Thursday, October 1, 2009
3 p.m. Friday: Live Sixers chat

Kate Fagan of the Inquirer answers all your burning Sixers questions direct from Day 4 of training camp.


Posted by Kate Fagan @ 6:04 PM  Permalink | 4 comments
Thursday, October 1, 2009
St. Joe's Day 3

 

76ers are now three days into training camp with only two days of camp remaining and only five days before their first pre-season game. That's to say, sure, it's still early, but we'll be seeing an on-court product -- still a work in progress, of course -- very shortly.
 
The team is practicing twice today. From 10-to-1ish and from 6 -to-7:15ish. Again, there's now 18 guys at camp. Yesterday's addition, Rashad Jones-Jennings, practiced today. Stromile Swift was out again this morning: He hasn't practiced since the first session on Monday. The Sixers have 13 guys under contract, 5 are here as free agents.
 
Onto the basketball stuff: Sixers went about 3-1/2 hours this morning. We watched the last 40 minutes or so. When we got in, they were running through 5-on-0 baseline and sideline out of bounds plays. Soon after, they went into scrimmaging situations (with refs) that started with either a sideline or a baseline out of bounds play. Coach Eddie Jordan differed the lineups a little bit while we were there: Jrue Holiday was playing a decent amount on the second team. It's hard to nail down the 6 through 12 rotation because of the extra guys. But the first team is solid with Lou Williams, Andre Iguodala, Thaddeus Young, Elton Brand, and Samuel Dalembert.
 
There was an equal focus on offense and defense for these last 40 minutes. The offense had a few pretty smooth possessions with some strong backdoor cuts, dribble hand offs, flash cuts, and quick cuts off the post. Usually, there is about a strong 10-second segment, but rarely is the entire possession smooth. That's to be expected. But when there is a flash cut and handoff, it's a nice thing to watch (even if the rest of the possession becomes stagnant). Only Day 3, but this offense -- run well -- is good basketball.
 
Towards the end of the practice, assistant coach Randy Ayers took over and worked specifically on pick-and-roll defense. Not a bad thing for the Sixers to be working on considering it has been a problem area with them for years. Ayers has the screener's defender showing hard against the ball handler, letting the on-ball defender slip on top of the screen (but below the show defender), and recovering to his man. Of course, this leaves the show defender behind, since their man has rolled to the basket. Ayers was going over all these rotations and it's the first time we've actually been watching as they went over these defensive principles. It's early, but they looked improved in this area. Jordan also began teaching a full-court press they'll be using ... which I think he called 43.
 
A couple of other things:
 
1.) Since this is hump day, most of these guys are tired and sore. Jordan said they had a meeting this morning talking about having a good practice despite the soreness, bangs, and bruises. Elton Brand, who'd been looking strong the first couple days, did seem a little tired today, not having the same pop off the floor, physicality, etc. Jordan said that was to be expected.
 
2.) Jordan seemed high on Rodney Carney, saying he was a guy that had been on the camp "honor roll." Jordan said the coaches picked about 5-to-6 guys a day, based on effort. He said Rodney and Dalembert were on the "honor roll" so far. Dalembert has looked good with the ball in the center. He's made some nice dump off passes to cutters and a couple of strong moves to the hoop. He does seem to be grabbing his right shoulder after most plays, though, so that's something on which to keep an eye. I'd be surprised if he didn't take off at least one training camp session.
 
And, like I said, I'll be promo'ing the Twitter account until I have 1,000 tweeps. All Sixers, all the time. Join here: DeepSixer3.
 
Check out the Deep Sixer videos in the player to the right. There will be (soon) one from today's end-of-practice scrimmage and another of Iguodala playing a little 1-v-1 after this morning's practice.
 
--Kate

 

Posted by Kate Fagan @ 2:12 PM  Permalink | 3 comments
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
St. Joe's Day 2

 

The 76ers had only one practice today, approximately 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Yesterday, they had a morning session of about the same length, which they filled almost entirely with defense and a night session, about 75 minutes, filled entirely with installing the offensive principles.
 
With the addition of 6-foot-8 power forward Rashad Jones-Jennings to the training camp roster, the Sixers now have 18 guys at this training camp, 13 of whom are under contract. Yesterday, power forward Stromile Swift, who signed on Monday, strained his left hamstring. He did not practice today and will be evaluated tomorrow. So the Sixers practiced today with 16 (Jones-Jennings is not yet here). 
 
The Sixers opened practice to the media around 12:45 and actually practiced until about 2 p.m. They spent nearly all of that time scrimmaging, sometimes going from half court, sometimes from a free throw. Here was the breakdown:
 
1st team: Lou Williams, Andre Iguodala, Thaddeus Young, Elton Brand, and Samuel Dalembert. (Dalembert began grabbing his right shoulder at the beginning of the scrimmage. He stepped out for a minute, but then returned. Afterwards, Jordan said he had some soreness, but he won't miss any practice time. Dalembert said he had a "small tear" during the season last year, which equates to a strain.)
 
2nd team: Willie Green, Rodney Carney, Jason Kapono, Jason Smith, and Marreese Speights. (Speights running the center spot and Smith the wing.)
 
Other guys: Primoz Brezec subbed in on the 1st team, as did Jrue Holiday. Royal Ivey played with both teams.
Free agents: Dionte Christmas, Brandon Bowman, and Sean Singletary played sparingly. Stromile Swift was out. Jones-Jenning was not yet here.
 
Each team ran the Princeton Offense, which starts with a two-guard front with two wings, who usually cross. Right now, they're running most possessions through the center. A guard enters to a wing then slices through the middle on a cut. The wing usually dumps it into the center and then either runs a quick cut off the center, or screens up for the top guard.
 
After the practice, Jordan said they have only installed a small percentage of the offensive options, so right now the defense is well ahead. It seems the offensive options they haven't installed are the backdoor cut options and the flashes when overplayed. At one point during the scrimmage, Brezec did run a flash cut to the elbow, caught the ball, and then ran a hi-lo, dumping it into Brand. Jordan seemed to like this option.
 
For the most part, the offense looked like a spread-and-cut offense revolving around the center. But that's because, as Jordan said, those other options are still being added.
 
A few observations:
1.) Holiday is "last in the pecking order" as Jordan said post-practice. That's Jordan's style, to have the rookie earn his way onto the floor. So right now he's behind Lou, Willie, and Royal. Jordan called him "solid." After practice, Jrue had some ice wrapped around his knees. When asked about it, he said, "I'm getting old, I'm 19 now." 
 
2.) Iguodala's outside shot looks improved. But, alas, we'll have to wait for the games for the final verdict.
 
3.) Right now, the "forward" options on the offense are non-existent, so that means guys like Iguodala and Thad are getting their opportunities in transition. Thad especially.Jordan said as the week progresses, the options for Thad will be expanded.
 
4.) Speightyman. Is this our first mention of Marreese Speights on here? He's running a lot of center spot on the 2nd team, with Jason Smith running the 4-spot. He looks like he'll be a nice option because he can catch in the post and then face up.
 
I'll be advertising this new Twitter account until I get my tweeps up to 1,000. I think I'm like 110 now, so it might be a while. I'm tweeting all Sixers, all the time. Here's the link: DeepSixer3.
 
Check out the videos in the player at the right. Behind the Scenes. That's our plan this year, to bring the video camera everywhere, on the road, to the airport, to the arena, wherever it's allowed. So those of you wondering what the Sixers are like all the time, this is it.
 
More tomorrow ...
 
-- Kate

 

Posted by Kate Fagan @ 3:01 PM  Permalink | 8 comments
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
76ers add Jones-Jennings

The 76ers have signed free-agent power forward Rashad Jones-Jennings to the training camp roster. Jones-Jennings went undrafted out of Arkansas-Little Rock in 2007. That year, he led the nation in rebounding. Last season, Jones-Jennings played for FC Bayern Munchen of the German League.

With his addition, the Sixers now have 18 players in training camp at St. Joe's, 13 of those under contract.

Earlier today, the Sixers announced they would hold a free, open practice at the Spectrum at Oct. 10.

The team is currently in their only practice of the day, it began around 10 a.m. and should go to about 1 p.m. More later ...

--Kate

Posted by Kate Fagan @ 11:35 AM  Permalink | 13 comments
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
St. Joe's Day 1
Thaddeus Young shooting a free throw at the end of practice. He made it, the team didn't have to run.

First things first, we'll be doing a Live Chat today at 3 p.m. ... In about half an hour. If you have a few minutes, stop by, we'll be talking about the 76ers' first day of training camp here at St. Joe's. Here's the link: Sixers Chat.

Second thing: DeepSixer is also now on Twitter. I'll be on all things Sixers, all year. And since I'm so efficient with my Blackberry, I'll be posting anything newsy, funny, or interesting. Here's the link: Twitter, DeepSixer3.

Sixers practiced this morning from about 10 a.m. until a little after 1 p.m. The doors opened around 12:30 or so and from then the team worked on some 4-on-0 and 5-on-0 drills as well as a little bit of 4-on-4 stuff. Afterwards, new head coach Eddie Jordan said they did almost entirely defensive work. He said they would work exclusively on offense tonight for about 75 minutes. The second session starts at 6 p.m.

The main takeaway from the first few hours seems to be the discipline with which Jordan ran the practice. At the end of last season -- the very end, the very last game -- the word out of the locker room was the lack of purpose, discipline, and accountability. That does not seem to be the case this season. Guard Lou Williams said after practice that Jordan stopped the practice at one point and forced them all to tuck in their jerseys.

"We don't do anything for no reason," Williams said. "It's going to be great for our basketball team."

As for the most important questions: What's up with Elton Brand, Samuel Dalembert, the point guard position, the new offense ... there are no real answers after three hours. Clearly, this is just the start of finding these answers. 

Jordan said he's looking for leadership from Brand, who was pegged along with Andre Iguodala and Willie Green as the leaders of the team. After practice, Brand did take a second to talk about the Achilles injury from two seasons ago and showed the difference in size of one calf from the other. It's obvious his left calf is still much smaller than his right. Brand said the difference was even more pronounced at the beginning of last season. Brand was asked if he's worried about getting hurt again -- after two straight seasons with season-ending injuries.

"That's how the mind works. It's in the back of my head, I don't want to get hurt again ... and I won't."

Sixers have 17 guys in camp, 13 under contract and 4 free agents. One of those free agents, Stromile Swift, strained his left hamstring and missed the last hour or so of practice. He is out for the day and will be re-evaluated tomorrow morning.

We have two Deep Sixer videos from today. They should, sometime soon, be attached below. I'm no videographer, so I promise they (might) get better as the season progresses.

--Kate

 

 

Video: 76ers Training Camp 9/29/09 Part 2
Video: 76ers Training Camp 9/29/09 Part 1
Posted by Kate Fagan @ 2:43 PM  Permalink | 8 comments
Monday, September 28, 2009
3 p.m. Tuesday: Live Sixers chat

Join Kate Fagan for a live Sixers chat at 3 p.m. Tuesday.


Posted by Kate Fagan @ 4:02 PM  Permalink | 2 comments
Monday, September 28, 2009
Videos & Twitter

The 76ers held their Media Day today at the Wachovia Center. Training camp opens tomorrow morning at St. Joseph's University.

All Sixers were available to the media. The Sixers also announced around mid-day that power forward Stromile Swift would be attending training camp along with Brandon Bowman, Dionte Christmas, and Sean Singletary. That puts the Sixers training-camp numbers at 17, with 13 players under contract and four signed as free agents. Camp runs from tomorrow through Oct. 3.

There should be a couple of videos attached of today's Media Day. One is of Jason Kapono shooting a basketball during a photo shoot op ... the second is of center Samuel Dalembert answering a question about his propensity towards foul trouble/being the team's X-factor.

And one more thing: We're taking this Deep Sixer thing to Twitter: deepsixer3. Tweeting all year. All Sixers, all the time.

--Kate

 

Posted by Kate Fagan @ 2:41 PM  Permalink | 4 comments
Monday, September 28, 2009
76ers add Swift to training camp roster

The 76ers announced today they have signed four free agents in preparation for training camp, which begins tomorrow at St. Joe's.

As previously reported, the Sixers will bring in Brandon Bowman, Dionte Christmas, and Sean Singletary. They will also bring in Stromile Swift, a 6-foot-10 forward, a nine-year veteran who was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2000 NBA Draft. In 547 career games he has averaged 8.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.25 blocks in 19.8 minutes a game.

Last season, Swift appeared in 19 total games for New Jersey and Phoenix.

--Kate

Posted by Kate Fagan @ 12:37 PM  Permalink | 13 comments
Thursday, September 24, 2009
"The Offense"

This afternoon the 76ers and new coach Eddie Jordan held a Q&A about this upcoming season. The Q&A was followed by an on-court demonstration of Jordan's version of the Princeton Offense. Below are most of the quotes from Jordan as well as a quick-hit video of Jordan during the session. A couple of quotes not to be missed: 1.) Jordan questions the willingness on the defensive end of last season's starting point guard, Andre Miller. 2.) Jordan is asked if he had any interest in bringing back Allen Iverson.

Jordan on Elton Brand's health: 

 

"No hiccups, no problems. He’s playing at a high level during pick-up games, he’s taken a pounding … he’s kept the pace. And our players have made sure he gets a lot of opportunities to score."
 
"It’s going to take a while for him to really get his game legs, his season legs under him. I say a while, but he might surprise us and be ahead of the curve and really play at a high level in November."
 
"I think his talent level is there. I want him to play on a team that’s better than the team he played for when he scored 20 points and got 10 rebounds. If he scores 17 points and gets 9 rebounds and we win a lot of games and go deep in the playoffs and win a championship I think he’ll say, ‘I’m back to form.’"
 
On Lou Williams at the point: 
 
"We want Lou to be Lou, first of all. He’s an open-court player and that’s what we want to do first, get out in the open court and get to the basket ..."
 
"I think Lou is more athletic and a lot more determined defensively than the point guard they had here starting before."
 
“Attack, fast, quick point guard that gets to the rim … we’re going to give him all the opportunity in the world to be a 38-minute a night player and, you know what, in the NBA that means a lot.”
 
On Andre Iguodala at shooting guard or small forward: 
 
"We sort of are penciling in lineups and starters and rotation guys, and, it’s sort of what coaches do, we play around with lineups and Andre has been a guard in a lot of our different ‘mock’ lineups."
 
"Andre, Thaddeus, and Elton, they are pretty much, when we say we pencil in different lineups, they always seem to be in every lineup."
 
"Most of the time Andre has a terrific routine he follows and even a coach with sacred ideas as myself do not disturb a player’s routines in the summer. He has his routine and he’s developed a better jump shot and he has a lot of confidence in what he can do with the ball."

On (not so surprisingly) defense coming before offense: 
 
"First priority will be to defend, I know we’ve had a lot of talk about the offense."
 
On Samuel Dalembert: 
 
"He’s going to be our center and he’s going to be taught our offense from the center position whether it's high post or low post. I like the fact that Samuel can make shots around the elbow, top of the key, free-throw line. That puts a lot of pressure on the defense. Now, he has to be a willing passer and we’ll see if he’s a willing passer. And we’ll try to make him understand the more he passes the easier it is for him to score … if he believes and trusts in what we believe in, he’ll make his teammates better and make himself better."
 
“I’m fresh, I’m new … I want to get to know him myself, him and I … I know there have been ups and downs with his play and this is a fresh start.”
 
On how this offense will work: 
 
"We have to see. We have to see what’s available on the floor. It’s a read-and-deliver sort of offense and we try to train our players, ‘What do you see when you have the ball? What do you see when you don’t have the ball?’ There’s a reaction to an action."
 
And on how long it will take to implement: 
 
“Late in the season, and that’s when you want them to play at their best. Nah, I don’t think it will be too late. Again, there’s another side of the ball. I tell our players every day, ‘Look, I don’t want to be in the offense, I want to get stops and get open-floor opportunities.’”
 
“There’s going to be growing pains with any system you put in.”
 
On last season's effectiveness: 
 
“When we watched film there was random basketball. Sometimes this happened and sometimes that happened and there was no reason. But there are reasons and there’s a method to what we’re doing on both sides of the ball.”
 
On Dionte Christmas:
 
“He’s going to have a real, legitimate shot at making our team.”
 
On Jason Smith:
 
“He’s had a terrific rehab … he’s played 5-on-5 very effectively at a high level, a lot of physical contact … the timetable was just right for him, I think he’s at a 100 percent.”
 
On this team's competitiveness: 
 
“These players defend in pick-up games, they compete, they knock people down in the paint and it gets my engines going that I wanted to start camp three weeks ago, this team has that ‘omph’ that you need to be competitive.”
 
On being under the radar:
 
“I don’t really care what they say, they can say we’re the next champions, or 30th in the league, that doesn’t motivate us. That doesn’t really motivate me.”
 
On the gap between the Sixers and upper-echelon Eastern Conference teams?
 
“It remains to be seen. Depends on health, obviously, depends on how well, efficiently, we can put both our systems on the floor and execute our systems and, mostly, defensively.”
 
Did you have any interest, personally, in bringing back Allen Iverson to the Sixers?
 
“No.”
 
--Kate

 

Posted by Kate Fagan @ 5:05 PM  Permalink | 18 comments
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
New threads

This afternoon at the Wachovia Center, the 76ers unveiled their new uniforms. They look very similar to the retro ones the team wore for a handful of games last season: red, white, and blue with the re-launched retro logo.

We're going to be adding video to Deep Sixer this season and in honor of the beginning of the year -- or at least one week from the beginning of it -- I attempted to take a video of today's uniform unveiling. I'm confident I captured about a minute of video, but whether it actually offers anything is another matter. But we're going to be doing it all year, so we must start somewhere (really bad video taking) and build it up (just kind of bad video taking). Even so, for those of you unable to attend, it's an idea of today's event. You can check it out in the video player along the side of the page. There are a few from last year's training camp, as well.

More than just seeing the uniforms, today was a chance to talk with forwards Elton Brand, Thaddeus Young, and Sixers General Manager Ed Stefanski. Sixers open camp next Tuesday at St. Joseph's University. There are a number of questions, none of which were answered at today's uniform unveiling, but it was a good warm-up to at least get some basketball talk going.

Brand looked healthy and said he felt healthy. He admitted he was not 100 percent entering last season, but said he believes both injuries are behind him (Achilles and shoulder). I believe he said he was healthy entering last season, too, so take from that what you will. When asked if he thought this season was a "do-over" year, he agreed. Last season was, for Brand, close to a disaster. He said the Sixers were flying under the radar, which was fine with him. Is there a way to be flying even below the lowest level of the radar? Because -- with the Phillies and Eagles on everyone's minds -- that's exactly where the Sixers currently are.

Young was also at the unveiling, modeling the red away uniform. He had a scar under his left eye from an Atlanta summer league, so it seems Young has been working on his game. He also commented about Brand's status -- they've been working out together at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine -- saying that Brand has been playing like "a monster" during their workouts. Young said he felt Brand was much stronger, in better shape, and more ready than when entering last season.

As the time before the start of camp dwindles, the questions are all the same: Will Elton Brand be as effective as he's always been? How will Eddie Jordan's new offense fit this team's pieces? Will Lou Williams excel as the team's starting point guard? How will Young and Andre Iguodala and Brand mesh on the court? 

Those are just a few. But, yesterday, at least one was answered: The uniforms are cool. Check out the video if you get a second (and, of course, if it's posted correctly ...)

--Kate

 

 

 



Posted by Kate Fagan @ 4:47 PM  Permalink | 39 comments
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About Deep Sixer Blog
Kate Fagan was, until recently, the all-time leading three-pointer shooter in the University of Colorado women’s basketball program. Her former teammates say that’s because she was also the all-time leading three-point taker in program history. Somewhere along the way, journalism became her passion, and there are those who say that she still likes taking her shots. This is her second season as the 76ers beat writer for The Inquirer. She brings a rare combination of first-hand basketball insight, writing ability and an attitude that fits perfectly in her new hometown.
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Kapono practicing, playing in the scrimmage. Looks like he'll be a go tomorrow night. - 12:10pm
 
At PCOM, can hear 76ers on the court. Obviously today's story is Jordan vs. Old Team. We'll see what he says. - 11:35am
 
@dhm, I heard about Kapono's Kings, didn't see them. - 11/21/2009
 
Kapono will be dressed, but don't look for him tonight. He's officially listed as day-to-day with that sprained right ankle. - 11/21/2009
 
In Cleveland. People are glued to their TVs for Ohio St. v. Michigan. - 11/21/2009
 
Driving to the airport for tonight's second of a back-to-back ... this one against the Fightin' LeBron James's. - 11/21/2009
 
Kapono left ankle sprain. X-rays negative. Questionable for tomorrow. - 11/20/2009
 
In post-game Jordan said tonight he had 5 guys go 5 separate ways. He said they splintered. - 11/20/2009
 
Carney immediately hits a three. Makes you wonder about the rotations as Jordan raved all week about Carney's recent play. - 11/20/2009
 
Rodney Carney checks into game w/ 3:57 left in half. Last game Carney played 31 minutes. - 11/20/2009