It’s Over, The Taste in My Mouth is Disgusting, Moving On

Iggy might be traded himself,  maybe he should tell Ed that.

I take it back Dannie I would deal Lou for a number 2. 

Andre Miller has to go.

I wonder exactly who Iggy was talking about. 

Dileo is a nice man, but nice men don’t make great basketball coaches.

Sorry, jkay.  I just couldn’t shake that feeling.

By this time, I’m sure you’ve all read what Theo said.  While it may be seen as a betrayal of trust from the inside, as a fan I love it.  Most of his quotes went right to questions we have been asking here all season long.

My two favorites:

“The coaches are responsible for guys [being] prepared and playing,” he said. “They have to hold guys accountable. It’s been that way all year, so you couldn’t expect anything different.

and:

“If you see mistakes and you don’t address them when it’s going on, guys get comfortable . . . That’s why you lose seven games while you’re trying to move up [in the seedings].

It’s time for that to change, IMO.

jkay,
“Not that he should be the one talking about accountability and changes” you’re wrong about this statement, he should be talking as well as Miller.
Iggy’s problem is not that he doesn’t have clout, his problem is that some fans take his suspect jumper or sub 20ppg avg. as not good enough to be the face of the Sixers.
I live in Atlanta and I would take Iguodala over Joe Johnson any day. JJ can shoot, yes, but he doesn’t do the other thing better than Iguodala.
Leadership is not defined as thee who scores the most. The question should be; Can Iguodala make his teammates better? or Is his teammates about as good as they will ever be? 

Dannie – good thoughts, and your questions are on the money.  Before I get to my replies re: the Sixers, I’m interested in your opinion — as a ballplayer yourself — on the “play better without Howard” observation.  It does seem to happen a lot: a team loses its dominant superstar and other players play better (we saw it with the Rockets this year and even with the Sixers in 06-07 after the AI trade).  My theory is that it’s a lot easier to shoot better and play better when you get consistent touches.  Howard doesn’t dominate the ball like AI did, but 2 of 3 possesions (at least) go into the post while players like Rashard Lewis stand around and either catch and shoot or make one move and shoot.  That’s why I wasn’t a big fan of the “post Andre Miller” offense (even though effective at times), because the other players were usually not involved.  What say you?

A couple of thoughts on your questions.

Regarding #1 (the coach), I think the playoffs showed DiLeo was in way over his head.  He’s low-key to a fault, which can be good sometimes, but a game like last night (and a couple other instances in the series) was crying out for a coach to call timeouts and let his team have it.  It may not have worked (who knows with this team), but I’d like to have seen it.   There was no urgency from the coach, even as the game was slipping away (in fact, I can’t remember a single time all year when
DiLeo looked anything more than “slightly perturbed”).

Regarding #2 and #7 (Miller and Iguodala), I think the answers are related.  Here’s something that I noticed as time went on over the year, see if you all agree:  Miller does not make Iguodala a better player.  The way the Sixers run their offense is that Miller does his thing,  while Iguodala does his thing, and not often do the two connect (except on alley-oops, which are rare).  Top-flight point guards make other players better by giving the scorers on their team easier shots, delivering the right passes at the right times.  It seems 9 of 10 times, for example, when Miller has the ball on the fastbreak, he’s taking the shot himself, though Thad and Iguodala are better finishers.    By contrast, I happen to think Iguodala made Thad better this year by penetrating and finding him for easy shots (albeit often using the dreaded jump pass).  How many times this year did Miller penetrate and kick?  Miller’s penetrations in the halfcourt were mainly to set up his own shots.

So my answer to #7 is this: with a top-flight point guard, I think the Sixers can be serious contenders with Iguodala as their best player.  But to answer #2, I do not classify Miller as a top-flight point guard.  A great comparison would be this year’s Nuggets.   Did you ever think the Nuggets would be serious contenders with Carmelo Anthony as their best player?  But add Billups to that team, and it’s amazing how much better all their “questionable” players (Anthony, J.R. Smith, Nene) became.

I thought Iguodala made significant progress this year, both in his performance in the clutch and in his performance in the playoffs.  He’s certainly not all the way there, but mainly he needs to work on offensive consistency, both within games and from game-to-game.  He certainly showed flashes of being able to take over games, he just didn’t do it all the time.  Defensively, I don’t know how anyone could complain about the job he did in this series on Turkoglu (and AIG was the only one last night who had any success defending Lewis in the post, with two strips and a forced miss); if you believe the advanced sites (82games, Basketball Prospectus), he’s already in the top 2 or 3 small forwards in the league defensively.  In fact, people might have missed this, but I thought it spoke volumes that Iguodala was still D-ing up his man with 3 minutes left, down 18, unlike the rest of the team.   I would “go to war” with him anytime (I know others will disagree).

I’ll add a Question #8: where does Thad fit in?  Thad got exposed a bit by the Magic as a soft player, but he’s got lots of time to improve.  (By the way, the “playing out of position” argument is no excuse, because Lewis is really a small forward himself, albeit a tall one.)  I like Thad better than Brand at the power forward slot (Thad creates all kinds of mismatches), but Thad needs to add more “physicality” to his game (both offensively and defensively) to succeed in the long run at the 4.  At the 3, I’m not convinced that Thad will ever be able to defend adequately to cover that spot …

According to the ESPN game recap, Billy King was in attendance next to Ed Snider!  WOW, that was what happened!

Also, I am somewhat glad the Sixers are expressing emotion.  Now they have to be smart about and channel it into being better and playing harder!!  They realize this is unacceptable.  Question to them is, “What are going to do about it?”  This is a building block of character!

Theo’s comments have reflected my views 100% all year.  I am sick of B type personality coaches.  SICK OF THEM!!!  We need to hire someone the total polar opposite personality of Mo Cheeks and DiLeo.  These guys do not know how to dig into players, motivate, bring some passion into the game, and light a fire under someone’s ass.  They hold no one accountable.  

It kills me that we haven’t had a coach in 5 years (Obie would be the last one…and he certainly had his weaknesses) that was unable to just yell, scream and DIG into his players to provoke a response and demand higher expectations.  Every time they cut to Stan Van Gundy to hear those hilarious gravely voiced tirades he’d carry on with during timeouts…as funny as they were…we NEED a strong personality like that.  Someone that DEMANDS our team, and individuals, to cut their horsesh*t out and fulfill their potential.

aka: Avery.  Johnson.  

I like Eddie Jordan, he’s a great offensive coach, a “player’s coach” in the good sense where he knows how to communicate with his team and players, and he would certain fascilitate the team ball movement, especially off the ball movement, and proper screening.  But having been in Washington DC for 8 years now…trust me when I say he’s not the right hire because he doesn’t concentrate on defense enough.  Every year EJ talks about improving defense, that’s the Wiz’ focus, blah blah…never, ever happened.  

We need someone who takes defense as seriously and has PROVEN he can take a crappy defensive team and make them better.  Avery Johnson’s most unheralded aspect two years after his firing  is that he did just that.  Got a HORRENDOUS defensive team to become a mediocre and sometimes above average defensive team…hard work, discipline, setting high expectations, and DEMANDING something better of his players.

He knows his X & O’s, he knows how to put people in the right spots to cater to their strengths (how badly do we need this with Elton Brand?), and as for his weaknesses (overcoaching, not being loose enough)…I think he’s learned his lesson by sitting out a year and having a broader perspective as an analyst.  Avery is a Popovich student in the best possible way, and someone with a force of personality capable of stamping it on our passive, submissive team that really needs an injection of life.  He’s the right hire.  

1.  Avery Johnson
2.  Eddie Jordan
3.  Mark Jackson  (I don’t want a rookie coach…but this guy has moxy, swagger, knows the game inside and out, and is the right personality…I think he will be a pheminal coach whenever someone gives him the chance).  
4.  Paul Silas   (a more out of the box move, and what I’ve always thought is a very, very underrated coaching name out there.  I loved what he did with the Baron/Mashburn/Phils/Wesley Charlotte Hornets teams that were perenially injured year to year).  

If we hire the Czar or Van Gundy…I will gauge my eyes out with a spoon for how boring we will be…please no Czar, please no Van Gundy.

Here are the Free Agents of 2009 (and 2010).  Make your selections.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?page=FreeAgents-09-10

Miller and Ratliff missed today’s final team meeting. Their absences are unexcused and the team has calls in to them that hadn’t been returned as of 3:45. Wonder if that means Miller wants out …

Rob…….“If someone else is hired to be the new head coach for the Philadelphia 76ers, DiLeo would certainly provide his blueprint to that coach.”

Uh, no thanks.  After two years of this, I’m looking for an entirely new blueprint.

That could really be a problem, though.  If Stefanski is pretty well set on how he thinks we should play then he will be looking for a coach that will continue to do things his way we’ve been.  Not good, IMO.

I’d rather see Stefanski listen to the ideas of an outsider, our new coach,  and allow him to go at it the way he thinks will work and have Stefanski reconfigure the team to maximize it.  I say that because after two consecutive years of first round exits in 6 games, it is clear that what we have, as well as what we do with what we have, is not getting it done.

As much as DiLeo’s familiarity with the players, their strengths, their weaknesses, etc… and with how Stefanski wanted us to play on the court might have made him the best short-term solution to step in this year and replace Cheeks, I think that that familiarity has also hurt us and will continue to hurt us should he continue to have a say in how we play on the court.  I think DiLeo is too close to or has too much of a personal investment in some of the players and it hurt us on the court.  DiLeo seems to be more committed to some guys, guys he feels are the core of the team, guys he feels it is more important to develop, moreso than the overall success of the team. I mean, I’m certain that he wants the team to be successful.  It’s just that I can’t shake the feeling that it is a secondary concern for him, at least it seemed that way to me this season.

Although I know it’s not that simple and I highly doubt it will happen, I’d love to see a clean slate, a new approach and some new personnel more suited to it, because I don’t see that sticking with what we’ve been doing and figuring it will all come together as our core matures is going to be the answer.

I used to get mad when Larry Brown “wouldn!t play the young guys”. But this year the opposite happened and look at the result. L.Hughes left because he THOUGHT he deserved more time, well, L.Will. wouldn!t have left the bench if L.B. was coaching this group. Boston strangler, I agree with a lot of what you said but some of the A.Miller stuff. First off, if Billups was our pp.g. would he be driving and kicking the ball out to Willie or passing in the post to Sam for long after seeing consistantly bad results? A.Miller was more of a pass first p.g. when he got here, the numbers [ppg.] I believe bear that out. I do agree about the post!m up offense, I mentioned it earlier this week actually, no, it doesn!t make us better but with limited scoring ability with this group it helped them win a few games. I am not endorsing bringing back A.Miller [defense, perimeter shot] because Iggy and Thad are probably our future wings and we need shooting elsewhere [p.g. and center hopefully] but I just wanted to “have his back” because I thought he really busted it in this series. Theo hit the nail on the head with his comments  and to me the 2 players that have to go are Sammy and L.Will. because of our teams I.Q. and lack of defensive effort. Finding a veteren guard off the bench [ex. K.Dooling?] that defends and is consistant for 20 minutes a night improves this team greatly. Addition by subtraction at the 5 I think would make us better because Sam seems to only play hard when getting big minutes and THAT is a bad message to our other young guys. I will take my chances with a [Elton,Jason and veteren [Theo?] at the 5 rotation because the 4 on 5 offensive play has to stop!!! I didn!t blog till now because I wanted to get the bad taste out of my mouth but I hope E.S. heeds Theo!s advice and gets a coach in here with a “set of balls”.

Real Rob: 

You want Tyreke Evans for shooting?  He is a shoot first, ball hog of a PG that has horrendous shot selection, is a TERRIBLE three point shooter with no range, and is far more an athlete than any kind of cerebral player.  How on earth would he help our team?  

I’m with you on our needs though.  A PG to groom (1. Lawson/Flynn  2. Mayner  3. Calathes)…and/or a backup SG/SF that can hit 3’s and has a versatile game (IMO, Ellington and Budinger have the size, 3 point shooting and overall athletic ability to fit this bill perfectly).  

I like James Johnson as a player, and certainly think he has the talent to succeed at the NBA level…but not sure why another 6′8 would really fit our team?  He’s a college PF, and at best a hybrid 3/4 in the NBA.  We have our 6′10 PF of the future in Speights already, I def. think we need more of a traditional SG/SF to backup Iggy and Thad than the skills James Johnson offers.

Now if we were somehow able to land either Flynn or Lawson via draft…AND swing a deal for Anthony Parker as the backup SG/SF (passing, unselfishness, defense, 3 point shooting)…to add to our core along with Elton Brand?  THAT’s a team I’m getting excited about!

“Character is destiny.”

The Sixers have responded to the embarrassment of their Game 6 “effort” (and getting blown out on a national stage while in an advantageous position) in splintered and selfish fashion.

Iguodala:  blamed it on his youthful teammates and, also, implied internal strife; plans to consult with GM about head coach and player personnel changes following his dreadful elimination Game 6 performance in which his true colors appeared.  Passes the buck entirely (excluding his 80 million).  Laughable insanity.  And Stefanski fell for him. 

Williams has the gall to sit behind a microphone and presume to represent his teammates and organization after his crummy season and puny playoff performance.  Delusional.  Yes, he’s confident.  Yes, I wonder why.  His crossover dribble from ‘39% shooting, no D-ing, turnover-machining’ employee to microphoned face of franchise is fantastic.  

Ratliff, a “supporting” player, reactively rants on the record about head coach’s leadership impotency (when he really was frustrated about Game 6 result, his minutes limitation and season-long organizational indulgence toward certain unnamed players); fails to show for final team meeting, strongly dissing an organization that has twice given him opportunity and paid him rather handsomely.  Et tu, Brutus? 

Miller (perhaps due to Salmi’s extravagant praise) again – remember last summer’s communication embargo – gives organization ”the best pump fake in the business” (or a wave of the hand with 4 fingers folded) as an unexplained no-show at team’s final meeting.  His ‘what’s best for Miller’ IQ is off the charts.  Leadership and professionalism, my foot.  Win a playoff series sometime in your life, then pout.

Young, sage observer and playoff disappointment, calls head coach “the nicest guy in the world” and claims Dileo’s devoid of the “meanness” of some other NBA head coaches, alluding to a certain ineptitude or lack.  Thad, develop a player resume before you assess head coaching talent for the public record.

Dalembert. 

With any team consisting of the above 6 knuckleheads, Clair Bee or Red Auerbach would be hard-pressed to win.

Yes, please go, Sixers!

Lets fact the facts,

Dileo is a pussy and his team played to his personality.

Stefanski funked up by resigning Lou Williams and by failing to have a good head coach almost 2 years into his job.

Iggy is a blowhard weasel who chokes like the new york mets whenever he on the free throw line late in a game.   It’s awesome to have a running game druing the season but where the hell did it go during the playoffs.

Last year our team D was head and toes better then it was this year.  How the funk does that happen?

Check out this quote!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dalembert, who asked for a trade earlier this season, said he wanted to remain in Philadelphia.
“I’d never come down and be like, ‘Get me out of here, or I don’t want to be here,” I’m happy with the guys here,” Dalembert said. “As long as the Sixers are here, you’d love to see yourself retire here.”

Lo f’n L, if your dumb ass gets resigned then I will never watch another basketball game again.   I said it from the first day in here in a Mike Singletary tone, Sammd D you can’t win with him, Can’t do it!

Ed you knucklehead, do everything that you can to get rid of Lou.  The punk who calls himself a leader.  A freakin leader!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Can you believe that, no wonder we sucked.  

As far as Sam, I don’t want to take on any additional salary in a trade so I would propose that we either tell him to take a 2 year paid vacation or just flat out buy him out.  Thats how bad it has gotten, I went from wishing for us to get rid of him for a 2nd rounder to wishing that we would just buy him out.  The guy is a cancer, a knucklehead, a pure loser.   Gortat made him his punk bitch, freakin Gortat!!!

I might get banned for saying something nice about the Mets (well actually the Mets broadcast team of  Gary Cohen, Ron Darling, and Keith Hernandez), but I’ll take a chance and hope that Pete stays over on the baseball topics and won’t read this.

After reading Andre Miller’s quotes in Jasner’s article, I was immediately reminded of a conversation that took place last night during the Phils-Mets game.

Here is an except from Jasner:

“But none of the Sixers responded to the challenge. No one seemed to get angry. No one raised his level of play, and that included the coach, who seemed to run out of buttons to push. Or maybe he pushed the buttons and no one responded.”

And here are two quotes from Miller:

“Asked about the lack of an angry response from anyone, Miller said: “It went by too fast, really. It felt like a blur, by them hitting shots left and right. It didn’t feel like we even played a game. We were just out there. They hit threes and we watched them, and the game was over.”

OK, back to last night’s Mets broadcast.  Cohen, Darling, and Hernandez were talking about how over the last few years the Mets have struggled to beat the poorer teams in the league.  How they get up for the better teams, yet they don’t play with the same intensity against the lesser teams and end up losing to them more than they should.  Cohen asked if a team should have, or better yet could they maintain,  the same high level of intensity for every game throughout the season.  I believe it was Darling who responded that yes, a player and a team can and should maintain their focus and intensity 90+% of the time.

Hernandez went on to talk about some of the lousy Cardinals teams he was on in his early years.  He said that they did the same thing, only he attributed it more to the fact that they did not have very many good players on those teams.  He said that good players have more consistent focus and intensity and when you get more good players on a team that focus and intesity shows through and the team is more consistent in it’s approach and improves.  Hernandez then went on to talk about the different attitude that existed on those mid to late 80’s Mets teams.  Their desire.  Their drive to win every night.  Their mindset of not relaxing or settling.

Cohen then asked if there was anything that a manager can do to increase his team’s focus and intensity, and both Darling and Hernandez said no.  They said that it really is up to each individual player to do that on their own and that a manager really can’t do much to make it happen.

All of that to get to this.  I realize that basketball is much more of a team game than is baseball and that a basketball coach should have more influence on his team than a baseball manager does on his.  However, isn’t  it entirely possible that a good part of the reason why the Sixers lack consistent focus and intensity (which shows in their mediocrity) is because they have too many players that do not have the internal drive to bring it night in and night out throughout the season? If so, even though a coach could/should help to some degree, isn’t it more that we simply do not have enough good players?  (I mean truly good, not players who think they are good or front office people who overvalue them and think they are or will become good.) 

It sure seems that way to me and I think consecutive .500 seasons follwed by first round exits from the playoffs backs me up.

bski, compare Chicago’s roster to the Sixers. Didn’t we finish with the same records? I realize they made the major moves at the deadline.  Iggy may be our only advantage.
 I agree. We are not that talented.
 Players like Thad, Lou(erratic) and Speights(no real role) are under development.  Their developing players(Thomas & Noah) are doing a good job playing their roles. Their main players/veterans(Rose, Gordon, Salmons(kringe!!!), Heinrich,  BMiller) vs AMiller, Iggy, Willie & Sammy??
I’m with you. Like your thinking.

lol JJG, I don’t think all the advil in the world can take away the pain of this season.

The 3 games that I went to this season
#1 opening night in Philly which is over a 2 hour drive for me.  The sixers showed no emotion, failed to show up, and got blown off the court.  It was really a sign of things to come, and Yes I was the first person to yell at Sammy 2 minutes into the game.

#2 I was there when Devin Harris hit that miracle shot to break our hearts.  That play was voted play of the year, what misery.

#3 I was there when the ship crashed in Jersey, what did we score 67 points? 

Thad’s defense was disappointing this year JJG, I admit it but I place the blame on the coaching for that.  It just killed me how he was ignored on offence for large periods of times. 

My bottom Line as I have said many times is that it’s not fair for us Sixers fans to have to root for a team that starts Sammy and Willie.  I mean wtf, if that’s the case then just change the name to the Philadelphia Losers.

Hopefully this pain will go away soon.  Personally I am just as pissed today as I was on Thursday.   Hopefully the draft can get here sooner then later so that us fans with broken hearts can start concentrating on the new season. 

Now, encorporating a team into a different system is a tough thing to do.  A new coach has to see what last year’s blueprint was in order to get a sense of how to encorporate the new coaches’ system.  It is not a light switch you can turn on and off.  It is really a matter of integrating the new coaching style slowly but surely (and hopefully before December).  That was the part I was really trying to elaborate in terms of referring to DiLeo’s blueprint. 
 
But, also, I think the rest of the team seems to agree with Ratliff about taking a new approach in the coaching (or preaching).  I think the Sixers were just running high on emotions and our two guys MIA from the meeting especially needed to blow some steam (after all, they are our active captains).  Today, the steam is pretty much gone for me after last Thursday and perhaps the team will feel the same. 
 
Later, in the offseason, I will talk about possible goals each player has to make! 
GO SIXERS!!  TAKE THE NEXT STEP!!

The Greek,  Opening night, play of the year and crapper of the year (before Thursday) – those are some landmarks and milestones you witnessed – - complementary 4 dogs, 4 beers, 4 tickets 4 U next year, if the Sixers management has any kind of heart.  And you should be proud of being the first to bellow “encouragement” at Sam!  If he’s still on the roster next year, I’ll take pleasure in offering him courtside “advice” too.

And, sadly but realistically, I’ve downgraded Willie’s stock from ‘buy’ to ’hold.’  Still on my team, but he doesn’t start.

sfw,  You were clear; my misread. 

For the purpose of winning, I’d take Rose or Gordon or Salmons (a closely comparable but subjective choice) over Iguodala today. 

As for Sam’s learning curve, it’s a straight line.

Nute in DC shooting 3’s. Think he came here later. What a show. Miss that. Gotta bring something to the table again. Reggie’s the closest to entertainment we have. Need something bad. A personality and I don’t me AI I. 

sfw & jjg.…..You’ve gotten me exactly.  Good points by you also.

“Need better players AND a stronger, demanding coach – a culture change, in my opinion”……...jjg.

That is precisely what I was getting at.  I posted my thoughts about our players in #34 because they go hand in hand with my thoughts on our coaching situation in #22 and #31.

Here’s what I mean.  We need a new coach, however I believe that even if we had Popovich this past season we would not have been a contender with the players we’ve got.  A coach can only do so much.

Now, that does not mean I would not want Popovich as our head coach.  Actually, he, or someone else of his ilk, would be exactly what we need.  I say that for two reasons.

First, he is a proven winner.  He has shown that he can take what he’s given, put it together, and win.  Granted, he’s been given a Duncan, a Ginobli, and a Parker, but that goes to my second point.

Second, and I believe even more important than the first, is that he has earned a lot of respect.  With that respect, he would be able to speak frankly with Stefanski and the front office, to tell them what changes need to be made——-how we should play, who we should get rid of, what types of players we need to bring in, etc…——–and actually have them listen to him.  Also, that respect should go a long way with the players, as far as getting their attention, holding them accountable, and instituting some meaningful change.

That’s what all my long posts are driving at.  We need more than a coach and more than just a couple players to get anywhere.  I too feel that we need a culture change.  In order for that to happen, we need a coach who has the credibility and respect necessary so that the front office will allow him to do things his way and make the personnel moves necessary to maximize it, without being restricted by the preconceived ides of who our core is and how we should be playing.

Pie in the sky I know, but what can you expect from a diehard fan?

Rob, into baseball gig, haven’t watched it. Really not interested in that series.

  Maybe Pat Reilly is gettin the itch? 

sfw- I get into the Phillies deep in the summer.  But thanks for being one of the few guys on board. 
 
 

Real Rob:  Am totally with you that Anthony Parker would be a VERY welcome addition to the bench of this team (what an upgrade he would be from Lou/Green as the main backup SG, wow), but I think you’re underselling his financial value a bit.  The Raptors luried him over from Israel by paying him a very fair price tag ($4 million a year), for I believe what was a three year, $12 million deal.  

I think he is entering the third year of the same contract, and is already a moderately priced player.  If I’m wrong and he’s entering FA, his pricetag, given his veteran savvy, experience, and versatile offensive game, would net him at LEAST $3 million a year, if not $5 (if his agent was a rat that really pushed).  Just keeping in mind that if we were to chase him, he wouldn’t be a minimum signing by any means.

Bski:  I like your post about the baseball players/coach analogy…although I do think in basketball there is more of a % for a very good coach with a strong personality to stamp his will on the team and improve them.  Not to a chamionship caliber level…but I DO think a coach can instill championship caliber dedication, work ethic, drive, and passion.  

Larry Brown, Popovich, Nate McMillan and Avery Johnson, IMO,  are the only people in the NBA that have this trait at a high level (not saying there aren’t other very good coaches…but I think those are the best at that particular trait) …where they so believe in the learning process, learning curb, teaching the right way, and aren’t afraid to bench players, not play rookies, and demand high expectations from players that are usually coddled to.    

As JJG so nicely put, given our collective bunch of knuckleheads, if we have a shot to land a personality like that (Avery!) I really can’t see why we would chase a coach with a different personality.  And hopefully, between getting a healthy Brand back, a new PG in the draft (and maybe a 2nd pick if we can swing a minor deal, please god say this will happen this draft has great fits for our team), and signing another role player…that our collective group will be less knuckle-heady, and more a balance between headstrong athletes coming into their prime (Iggy, Thad, youth with great athleticism and upside (Speights, 2009 draftee), and veterans with moxy (Brand, Reggie, Marshall, Ratliff).  

I think if we make the proper moves this offseason (upgrading one of Lou Williams or Willie Greene…or both if possible)…we could very well be back to realistic expectations for our team to be a strong 2nd round team, and in the hunt for the 4th seed in the Eastern Conf.  Obviously next year Cleveland/Boston/Orlando are the top dogs again…I think if we draft and tweak-trade well, it is between us, the Hawks, and the Wizards (healthy Gil + top 5 lottery pick + improvement from youngsters) to be in the 4-5-6 spots.  And they will be STRONG 4-5-6 seeds, unlike this year.  

Jumpin, S.F.W. never beat me in the driveway!!!! If E.S. wasn!t apologizing for Deleo on sportsnet this morning I would believe a new coach is coming, but he was. And if E.S. was smart he would hire the new coach before the draft and allow him to mold the roster how he could best coach it. I guarantee A. Johnson would get a defensive p.g. on this roster and address the lack of shooting somehow. Blski, I agree, no ties, no loyalty; but would E.S. give up some control, that I doubt. Greek, I scoured the league for a Sammy trade, it!s tough but these are the FEW that might work.  1] Sam and #17 for M.Miller,Madsen and #28.   2] Sam and Reggie for M.Redd [Skiles likes defensive guys , Boget has back issues and Alexander may allow R.Jefferson to play the 2 guard].  3]Sam for Milicic and G.Buckner [that!s a WINNER].  4] Sam for Dunleavy [bad knee] and Hibbert.  5] Sam and a future pick for J.Crawford and Turiaf. That is the best I could come up with, and no I don!t think I would do them all.

Jumpin,  my “classic jumper” used to make the backboard “cringe”. I did have the D Barnett kick my butt motion on it though. I think you are right, E.S. won!t bring in an outsider.

Tom, I was discussing with my brother that in a draft weak in big men that Spieghts may garner a top 12 pick. Though talented, if he could get  us a player we target at a position of need [Lawson, D.Curry], could that be an option.

suede,  Dick Barnett – your shooting style model - spent some time  in the short-lived ABL, where he led the Cleveland Pipers to a ‘62 championship with 26 ppg avg.  (That league was first to introduce the 3-pt. line, not the ABA.  Connie Hawkins was a player in the league too.)  I saw DB play at Convention Hall on the ‘62-’63 Lakers in a doubleheader (yes, the NBA had those), and later with the Knicks.  Was a great college player at Tennessee State A & I (3-time NAIA All-American – ‘57-’59; 1st historically black college team to ever win an integrated national championship).  His coach at college and on the pro level in Cleveland was 5′ 6″ pioneer Johnny McLendon (hired for Pipers by owner George Steinbrenner), a black man who hadn’t been permitted to play varsity basket at Kansas U. due to the color line, but who learned under the tutelage of Dr. James Naismith (a name that might ring a bell), and who would become the 1st African-American man to coach in professional sports.  A little history related to a fine left-handed shooting guard.  

Celtics Pride lives.  Sixers Pride dormant.  Bulls snortingly tough.
 

Jurnee16, It is being said on some draft sites that teams in the lottery are considering taking Rubio over B.Griffin because the p.g. position is considered the bigger value position and harder to fill. We are a team with 5 p.f.!s and if Miller leaves, 0 point guards. We can draft a 2nd level p.g. at 17 and not address our shooting issue, or we can take from a strength position and address a need. Elton,Jason, and Reggie because of different reasons are untradeable, and Thad is somebody that may help our shooting issue and has the ability to possibly play the 4 and 3 position. So in spite of his upside, if Marreese could get us our starting p.g. for the next 10 years, than yes I would move him. Just one of many options that may be out there. I like Calathes also but not sure he can defend at the p.g. position but he was the best passer I saw in college this year.

http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/chatESPN?event_id=26211

Eric (Blackwood, NJ): Do you have any nicknames? I think it should be Thaddeus Prime (you know like Optimus Prime).

Thaddeus Young: A lot of fans have been trying to come up with nicknames. Blackjack because my number’s 21. Baby legs. Young smooth.

Dre, that is definitely needed. I also thought of M.Cooper, who just got a women!s college coaching job I believe.

Jumpin, he could make Deleo!s 3 guard offense actually work; but he loves it at Nova. I would have no problem with an up and comer coach but as Dannie has said ,most won!t leave their good situations at schools.

Somebody mentioned Mahorn, an interesting name, if and only if a veteren assistant with experience is alongside him. Del Negro survived his first year, a risky move on the Bulls part.

Helps to have the master in place before rearranging the classroom but one pupil, Samuel Dalembert, MUST be transferred before next season, no matter who the lecturer is.  Get that process started immediately.  Young Sam has been given tutorials, teacher-helper responsibilities, clapped erasers after school, been allowed to captain teams at recess, left alone to his own devices, reinforced with praise, made lieutenant in the “Safeties” ranks (even though he was seen sitting on the curb) - – and, dadgummit, nothing has worked!  He’s an intractable, recalcitrant, morale-depleting ne’er-do-well and waste of a roster spot.  And on the last day of the semester he tried to kiss Hedo, our foreign exchange student from Turkey.  This school isn’t right for Sam. 

Tom Thibodeau!

Ryan F,  Why do you think he’s the answer?  What achievements or credentials recommend him?  What kind of personality does he carry?
I hear that he’s a defensive-minded coach, but so was Dick Harter who didn’t have much NBA success as the top guy.  Am wondering about your rationale on how Thibodeau would be the right choice for Sixers. 

Jumpin, his name was mentioned recently in some situations as far as a “possible option”. He intrigues me a bit because we all seem to want an improved defensive gameplan and this group, minus a #1 scorer would seem to have a better chance to improve with that approach. But we just don!t know enough about him personality wise although he seems very animated on the Celtics bench at times, whatever can be taken from that.

Dannie, I agree ,just wishing. Question, if Peja gets rid of Sam and Willie OR Reggie would you?  And with the economic situation affecting some teams is getting a #1 scorer for our young talent possible. San Antonio, Dallas and Toronto have to make a decision sometime to regroup, don!t you think.

Go for the teams that are having the firesales and see if you can get a lot by trading very little.  Teams are focusing on trying to maintain their key players who will be free agents in the class of 2010, so for those players that have been treated like expiring contracts, but have value could be in the Sixers laps.  Stefanski has been known for making some steals and do so without the hoopla.  

 -Raptors must focus on Bosh.  (see who is a good FA in Toronto).
-Miami must focus on Wade .    (see who is a good FA in Miami).
-Cleveland must focus on LeBron.  (see who is a good FA in Cleveland).
-New York has some expiring contracts and valuable players and they are pursuing some of these key free agents, check some of those Knicks out.
-Detroit is going to have a fire sale and try to acquire free agents.  Perhaps Hamilton might be available as our SG somehow, without trading Miller, Iggy, Brand, or Young.  You never know.

There are also many great role players that are at the very end of a bench or a team with so much depth, that they play very few minutes.  Perhaps, those guys are easy to snatch.  

Really, the first question is about Andre Miller and let’s not forget that Elton Brand and Jason Smith will hopefully return and be well recovered.  That is kind of like acquiring new pieces right there.

But First:  Make the decision on Andre Miller.  (I say Yes!)

GO SIXERS!!

True, it is a matter of pick your question, but the draft appears to be looming shortly.  Miller said he would make his choice based on what the Sixers do draft time.  I’m sure a veteran coach would want to have Andre Miller at the helm. 

My coaching choice would be Avery Johnson because the players must understand that each player must share responsibility on the defensive end and the communication must be there on the floor defensively.  Elton Brand did some of that the last time he played as a starter. 

Also, CSN needs to have players and/or coaches mic’d to make things interesting, mainly the home games.   

Dannie,  Look forward to reading it.

I’m with you a bit on available veteran coaches - lukewarm.  Avery Johnson:  don’t doubt his abilities and dedication to a job, but that funny Louisiana voice might not resonate as well here in the northeast where he doesn’t have a history.  Just a hunch.  Jeff Van Gundy:  knows defense, has coached 4 50-win teams, but doubt a third stint would be a charm in Philly with roster make-up.  Eddie Jordan:  was on a fine Rutgers team in ‘75 (with shooter Phil Sellers, coached by Tom Young) but is not an imposing personality nor defensive-minded enough in his coaching (as a DC blogger has mentioned).    

Real Rob, I suppose the credential of a Ring and his availability triggered a consideration.  But why didn’t he get the nod over neophyte DelNegro, if, in fact, it came down to those two?

I agree, defense first.  From my standpoint, there’s nothing more effective in winning big games or fun to watch in execution.  Ron Artestville – buckle your seatbeat.  

Dannie, I picked Houston to come out of the west at the beginning of the year and would really look forward to an Artest versus Lebron matchup.

I like TT for a couple reasons, I don’t  know to much about him either than what I have read in his bio’s

When I watch C’s games, he seems to have the “firey attitude” that keeps players accountable on the defensive end.

When he was an assistant in NY 2001 they set an NBA record by holding 33 straight opponents under 100ppg

In 14 seasons his teams have finished  in the top 10 in team defense 11 times

The former NBA coaches that are out there really don’t blow me away. 

His peers praise him and say that he is deserving to be an NBA head coach, and  is good with player developement and is able to keep players respect and have a no nonsense attitude at the same time.

If there is a better candidate out there I cant think of it.