Comments on: Ed Stefanski, How Much Worse Does it Have to Get …

By: Court_visioN

Court_visioN — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 23:44:12 +0000

don’t mean to rain on you guys’ parade because I dislike Jordan as much as the next guy but I think EJ’s going to get another clean slate once AI gets here. Here goes another 10 games of “we’re trying to work Allen into the system” and “I love how Willie is getting after it, I love how Royal plays defense.”
FML

By: psv

psv — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 20:26:28 +0000

Willie Green: His free throw shooting is fifth in the league. Also, it’s fifteen points higher than his career average. Will he come back down to earth? Possibly not, but there was a time where Shaq made several dozen in a row.
Willie Green played terrible against OKC, and it’s because they targeted him – probably to an extent that we haven’t seen in any other game. He’s a major defensive liability. I don’t know if we were watching the same game, but he couldn’t guard anyone… which, to *my* eyes, is fairly typical.
He’s a semi average gunner who can’t defend a vast majority of the guards in the league; this issue is exacerbated by the fact that Jordan gives minutes to the detriment of Brand, who, given an opportunity, will give you a double double and a couple of blocks.

By: Sixers vs. Charlotte: Jordan Going for 9 Straight

Sixers vs. Charlotte: Jordan Going for 9 Straight — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 19:59:41 +0000

[...] Charlotte is tied for 8th in the East. So losing this game wouldn’t necessarily constitute a “bad” loss. But I think this is a breaking point for the Sixers. If they lose this game it’s 9 straight and last straw that triggers Eddie Jordan to be fired. [...]

By: sfw

sfw — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 18:21:46 +0000

AND when Elton Brand whose numbers of late have been pretty impressive is losing out in minutes to Willie one has to wonder about it. Especially when rebounding is an obvious weakness.

By: Morty

Morty — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 17:56:26 +0000

guest: Exactly. Everyone can disagree about the relative abilities of Green, but surely we can all agree that a good team is not playing him a starter’s minutes.

By: guest

guest — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 17:43:53 +0000

I love the fact that in all that is going around the Sixers organization (Elton, Allen, EJ etc.)… We are able to have a nice discussion about Willie Green.

I personally have always liked Willie as a player. I’m not going to sit here and bash him for taking too many shots either. I’m not sure what it is, but when I watch him play, I don’t get pissed off. It really doesn’t occur to me that he is “jacking” up shots. The only time I get frustrated is when he drives in the lane and throws up a runner trying to draw the foul. He’s always been a decent shooter in my eyes, and a very underrated on-ball defender.

But the bottom line is this. We have been BEGGING for a legit shooting guard for years now. Obviously Willie isn’t the guy we are looking for. So I’ll say that he is a bench player at best. On a championship level team I don’t think he would play nearly as many mintutes.

By: jjg

jjg — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 16:55:20 +0000

Dannie,

Simply, Willie Green:

1) generally isn’t sloppy w/ball, doesn’t turn it over much … career: 21.6 min per gm; 1.2 TO per gm – A STAT! [in bball, possession is 10/10ths of the law]
2) plays commendable defense (both individual & team) - my opinion, based on much close observation
3) leads team in foul shooting accuracy, .897 % - A STAT!
4) shows respect for coaches & teammates & team goals – my opinion, based on reading printed commentary – both his own and others’ - and observing posture & actions
5)  doesn’t “jack” nearly to the degree that some, including you, state;
          Sixers, shot attempts per 36 min, 2009:
               Iguodala: 14.6 shots attempted
               Williams: 13.4
               Speights: 13.2
               Brand:      12.6
               Carney:    12.6
               Young:     12.4
               Green:      12.4 (his number has declined each of last 3 seasons)

… again, STATS!

As for your pointed closing questions, my answers:
1) your power of inference is working
2) whom am I to believe, you or my lying eyes?

What it comes down to is, “proof” is in each particular basketball fan’s particular pudding of experientially-developed bias, court values and evaluative conviction (subject to change).

Go, Willie!

By: Morty

Morty — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 16:39:12 +0000

tk76: Great analysis. I believe that Stefanski was fooled by the great run they had 2 years ago, drank the kool-aid and, with marketing and sales as the wind at his back, went for the splash of a veteran big man to put them over the top. And Brand, Miller, Igoudala, Thad, Lou, Speights very well might have worked Perhaps not enough to make them a champion, but at least a top 4 finish in a weak conference. Except Brand wasn't healthy, Thad, Lou and Speights are too young, only Thad has improved his jumper, and this team still hasn't had a decent coach since Larry Brown. The current coach is the worst yet. At least they played hard and had some life for Maurice Cheeks.

By: sfw

sfw — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 15:45:15 +0000

AI is one to speak his mind. His relationship with the coach will be interesting to watch. Although, he is the coachs’ type of player. Now that the coach is scaling back the PO, maybe he will go back to a traditional lineup with EB in the starting lineup BUT I kinda doubt he’ll do it.

By: Chris McC

Chris McC — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 14:31:07 +0000

Ken, you want a suggestion? Fire Jordan now, show the players that underachieving will put jobs at risk. Put one of the assistants in place for the rest of the season, McKie, Lynam, whoever.

Then fire Stefanski after the season. I don’t necessarily think he deserves to be fired but this team is a mess and changes need to be made. Go out and bring in a real basketball guy as the GM. A ballsy, anything-to-win type of guy.

That GM is going to have to go out and make a splash with a coach. Avery Johnson or Tom Thibodeau would be my first choices.

Then you do what you need to do get the best out of a EB trade. Obviously this will be a lot easier if you fire EJ and make the interim guy play EB 35 minutes a game.

Then, take the winter to set serious, and reachable goals for the 2010-11 season. If a championship run isn’t in the cards bring AI back for one more year of ticket sales.

Change from the top down, its what this organization needs. Lets hope Snider and Luuko – two big time hockey guys – can figure out how to do it.