the Boston Bruins, and they are only two points ahead of the Washington Capitals. There is still room for the Flyers to move up, as a win tonight would put them only one point behind the Devils, who currently are sitting in the 5th seed. Of course, winning tonight is no easy task, as the Flyers haven't won in New Jersey in four years. For a great preview of tonights game, take a look at Bill Meltzer's write up at Hockeybuzz.com.

If the Flyers want to do any damage in the playoffs, they will need to finish with the 6th seed or better. Finishing 7th or 8th would give them a first round matchup with either the Canadiens or Penguins, two teams they don't match up well with.

The Sixers are in better standing after winning 11 of their last 13 games. They currently have the 6th seed in the Eastern Conference, a half game behind the Washington Wizards for the 5th seed. The Sixers are nearly assured of a playoff spot, as they are 5 1/2 games ahead of the Hawks, the 8th seeded team in the East, with 10 games left to play. The Sixers also have room to move up, although it is unlikely, as they sit 3 games behind Cleveland for the 4th seed.

The Suns have come a long way since they lost to the Sixers back on March 1st. Shaquille O'Neal has acclimated himself to the offense, and they have won 7 of their last 9 games. However, they have lost two in a row to the Celtics and Pistons, two teams the Sixers have beaten recently. Either way, it should be a highly entertaining game, as both teams like to push the ball. Expect the winning team to score at least 120 points. The Sixers are a better defensive team than the Suns, but the question will be whether they can keep pace with them offensively.

Should be a great night of games, with even the Phillies playing a game at Citizens Bank against the Blue Jays. Also, don't forget that there are more college basketball games tonight, with Villanova looking to knock off Kansas. Have your remote ready and prepare for some great action.

In the meantime, be sure to vote in the polls to the right. How do you think the Sixers and Flyers will finish out their seasons?

Sixers Dominate Bulls

The Sixers did something tonight that good teams are supposed to do: beat up on the bad teams. The Sixers completely dominated the Bulls in every facet of the game, winning 121-99. It was a great overall team effort, with good defensive plays leading to tons of fast break points. There was no one hero tonight, as several guys stepped up and had good games. Andre Miller was awesome again, nearly getting a triple double with 9 points, 8 boards and a whopping 18 assists. Andre Iguodala also had a solid game, picking up 9 assists, 4 steals and 21 points, including this monster dunk. Louis Williams led the team in scoring with 23 points, and Thaddeus Young also netted 20.

The win helps the Sixers temporarily move into a virtual tie for the 5th seed in the Eastern Conference with the Washington Wizards, who will break the tie when they play the Sonics later tonight. The win was also important for the Sixers because it keeps them just ahead of the Raptors, who knocked off the Pistons tonight.

In the coming week, the Sixers schedule gets tougher, including their next two games against the Suns and Cavaliers. This team is for real, folks, so expect them to step up and continue to give these top teams a challenge.

Highlights of the win, from Comcast SportsNet:

Flyers Blow Lead, Win Shootout

It's been really hard to be a Flyers fan this season. Their play has been so inconsistent that you can never get too up or too down. Just when you think they have turned a corner, they will fall right back down again. No lead is safe, and no game is ever over until the final buzzer sounds.

Today's game against their division rival, the New York Rangers, was no exception. It looked like the Flyers were going to find a way to blow another game they should have won. In fact, the Flyers looked like they had the game won not once, but twice.

Most teams are pretty secure with a 2-0 lead midway through the third period, but not the Flyers. The Rangers scored 2 goals in the span of two minutes to tie the game up. Then, Danny Briere scored a goal, his second of the game, with under 4 minutes to play, which should have sealed victory for the team. But, this is the Flyers, so they allowed Jaromir Jagr to tie the game a few minutes later and force overtime. Luckily, after a scoreless overtime, the Flyers managed to win just their second shootout of the year to secure the two points they should have earned much earlier. Shootouts are always exciting, and it was great they were able to pull it out, but it should never have came down to that.

Here is footage of the shootout:


The win moves the Flyers past the idle Boston Bruins for the 7th seed in the Eastern Conference. Allowing the Rangers to get a point in the game means the Flyers only inched towards the 6th seed. Their next game is Sunday, when they welcome in the New York Islanders.

Sixers Spoil Iverson's Homecoming

The Philly fans welcomed Allen Iverson back with open arms, but the Sixers as a team proved to be less accommodating. Despite Iverson's 32 points and 8 assists, the Sixers continued their hot streak by defeating the Nuggets 115-113. Andre Miller, one of the players acquired in the Iverson trade, led the way for Philly, netting 28 points, and tallying 12 assists. The game fittingly came down to the Nuggets having the ball, down by two, and Iverson taking the possible game-winning shot. He missed the shot, and Marcus Camby missed a follow-up to allow the Sixers to come away with the victory.

The game was a win-win for Sixers fans: not only did they get to see their former star shine, but they got to see the home team move another step closer to the playoffs. Although it is a great win against a good Western Conference team, the victory more importantly allows the Sixers to keep up with the Wizards and Raptors, both winners tonight, in the race for the 5th seed in the Eastern Conference. The Sixers, who moved to .500 with the win, are still one game out of the 5th spot.

The Nuggets remain the 9th seed in the West. Shockingly, if the season ended today, Iverson would have to watch his former team in the playoffs while Denver's season would be over. Somewhere, Billy King is smiling.

Seeing Iverson embraced by the city of Philadelphia was a great sight. Iverson is definitely missed, although few fans would want him back on the team now. Iverson's departure has allowed the young guys on this team to develop their skills and step into roles that were non-existent with A.I. controlling everything. Do you think Thaddeus Young and Louis Williams would be valuable contributors if Iverson was still on the team?

With the Iverson distraction out of the way, the Sixers can go back to focusing on the playoffs. Next up are the Magic on Friday and the Nets on Sunday, followed by a tough slate next week with the Celtics, Bulls and Suns. I would normally say that the Sixers would be lucky to get 2 wins out of those games, but with the way they are playing right now, anything is possible.

Flyers Hold on Against Thrashers

Well, it's progress. The Flyers finally showed a little energy, and it narrowly carried them to a victory over a mediocre Atlanta Thrashers team, 3-2.

It started off looking like another grim night for the Flyers, as the Thrashers scored 58 seconds into the game on a flukey play. The Flyers were resilient, though, and fought back with three unanswered goals, one in each period. The highlight goal of the game was a nice give and go where Danny Briere set up Vinny Prospal in the third period. The whole play was created by a great defensive play by rookie Ryan Parent.

But the Flyers still almost gave the game away. The Thrashers pulled their goalie and Ilya Kovalchuk scored his 50th goal of the season with 30 seconds left. Kovalchuk then nearly had the game tying goal in the final seconds but Antero Niitymaki robbed him with a great save.

It wasn't a pretty win, but the Flyers will take it. At this point in the season, you take a win any way you can get it. The Flyers needed this game, which basically was a must-win. With the remaining 8 games all against tough division opponents, the Flyers had to come away with 2 points against a weak Thrashers team. If they had lost, they would have allowed the Capitals to tie them for the 8th spot in the East, but the win gives them a little breathing room.

Let's hope this win, even though it wasn't pretty, can give the Flyers some momentum and confidence heading into these crucial divisional games.

Highlights of this exciting game are here.

Penguins Crush Flyers

Embarrassing. There is really no other word for it. The Penguins, on national television, embarrassed the Flyers 7-1 on Sunday afternoon. The Penguins, who played without their best player Sidney Crosby, beat the Flyers at every facet of the game, and played with more intensity, more skill and more heart. Five different players scored goals for the Penguins, who were barely even challenged to play defense. Marc-Andre Fleury only saw 25 Flyers shots, most of them of the "easy save" variety. The lone Flyers goal was scored by Mike Knuble, and was created by great hustle by Patrick Thoreson, who made a diving play to slide the puck toward Knuble who tapped it into the net.

The Flyers are picking the wrong time to go in the tank again. They haven't won in four games, and that has allowed teams to creep up behind them in the standings. They are barely holding on to the 8th seed in the East, with Buffalo 1 point behind and Washington 2 points out. This team was so bad last year, and it looked as though they made immense strides this season as they challenged for the top of the Eastern Conference back in January. Maybe it's injuries, or maybe they just haven't come as far as we thought, but something isn't working right now for the Flyers. It's not one players fault, it's a total team effort that is lacking.

The Flyers have tomorrow off, and then they look to rebound against the Thrashers on Tuesday. Following that game, the Flyers final 8 games are against division rivals the Rangers, Devils, Penguins and Islanders. There is still a chance the Flyers can right the ship, but if they can't improve their play, their rivals are going to enjoy knocking them out of the playoffs.

Sixers Shock Spurs

So much for Andre Miller's ailing back. Miller scored a season-high 32 points to lead the Sixers to a 103-96 victory over the defending champion San Antonio Spurs. The Sixers led for most of the way, earning a convincing victory that was their 7th win in their last 8 games. The Sixers finished off a tough week that included road victories over the Pistons and Bulls with one of their best efforts in front of a loud crowd of more than 19,000 at the Wachovia Center.

The Sixers had a great effort from Miller, who played 43 minutes tonight despite a nagging back injury. Miller was on fire all night shooting 79% from the field, 91% from the line, plus he also added 7 assists and 5 rebounds to go with his season high in points. Like I said last week, Miller needs to be getting some consideration for MVP. He has done some amazing things for a team that has no business being in the playoffs. His leadership and tremendous play are what being an MVP is all about.

A few other players put up solid games. Andre Iguodala tallied 25 points, and Samuel Dalembert had a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. For the Spurs, Tony Parker had a great game, finishing with 27 points, and Manu Ginobli filled up the scoresheet with 22 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists.

Philly continues to be the surprise team in the Eastern Conference. Washington keeps on winning so the Sixers are still stuck in the 7th seed one game behind the Wizards. They are also a mere two games behind the Raptors for the 5th seed. At this point a playoff spot seems a given, and with the way they are playing they might be able to steal a few first round games from whoever they end up facing.

The Sixers playoff quest continues Wednesday against Allen Iverson and the Nuggets. If you thought the Wachovia Center was loud for tonight's contest, wait until you hear the crowd for the Denver game.

Hell Week Starts Tonight for Red Hot Sixers

The Sixers look to continue their playoff push, but this week they will meet their toughest challenge yet. They have won four straight, and 12 of their last 15, to climb into the playoff picture in the East. Most of those wins have come against the NBA JV teams, including their latest thrashings of the Sonics and Bucks. This week the challenge is much greater, with four total games, three of them against the NBA's elite. The Sixers start the week against the Celtics tonight, then face the Pistons, Bulls and Spurs. The Bulls game is a must-win, and if they can steal one of the other three, they will happily take a split for the week.

The Sixers continue to be led by Andre Miller, who is coming off his second Eastern Conference Player of the Week award. Miller has been providing the leadership this young team needs, and is getting it done on both ends of the floor. His scoring average of 16.2 points per game is the highest of his career, and he's a threat for a triple double every time out. He has to be getting at least some consideration for the MVP award given the way he is playing and the Sixers recent surge into playoff contention.

Also playing well for the Sixers of late is Samuel Dalembert. In the last two games combined he has scored a total of 40 points and grabbed 23 rebounds. It's just too bad he isn't enjoying himself. Dalembert expressed that he has felt confused lately and that the game isn't fun for him anymore. Seems like odd timing for such comments, with the Sixers on a roll and Dalembert starting to finally live up to his huge contract. Maurice Cheeks didn't seem too worried by the comments, so hopefully it won't be a big deal.

Thaddeus Young has also played exceptionally well the last two games, totaling 40 points and grabbing 13 boards. Young has continually proven that the Sixers were smart in drafting him with the 12th overall pick last year, even though everyone was clamoring for Al Thornton. Young looks better every game, and has tremendous upside.

The Sixers find themselves in great position as they enter the stretch run. With 19 games remaining, they sit in the 7th seed in the East, 4 games up on 9th seeded New Jersey. The Sixers are also a half game behind Washington for the 6th seed, but as I discussed last week, they aren't likely to pass the Wizards. With their tough remaining schedule, the best case scenario for the Sixers might be the 7th seed and a date with the Pistons in the first round of the playoffs. For the immediate future, they need a split this week, so assuming they can beat Chicago, they will need to knock off one of the league's elite. This week will prove to be a great measuring stick for the Sixers to see how far they have come.

Flyers Blow Chance to Solidify Playoff Spot

The Flyers just can't stay healthy, and they can't play consistently. The Flyers lost 5-2 to the Sabres, the team chasing them in the Eastern Conference standings. The game was close for the first two periods, until the Sabres pulled away with three third period goals. It was a penalty-filled game, but the Flyers could not convert on any of their 5 power play chances. Scottie Upshall and Steve Downie each scored a goal.

Shortly before the game, the Flyers learned that Danny Briere has a slight shoulder sprain and would miss the game. It is unknown at this point how long Briere is out, but he joins injured Flyers Joffrey Lupul, Simon Gagne, Mike Richards, and Derian Hatcher on the bench. That group includes arguably the four best scoring options the Flyers have, so it is no surprise the team produced very little offense tonight. There is word that Hatcher and Lupul will be back for Saturday's game against the Islanders, so that should help solidify the line-up.

The loss allowed the Sabres to pull within one point of the Flyers for the 8th seed, and it kept the Flyers from gaining any ground on the Rangers, who lost tonight in a shoot-out to the Islanders. With 15 games left, the Flyers need to find some health and some consistency, otherwise they may once again be on the outside looking in come playoff time.