Twice in a span of eight days, Sixers coach Eddie Jordan questioned his team's toughness. The first time was after a 22-point home loss to the Jazz; the second was after Friday's 102-97 home drubbing by the Grizzlies. After the Utah defeat, Jordan said, "If you really have a passion for the game and a passion for winning and competing, you won't get pushed around. You learn your lesson. I guess it's still early in the season. I don't know. I'm from a different neighborhood. I just don't get pushed around. If I did, I'm responding back." Following the Memphis loss, he was more forceful, saying, "There was no leadership. Coaches can do so much -- getting up and clapping and encouraging them in the huddle. It just didn't happen. Their will and determination were just much higher than ours. Your best players and veterans is where (leadership) mostly comes from. There's no secret about that."
Philadelphia got a good effort Saturday at Cleveland but fell short against LeBron James and Co.
The Sixers have been outrebounded by 10 or more three times in 13 games this season after it only happened four times in all of 2008-09.
"We've got to be tougher out there," forward Elton Brand said.
That Jordan seemed to be trying to at least partially absolve himself of blame in each of his public criticisms wasn't lost on Sixers fans. Some are calling for his dismissal only six weeks into the season.
CAVALIERS 97, SIXERS 91: The 5-8 Sixers, having lost six of their last eight, gave themselves a chance to win, but they were outscored 22-10 in the fourth quarter after accumulating 81 points through three periods. They shot just 4-for-23 (.174) in the final period following a 33-for-65 (.508) first three quarters. Andre Iguodala, the team's leading scorer on the season, was 1-for-7 in the period and 6-for-22 in the game. Cleveland's LeBron James scored a game-high 32 points.
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