Posted: Saturday, May 2, 2009, 11:54 AM | 23 comments |
 

A Sixers Situation
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Well, say this for the Sixers. They weren't boring as they went into the offseason. In fact, that's one nutty hospital that Ed Stefanski and the boys are running over there for Mr. Snider.

The Sixers were only moderately interesting as they dragged through a 41-41 campaign, with neither free-agent savior Elton Brand nor coach Maurice Cheeks getting successfully to the right side of the hyphen in the 2008-2009 season.

They saved all the interesting stuff for the very end, when they unfurled an unprofessional effort in Game 6 against Orlando, then came apart in some of their postgame comments and couldn't even hold a team meeting that included, well, the whole team.

After the game, Theo Ratliff, who was an afterthought during the regular season but was employed as a hackster against Orlando, suddenly felt empowered to blast the coaching staff for not having the team ready. Been that way all season long, Ratliff said. Nice having you around again, Theo.

Andre Iguodala said he planned to sit down and give his thoughts to Ed Stefanski, who seemed surprised that Andre believed personnel decisions and the like were in his job description. Asked if coach Tony DiLeo should be back, Iguodala said it was something that had to be discussed. No kidding. He really said that.

Andre Miller, who might be the best player on the floor every night for the team, didn't show for the team meeting the day after the Orlando disaster. He said, through his agent, that he didn't know the meeting was mandatory. That seems unlikely, and a little weak as an excuse for a veteran, but maybe it was just how the free agent began to say goodbye.

It doesn't seem possible that DiLeo will return as coach given the circumstances. It also doesn't seem that certain DiLeo wants the job and you could hardly blame him. Unless the Sixers find a way to unload Sammy Dalembert -- who is a liability now and will be a bigger one upon Brand's return -- this team is a schizophrenic blend of wasted athleticism and lapsed fundamentals.

Stefanski said he will look for a guard in the draft, hopefully one who can be relied upon to serve as the three-point counterbalance the team needs in its one-dimensional halfcourt offense.

This is a team in real turmoil, with very difficult decisions to make. It's never a good sign when a franchise is more interesting off the court than on it.

  

 
Posted by BOB FORD @ 11:54 AM  Permalink | 23 comments
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  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:36 PM, 05/02/2009
    i'd build around thad, speights, and lou and get rid of the rest. of course no one will take the contracts of sammy, brand or iguodala, so we're stuck in purgatory for the next 4-5 years.
    — jazztafari
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:43 PM, 05/02/2009
    I love Sammy demanding a trade. Like this team hasn't been trying to trade him for 3 years anyhow. He has negative trade value with that contract, and demanding a trade only lowers that value further. I've never seen a player who had such a poor grasp of what goaltending is. The best course of action would be to put Elton at center, so he can be the slowest man on the floor and stay in the lane. They should draft a PG who can hit an open 3. I guess that means you start Thad AI and Speights, which seems alright to me. Willie Green should not start on any team in the NBA. With Lou as the 6th man, and a couple vets on the bench that lineup could get you 44-47 wins. Maybe.
    — Either/Or
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:52 PM, 05/02/2009
    if i was stefanski, i'd try to trade brand and thaddeous for amare stoudemire. re-sign miller to 3-yr. deal. bench dalembert and start either jason smith or speights in his place. and, then draft wayne ellington out of unc. your starting 5: miller, ellington, iguodala, stoudemire, and smith/speights.
    — uscwee
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:07 PM, 05/02/2009
    I think it's pretty lame Mr. Ford that you're taking shots at the players who actually showed some heart(Ratliff, Igoudala & Miller), the ones who cared about the outcome and felt betrayed by the mismanagement of the team and the way minutes were allocated that cost them a chance at getting past the first round of the playoffs. To anyone (in the comments section) who believes that next year's fortunes hinge on DiLeo, Lou Williams, Thaddeus Young or Marreese Speights doesn't understand the first thing basketball. Igoudala, Miller, Ratliff, even Donyell Marshall deserved better.
    — T-Money
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:10 PM, 05/02/2009
    If the Sixers don't draft a PG in what's a very deep PG draft it's proof Stefanski doesn't know what he's doing. They should take the best PG available, and go with a shooter in the second round (Thornton from LSU could be available). Ellington's going to bust.
    — coatesvillain
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:41 PM, 05/02/2009
    Got to agree with T-Money, Bob.
    — jamesiri
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:11 PM, 05/02/2009
    What's wrong with Iggy playing a part in the decision making process. The team needs to decide who their core is and then why shouldn't that core have a say in who they want on their team. This isn't the marketing department deciding who should be in finance. This is players having a say in who they thing they could play with. At this point if Iggy and Miller return next year, I'd trust them to make the draft choice more than Stefanski/DiLeo. Remember Stefanski was part of the group that draft 3 forwards in a row and then signed a free agent forward. Anyway leave it to me and I'd trade Iggy and try to get a guy like Danny Granger. Keep Thad and Speights. Brand is untradeable. Beyond that everything else should be on the table
    — phasor
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:12 PM, 05/02/2009
    Who exactly does Iguodala think he is? Dude is the second-best player on a thoroughly average and boring team. Sure, Andre! Let's just name you Assistant G.M. while we're at it!
    — RunUpTheScore
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:25 PM, 05/02/2009
    I agree that it takes a lot more than talent to win in this league. I want the ones with heart, team commitment (no matter their contract status), and agressiveness. If you combine those assets with a decent talent level, you get a good player. I do NOT understand the criticism of the current AI either, as I think he embodies all I like to see in a player. He may not be Kobe, LeBron or one of the other team-carriers, he IS a great player with this team. I hope we don't lose our point guard, but I think he may be wanting to get a big payday that maybe we won't be able to do for a guy his age.....so godspeed to him.
    — TBear
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:44 PM, 05/02/2009
    Unless Andre Miller believes the Sixers can win in the next two years there is no reason he would come back. Because of the luxury tax, the Sixers can't pay him more than several other teams. I would expect him to try to go to a winning team.
    — Duracorr
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:58 PM, 05/02/2009
    The Sixers need someone too take them to the next level, and all of this blame game Mr Ford is not helping anything. Let the team Prepare for the draft and maybe get lucky with a difference maker. Good luck.
    — Donnie
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:13 PM, 05/02/2009
    I said it before and I'll say it again. either a three way trade Bosh for Brand straight up. Or Three way Amare to the raptors Bosh to philly and Brand to the suns it works. You gotta give up either Young or Lou with Sammy (salary) but it can be done
    — Neoconkiller
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:46 PM, 05/02/2009
    For an over-the-hill HACK like Theo to open his mouth is a joke. See you later Theo, go find another team to warm their bench and collect a paycheck from to be a practice team player. If you had something to contribute you should have done it on the floor not with your mouth.
    — heaterman
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:48 PM, 05/02/2009
    They need to get rid of Willie Green...you cant win with a shooting guard who cant shoot...Keep Young, Speights, Williams, and thats it!
    — igglegreen


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About Bob Ford
Bob Ford has been writing about Philadelphia sports since 1981, and is still trying to figure it all out. A former beat writer covering the Phillies and the 76ers, Ford became a general sports columnist for the Inquirer in 2003, following in and occasionally falling in the deep footsteps of Bill Lyon, Frank Dolson and many distinguished others. He comes to the Philly.com blogosphere after award-winning success as designer/editor of the fabulous Pen & Pencil Club softball blog. Likes: Palestra, inside-the-park home runs, sunny days. Dislikes: phony people, cloudy days, rewrites.
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