Comments on: Sixers Beat Atlanta for 4th in a Row: Have They Turned the Corner?

By: Tom Moore

Tom Moore — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 20:28:10 +0000

Part of the problem with the idea of Brand passing out of double-teams to open shooters is that opposing clubs have usually been able to single-cover him. Combine that with some subpar perimeter shooters and you can see why the half-court offense wasn’t too effective.

By: jjg

jjg — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 19:28:27 +0000

tk76 Like all coaches, LB gets in trouble when he doesn’t have enough
quality players (i.e., Knicks), or when players and co-workers chafe at his constipated, “I invented this wheel” pace and perfectionistic approach. Give him time and resources and he’ll build you a playoff team … then again, a lot of good coaches will.

BK got in trouble by doling out truckloads of money to guys like Glenn Robinson, Derrick Coleman, Chris Webber and Sam Dalembert.

By: jjg

jjg — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 19:07:21 +0000

tk76 All that glitters isn’t gold. 3 of the 4 you mentioned play subpar defense. Young or old, that gets you beat.

By: tk76

tk76 — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 18:28:20 +0000

Hoping team will evolve by adding time, like water to a Chia pet, is not the tried-and-true route of championship organizations.

No one can guarantee a championship, but Thad is 20, Speights 21, Lou 22 and Iguodala is 24. I think some time and patience will pay off to some degree. Impatience and willingness to trade away youth and picks is what got LB/BK in trouble.

By: jjg

jjg — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 18:10:22 +0000

Sixers 1st 11 players (excluding Marshall & Rush) represent 60 completed NBA seasons, only 133 playoff games and only 54 playoff wins (.380 %). Average age: 26.6

The ballyhooed Big 3 – Miller, Brand & Iguodala – represent 22 completed seasons, only 44 playoff games, and a mere 15 playoff wins (.340 %). Average age: 28.6

This Sixers team is a mosaic of level B and C players. Extended playoff prospects will rise when an A or 2 is acquired and/or more than 1 of present roster elevates to A level performance (far from a certainty). Hoping team will evolve by adding time, like water to a Chia pet, is not the tried-and-true route of championship organizations. Front office has to continue to be proactive with regard to player personnel and change.

By: deepsixersuede

deepsixersuede — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 18:04:49 +0000

Rob, It is just hard to find minutes for everybody. With defense the first priority Rush just must not be an option though I do agree with Dannie on Donell possibly being used at the end of halves or quarters as a Horry type guy. The only way we add shooters in the next year or so is if they can REPLACE a guy with the other parts of what he is giving the team; for example, if Jason can replace Reggies energy and be an effective dfender at the 4 than his shooting ability can be added but they just don!t seem to want a guy that just shoots out there now.

By: Rob

Rob — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 17:44:19 +0000

The original plan with Brand is when double teamed, shooters will be open for better opportunities. Will this be true once Brand gets a couple of games to shake off the rust? I think so, but don’t expect a dramatic improvement due to the guys who are currently shooting the ball. I like though that DiLeo still has confidence in them and encourages them to keep shooting the threes even though we are last in the NBA. Now, if the Sixers keep shooting the three this well, our TRUE shooters (Rush & Marshall) better get some good minutes, perhaps toward the end of quarters (1-3, maybe 4th depending on the situation.) This is to put the opposing teams in scramble mode defensively while we create chaos on the offensive end!! That is what we really envisioned with this Sixers team and it is unfortunate, yet necessary that Mo had to be relieved of his duties! Plus, I, as well as Stefanski, need to see the TRUE shooters and their efficiency in a certain number of minutes. Shooters need a rhythm and a proper role when they are in a game. DiLeo has given roles to everyone else and have worked very well to their limits, but we need to see our true shooters get a consistent, yet proper role–three point decoys and insurance, as well as being the guys set for specific plays. Otherwise, why do we have them for this year? The trade deadline is coming up, but why waste their shooting talents? Of course, it depends on what they are doing in practice? Marshall right now has a knee injury. But, hey in Stefanski and DiLeo we trust!! GO SIXERS!!!

By: tk76

tk76 — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 16:08:13 +0000

I guess its a catch-22. Practice time in the NBA is limited- especially when you are trying to integrate in a major new piece like Brand. But it still would be good to get the young core of 24 and under players to mesh. That was a big part of their late season success last year, and is key moving forward. Especially key for Lou, who is weak on innate PG skills. He could help compensate by building a good comfort level by playing more with the “1′s.”

By: Tom Moore

Tom Moore — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 16:00:40 +0000

Ivey and Williams are together on the second group in practice. They seem interchangeable at the 1 and the 2, with each getting a chance off the ball.

By: Tom Moore

Tom Moore — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 15:59:22 +0000

Tk, that’s a good point — Williams and Brand aren’t on the same team very often at practice. Williams is paired with Evans more than Brand. If Miller is out, Williams would run with the first group, but Miller rarely cannot scrimmage. I do like the idea of Williams and Brand in a pick and roll/pop setting. I prefer it to all those dreadful clear-outs at the ends of quarters. Young, Williams and Speights are on the same group, so that helps.