Friday, April 22, 2011
Posted: 2:30 a.m.
By Dei Lynam
CSNPhilly.com
There were 35 seconds left in the third quarter, the Sixers had the ball and a one-point lead. They inbounded the ball at the far end to Lou Williams, who let the ball roll until just before half court in an effort to conserve time. He eventually picked up the ball and in four seconds flat he was at the rim laying the ball in off the backboard. It was vintage Lou Williamsa burst of speed to the basket.
Welcome back, Lou. We missed you. That was the message from the sell-out crowd on hand that erupted in a deafening cheer during Game 3 of the Sixers first-round matchup against the Heat.
I felt good, but halftime killed me, Williams said after scoring 12 points in the Sixers 100-94 loss. When I am warm I am warm, but hopefully I can contribute like I always have and have this series extends a few more games, which would give me an opportunity to get my legs.
Williams came into Game 3 having made just 4 of 18 field goal attempts in the first two games. Game 1 was his first game action in two weeks after pulling his hamstring on April 2 in a meeting against the Bucks. Williams was not himself in that first postseason contest, unable to get to the basket, which, as he said, took away half his game.
His quickness was better in Game 2, but his shot, like everyone elses, wasnt falling.
NBA
In Game 3 his shot fell early with him making four out of his first six attempts. Williams followed that up with five consecutive misses in the fourth quarter. But hes a scorer and hes confident, which is why it wasnt surprising that with 44 seconds to go Williams dropped a corner three on the Heat to pull the Sixers within four at 98-94.
Long before that shot the Heat saw Williams as a big enough threat that they gave their best perimeter defender, LeBron James, the assignment of guarding him.
Williams wasnt fazed by the fact that James had the advantage over him by six inches and 75 pounds.
As a whole, the Sixers arent fazed by James and Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, but when you consider that the Big Three combined for 23 of Miamis 27 fourth-quarter points, it is not about being able to challenge them. Its about finding a way to stop them.
They have high-caliber guys that have done this separately on different teams their entire careers, Williams acknowledged. You combine that and they are a tough guard.
While Williams was finding his groove again, for the first time in this series starting center Spencer Hawes made Miami have to guard him. He accounted for three total field goals in the first two games combined, but turned things around in Game 3. Hawes was 6 of 11 from the floor for 12 points on Thursday night.
Andre Iguodala said having production from Hawes in addition to Williams returning to form were big factors in the Sixers leading the entire first half.
They both played well, Iguodala said. We had a lot of guys play well, but we feel like we can be strong with everyone. We just have to make better plays down the stretch.
We definitely need each and every player. We need a combined effort as far as winning games, Thaddeus Young said. I didnt have it going tonight but E.B. (Elton Brand) had it going, Lou had it going and so did Spencer and Jrue (Holiday), but it is going to take a combined effort to beat this team and we were close tonight.
Young averaged 19 points a night in the first two games. He had four points in Game 3 on just 1-for-8 shooting.
E-mail Dei Lynam at dlynam@comcastsportsnet.com
Related: James, Wade have Heat living up to hypeSixers on verge of elimination after Game 3 loss
Buy Sixers gear