A source has confirmed that the 76ers will officially interview Eddie Jordan on Friday of this week.

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A source close to the team has told the Inquirer that 76ers coach Tony DiLeo will not return as coach next season.

Earlier today, the Sixers announced that General Manager Ed Stefanski and DiLeo would sit down sometime this afternoon to discuss this past season and DiLeo's future.

The Sixers have announced a conference call scheduled for 4:30 p.m. where Stefanski is expected to announce that DiLeo will not return as coach.

The source said that DiLeo told Stefanski during the meeting that he did not want to be considered for the job. It is unclear whether Stefanski was still considering DiLeo or was poised to move on, anyway.

DiLeo took over for Maurice Cheeks on Dec. 13, 2008. He finished the season with a 32-27 record as head coach and seemed poised to return next season until the Sixers embarrassing season finale -- a 25-point loss to the Dwight Howard-less Orlando Magic.

With the first decision made -- no DiLeo -- Stefanski will now focus on hiring DiLeo's replacement.

We'll update as more information becomes available.

--Kate

The 76ers confirmed that General Manager Ed Stefanski and coach Tony DiLeo will meet sometime this afternoon to discuss DiLeo's future as head coach.

The meeting has been more than 10 days in the making and should be the team's first step towards deciding who will be the team's head coach going forward.
More to come ...

- Kate
 

Maybe now enough time has passed to assess the 76ers coaching situation without the emotional, knee-jerk reaction stemming from that, um, embarrassing end-of-season loss.

I'm as guilty as anyone. Right after that, and with all the drama revealed, it was difficult to see clearly through all the words and counter-words. But it's been almost a week. So let's take a look at the options, the thought process, what might happen. Basically, what I'm saying is this blog is speculation, mixed with a little information. A "little" information because that's all that's out there right now. So take it as such.

Going into the playoff series with the Orlando Magic, and even throughout it, all information, discussion, etc. was pointing towards Tony DiLeo returning this season as the Sixers coach. Throughout the series, DiLeo had his guys executing a very smart defensive game plan against the Magic. Look at the first game against the Boston Celtics the other night ... Yes, Boston is depleted, but that was impressive by Orlando, building that huge lead. But what kind of miscalculations did DiLeo make that led to the Game 6 disaster. Did his belief he didn't need to remind his team to stay focused affect the outcome? Could/Should one game -- albeit an awful, awful game -- impact this decision that much?

Did/Does DiLeo deserve to be retained? This question is littered with X-factors. By the numbers, DiLeo had an above-.500 record (32-27 ... is my math right?) with a team that, before he took over, was 9-14. But then we have the X-Factor: Elton Brand. Was the team's struggle to incorporate him what dragged Cheeks down? Did his injury allow DiLeo to have a better record because he didn't go through figuring out how to win with Brand? Or was Brand's injury -- as Ed Stefanski and Tony DiLeo have suggested -- a blow to the Sixers (and DiLeo's) effectiveness? We just don't know the answer to this question. And because we don't, it's hard to judge DiLeo's effectiveness as coach.

But let's look at the pros and cons for DiLeo. First, because the glass is half full, the pros.

1.) By bringing DiLeo back, you're 100 percent avoiding any in-fighting between coach and management. You're guaranteed to have the energy focused on the vision that DiLeo and Stefanski have -- because they have the same vision. If you believe in that vision, then bringing in an outside guy is quite risky. No matter how detailed the discussion is beforehand, you're risking that halfway through a season, the new coach has developed a different vision. DiLeo is known league-wide as a smart, high basketball IQ guy. And I agree with that assessment. How important is it to have a unified vision? Is it more important than having some new blood who will challenge the thought process? I honestly don't know.

2.) DiLeo did well. Now that we can step back from the 25-point loss. You can't argue that DiLeo had this team playing well, but was it often enough? Like we said, how much of that was caused by circumstances Cheeks wasn't given, we won't know. But the team was 40-35 at one point. There was that 14-4 record before the All-Star break. There were glimpses that the team was advancing.

3.) It's safe. That's not what Sixers fans necessarily want to hear, because it seems imperative to get this thing going in the right direction, right now. But let's look at the alternative: signing someone to a significant, lengthy contract (because goodness you can't go with a 1-year deal at this point). That's a risk of time and money, and money and length doesn't guarantee this guy will do anything more than DiLeo has done.

4.) DiLeo didn't have an entire season as his. Don't underestimate how important it is to go through a training camp with the team. When DiLeo came in he was running another guy's offense and defense. He was picking up midstream with another guy's ideas.

So, with DiLeo, you're getting a solid coach, guaranteed drama-free, little risk, but still with upside because we don't know his vision/touch for integrating Elton Brand.

And now, the cons.

1.) No splash. I don't think it's a stretch to say that the Sixers are currently the 4th most popular franchise in the city right now. They did nothing to inspire excitement going into the offseason, nothing to spark ticket sales. Sticking with DiLeo would continue that trend. The franchise would continue to fly under the radar, with people thinking they were headed for a carbon copy of this past season. You sign someone with a high profile, you make a splash, spark some interest, make it clear you have your long-term guy. That gets people talking, but you've also put yourself on the ledge there. The Elton Brand signing got people talking, sparking interest. It didn't resonate the way it might have.

2.) The players don't seem sold on DiLeo. We know what Theo Ratliff said right after the loss. That was a blow to DiLeo. In speaking with the rest of the team, and with those around the team, the vibe is two-fold. There are those that said all the right things -- that DiLeo should be brought back, he did a good job, etc. -- but there were others, like Iguodala, who seemed less than effusive in their praise. But take all this with a grain of salt. The mentality of NBA players doesn't always seem conducive to accepting blame, but it can often be conducive to distributing blame. How much of that played a part in dumping on DiLeo that night and, slightly, the next day? Ratliff wasn't the only guy questioning hether DiLeo was the right guy, he was just the only one who did it on the record.

3.) These guys need a take-no-prisoners type of coach ... that's what I've heard. Can DiLeo be that kind of coach? We aren't allowed to watch the heart of practice, so who knows what he is saying to guys. Who knows what he is demanding, what mistakes he won't allow. Ratliff said he was lenient, and in watching many of the games, that seems to be a justified position. But the NBA isn't like coaching in college, you can create more problems than you solve by ruling with an iron fist. But how much of an impact did DiLeo's background have on the players? He came from the front office, he hadn't been a head coach for two decades, and that was in another country. It's not hard to see how the players might have scoffed at his authority from the second he stepped into the role. Can DiLeo overcome that? Or must Stefanski bring someone in with the authority from Day 1? 

So what's happening right now? The Sixers are saying nothing is happening yet. And after many calls around the league, to agents, coaches, etc. that seems to be the case. The first thing to happen will be Stefanski and DiLeo sitting down and deciding. That does not seem to have happened yet. It seems both sides have taken a few days to step away. If, when that does happen, the decision is to move DiLeo back to the front office and begin a coaching search, the speculation will begin in earnest. Until then, the speculation will just be luke warm. But here it is. Some names, rumors, reasons for speculation, etc. Remember, this is speculation.

1.) Eddie Jordan, formerly the Washington Wizards coach. He worked with Stefanski while Stefanski was in New Jersey. Thus the connection. Jordan's name has been mentioned for this spot, as well as the Sacramento Kings job.

2.) Jay Wright, coach of Villanova. You couldn't make a bigger splash than hiring Jay Wright from an in-town university fresh off a Final Four appearance.

3.) Doug Collins. The Chicago connection (think, Iguodala), and his reputation as a hard-nosed coach, makes him a top choice.

4.) Avery Johnson. We've heard this name many times.

5.) Jeff Van Gundy. You can't do much better in terms of discipline, focus.

Like we said, it's impossible to nail down candidates because right now the job is still DiLeo's and former NBA coaches, heck all coaches, refuse to step on the toes of a fellow coach -- it's like crossing the picket line.

Soon we'll know more.

--Kate

Both Andre Miller and Theo Ratliff did not attend the 76ers final team meeting, scheduled for noon at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. Every other player showed, most also having meetings with coach Tony DiLeo and GM Ed Stefanski. The Sixers said Miller and Ratliff's interviews were scheduled for next week, but had no explanation for why neither showed for the final team meeting.

Stefanski said he had calls into both players, but had not heard from either. Both players are unrestricted free agents.

About Miller's absence, Stefanski said, "I don't know if that's sending us a message," referring to the point guard's desire (or lack thereof) to possibly re-sign with the Sixers. DiLeo said he would not comment on his feelings about either player's absence until he found out their reasoning.

Ratliff's absence was particularly noteworthy after his words in the locker room following last night's season-ending 25-point loss. Ratliff called out the coaching staff, saying they were too weak with the players, didn't hold players accountable for mistakes, and that generally the coaching staff was the reason for last night's disaster.

Today, DiLeo said he was aware of, and read, what Ratliff had said. DiLeo said he disagrees with Ratliff's beliefs. DiLeo said, "I saw his comments, I don't agree with his comments, we do hold players accountable ... I'm not the type of coach who will yank a player after one mistake ... I don't agree with him." DiLeo said he is "not passing judgement" until he finds out why each player missed and talks to each.

Stefanski said about Ratliff: "In Theo's case, I'm disappointed in his comments after the game."

You have to wonder what it means -- if neither has a legitimate reason for his absence -- what it means that two guys, unrestricted free agents, blow off the final team meeting.

--Kate

I think Lou Williams said it best when he said, after tonight's season-ending 114-89 "game" against the Orlando Magic, "Personally, I was embarrassed."

Mickael Pietrus shooting free throws before tonight's game. Pietrus has defended Andre Iguodala well this series, in the minutes he's been matched against him.

There are a lot of people who are already talking about Saturday's Game 7. No Dwight Howard. No Courtney Lee. That should equal an easy 76ers victory tonight, shouldn't it? Two starters gone from Orlando's lineup, 36 points per game, 18 rebounds. It's an interesting position for the Sixers. Through five playoff games, they've been the underdog, not expected to win a game. Now, after a couple of Howard elbows, they are presented with this: A should-win game, an elimination game that, if Orlando wins, would be quite an embarrassing way to end this season.

For the first time in this series, there is all kinds of pressure on the Sixers and none on the Magic.

There seem to be two options at each position for the Magic. To replace Lee, either J.J. Redick or Mickael Pietrus. To replace Howard, either Tony Battie or Marcin Gortat. *Update: Redick and Gortat will start.

We've seen all four of these guys off and on this series. Some thoughts.

1.) If Pietrus gets the bulk of the minutes tonight, maybe shifts to the small forward spot at times, keep on eye on his defense of Andre Iguodala. Throughout this series, when he's guarded Iguodala -- when Hedo Turkoglu rests -- he has been very effective on Iguodala. He seems to have no help responsibilities and he's very physical with Iguodala. The Sixers might be getting a break with Lee's offense missing, but Pietrus is an improved defensive option. Redick? Not so much. Willie Green should score anytime he wants against Redick. But the one thing with the former Dukie that he has shown in all his minutes this series (and all his life?) that he will shoot the ball -- all the time. So far, he's shot it poorly. But we've all watched Redick, for the better part of this decade, go on streaks and make 4 or 5 three-pointers in a row. The Sixers have kept the Magic's three-point shooting at bay. Tonight can't be the night that effort goes by the wayside. 

With Redick on the floor, Sixers coach Tony DiLeo said the Sixers would go after him on the perimeter, but only "in the flow" of the offense, that they won't go out of their way to isolate Redick outside.

2.) Howard missing. All right, so that's going to be a gaping hole for the Magic. But let's remember that in Game 2, in the last 3 minutes after Howard fouled out, the Magic grabbed a handful of killer offensive rebounds. They came from Pietrus, Gortat, Turkoglu, Rashard Lewis, etc. They did not come from Howard. It was that game that Howard had his worst game of the series, and the Sixers lost by double digits. So .... 

So you would expect Samuel Dalembert to make his presence felt. That's what you would expect. He'll be playing two backup NBA centers, so he really should dominate the paint tonight. He should have 15 rebounds -- at least. I think a huge portion of this game rests on Dalembert's shoulders: Is he still going to pick up two early fouls, is he going to dominate like he should? Your guess is as good as mine. Really.

One other thing to watch is Thaddeus Young on Rashard Lewis, and Lewis dominating him on the block. DiLeo said this was because Young was in foul trouble last game, but I still think it's worth watching to see if Lewis will take Young to the block and continue to make those little 5-footers. Lewis and Turkoglu will be getting the bulk of Howard's shots. Given these guys haven't been great this series, that could be a good thing. But, also, given these guys have yet to be great, and might start being great, and given a lot of their makes will count for 3 points, and given they will shoot 80 percent from the free throw line, you never know.

I just asked DiLeo if Dalembert should dominate tonight. He avoided mentioning Sam's performance specifically, saying only that "the Sixers" should dominate the lane.

Those are just a few thoughts. We all know the Sixers should win this game. They know they should win this game. Let's hope that doesn't become a problem. DiLeo said he didn't even address the issue of overconfidence with his team. He said this is the playoffs, not a regular season game. They are focused.

Also of note, this game should draw about the same crowd as the first two, which means about 4,000 empty seats -- and that's using the Sixers attendance numbers.

One more thing ... If you want to read how Dwight Howard feel's about this suspension, click here: Howard blog.

--Kate

The Orlando Magic will be without Dwight Howard for tomorrow night’s Game 6 at the Wachovia Center. The NBA just announced a one-game suspension for the elbow Howard delivered in the first quarter of last night’s Orlando victory.

The incident occurred a few minutes into the first quarter when Howard, tangled with Sixers center Samuel Dalembert, elbowed Dalembert as the two were separating. Last night, Howard was only hit with a technical foul for the incident, but immediately after the game Sixers coach Tony DiLeo said the team had already contacted the NBA about further action.

For the first time in this series, the 76ers and Orlando Magic brought the game off the court, too. Tonight, after Orlando's 91-78 Game 5 victory, all kinds of things blew up.

Here's a quick outline: 1.) The Sixers believe Dwight Howard should be getting called for 3-second violations, but isn't. 2.) The Sixers have contacted the NBA about the elbow Howard delivered to the chin of Sixers center Samuel Dalembert. The elbow occured early in the first quarter. Referees hit Howard with a technical foul.

Here's how it unfolded tonight.

Sixers coach Tony DiLeo was the first to the podium for post-game interviews. He gave his initial statement, but quickly things turned to Howard. DiLeo was careful not to actually question the referees, or specifically say that Howard was illegally in the lane, but he repeated himself that Howard spent the entire game in the lane, on offense and defense, and that "he doesn't need any more advantages." When specifically asked if he was saying that Howard should have received more (or any) 3-second violations, DiLeo repeated his previous assertion and then said we should take from that what we will.

Okay, so the Sixers feel Howard has an unfair advantage: Maybe because he is superman Dwight Howard, young star, one of the faces of the NBA.

A few minutes after DiLeo exited stage left, Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy entered stage right. Van Gundy walked up the podium and the first thing he said was something to the effect of, "So should I be lobbying the referees instead of talking about the game?" Then Van Gundy, cleared annoyed, went on to say again -- actually, for a few minutes -- that the Sixers should stop complaining about calls, and that Howard is a great player, got his points and rebounds from being great, etc., etc.

The Sixers players seemed to back up their coach, with point guard Andre Miller saying he thought Howard was in the lane too long, but that he's Dwight Howard, so ... Theo Ratliff agreed that Howard was in the lane too long ...

And for the second, and perhaps most important part of this drama: The elbow.

After the game, DiLeo said the Sixers had already contacted the NBA about looking into further punishment for the elbow Howard threw only 2 minutes, 45 seconds into the game. The NBA could fine Howard, could suspend Howard, or could do both.

Dalembert, visibly frustrated after the game, said that if he had thrown the same elbow Howard had thrown, he would have been ejected from the game.

Van Gundy, referring to the inadvertent elbow Howard landed on teammate Courtney Lee in the first half, quipped -- obviously frustrated with the Sixers -- "Yeah, we're going to have the NBA look at Dwight's elbow to Courtney, too."

Storylines abound.

--Kate