The sun did rise Monday but a new day didn't take away the sting of what took place Sunday night in Minneapolis. Sixers team president Rod Thorn replayed the final 3.6 seconds of the loss to the Timberwolves out loud as the team prepared to go to practice Monday in Memphis (see final play).
The drive, the hand on the ball, the arms in the air, the whistle. That whistle of referee Zach Zarba was piercing -- not so much in pitch but as in what it meant to the game's outcome.
That whistle gave Kevin Love two free throws, both of which he made, which in turn gave the Timberwolves a 92-91 win. (See game story.)
Thorn understands that officials are seeing things at live action speed, that slow motion is only for those of us watching on TV. Still, he felt strongly enough that the end of the Sixers game in Minnesota was not properly officiated that he called the NBA league office and asked them to look at the last play.
"I seldom call the league office," Thorn said, having worked for the NBA as the Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations for 14 years. "They will get back to me and let me know what they thought. Sometimes you make that call also for your players. We weren't happy."
Andre Iguodala getting called for a reaching foul while appearing to have a clean grab of the ball, that happens. But the clock should have been adjusted. The reach took place with 1.5 seconds remaining and Love threw his arms in the air with :00.5 seconds left, which as Thorn pointed out, gives you a fighting chance at making a play because it allows enough time for a shot to get off.
A clock with :00.1 on it might as well have read :00.0. There is nothing that can happen with one-tenth of a second left, nothing that would change the final result of the game.
NBA
A hangover from such a loss would be understandable, but amazingly Doug Collins and his guys were ready to move on and work at getting better for Tuesday's date with the Grizzlies.
"I think this team is really positive," Jrue Holiday said. "Sure, after the game you do hurt and you need some time to think about the game and the whole bus is quiet but you have a plane ride and the game is over. That one came down to a call at the end and we just have to live with that."
"Probably what we went through last year gave us some experience to draw from," Collins said. "We had some of the most gut-wrenching losses early in the year but our guys bounced back early for the next game. As a coach I think they know I don't dwell on it. I may lay in my bed and fret and stew by myself, but the players would never see that."
Free throw woes
What we are seeing with this Sixers team is an inability to get to the free throw line at a rate that competes with the upper echelon. The Sixers, on average, attempt 18.8 free throws per game, tied with Houston for fewest in the NBA.
"If we want to grow as a team we have to get to the free throw line," said Holiday, who led the Sixers in scoring with 20 points on 10-for-20 shooting without making a single trip to the foul line. "You see the elite teams -- Miami, Oklahoma City, we just need to get there.
The Heat average 26.6 free throw attempts, third-highest in the NBA. The Thunder are second at 27.2, behind Denver's 27.9 foul shots per game.
In the Minnesota game, the Sixers took 40 shots in the paint, the Timberwolves 42. The Timberwolves took 26 free throws, the Sixers attempted 10.
"We have to believe that if we keep getting in the paint we will be rewarded," Collins stressed.
Missing Hawes
The Sixers' offense cries for Spencer Hawes to be out there. So much of what the Sixers did well offensively has been lost in the 18 games he has been sidelined with his strained left Achilles'.
"He is such an outlet for us," Collins explained. "We can play through him with a lot of hand-offs and get good spacing. A lot of those things we have lost, and what has happened, the floor has shrunk on us a little bit and we end up having to shoot a lot of jump shots."
Jump shots definitely don't earn guys trips to the charity stripe.
In a season where teaching time is minimal, having to make major adjustments does not happen quickly and yet we want a quick fix to snap this current three-game skid, the Sixers' longest of the season.
The most consistent aspect of the Sixers this season has been their defense holding opponents to a league-best 87 points and 41.8 percent shooting, the fourth-lowest opponent's field goal percentage in the league.
"If you are in the top-10 in opponent's field goal percentage and the defensive numbers, you are going to be a playoff team," Collins said. "So that is what we are going to have to keep doing."
E-mail Dei Lynam at dlynam@comcastsportsnet.com.