Falling apart?
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Falling apart?
If you want to read good news about your 76ers, this isn't the blog post for you.
Watching last night's loss to the Milwaukee Bucks felt a little bit like watching the rest of the season unravel. It looked like bad, energy-less basketball, and it felt like the outcome was not of much concern to many of the Sixers. After the game, Sixers coach Eddie Jordan said his team had energy and played smart and it was just disappointing they couldn't win the game. Honestly, Jordan might have been talking about himself -- he seemed more animated and focused than most of his players. At one point he stormed down the sidelines spewing expletives about some on-court mistake, but it seemed there was no one specifically to take the blame.
All this is to say that last night in Milwaukee, sitting a few feet from the bench, it became very clear how frustrated and despondent this team has become (or is? or can be?). Here are a few observations:
1.) During the fourth quarter, when Milwaukee built a 10-point lead, one of the Sixers was on the bench making a gesture for a timeout, clearly indicating his confusion as to why Jordan wouldn't call a timeout to stop the Bucks run.
2.) For much of the second half, certain players didn't even appear interested in the game. On one offensive possession for the Sixers -- on the other end of the court -- one player was staring off into the stands, disinterested.
3.) As has been written about, Jordan took out Lou Williams after he got called for a charging foul -- this was one of the game's very last plays -- and Williams did not join the team huddle for the drawing up of the next play. Williams went and sat on the end of the bench with his head in his hands. Assistant coach Randy Ayers actually had to call him over to join the huddle. Turns out he then checked into the game.
4.) During the first half, some players, while actually on the court, didn't seem particularly focused on the game. After making a play, they were actually looking over at other players on the bench: maybe while walking to the free throw line, or after having been called for a foul. There'd be some sort of exchange: a laugh, a shake of the head, some mouthed words. Seemed like one big, long inside joke.
At this point, after everything that's been said and written, it feels impossible to write all these things again. But sitting in Milwaukee last night, it became clear this situation is not improving. The Sixers could have beaten the Bucks anytime they wanted last night. That they lost last night's game seems improbable, but if you were there and noticed all these little things, it would make more sense why they did lose. And why they have lost. And why they'll likely keep losing until something is sorted out.
--Kate
I for one will not miss Iggy when he's gone. I used to think he could at least be a "Pippen" to a Sixers franchise player at some point, but I just can't see it. Kate, do you agree that his growth has either reached its plateau or otherwise stagnated? He's certainly not a number one player that should be taking any more of these buzzer-beater shots to tie/win games. As for Jordan, do you believe he can turn this team around given enough time like he was in Washington?— evolutionary- They are not falling apart. Since they were never together to begin with.— cuso20
- They are not falling apart. Since they were never together to begin with.— cuso20
- they're approaching 'sell the team' status. too many big dollars committed to too many underwhelming players for too many years. not sure how you climb outta that without blowing the whole thing up
Comment removed.- Ed Stefanski has gotten a free ride with this team. At 15-30, not one in-season player move? Anything to try and improve? Even replacing the 11-12 man, whoever that is? Stefanski sure looks like he got burned hiring his "friend" Eddie Jordan.— snakeman
- The team has reached the absolute depths of irrelevance: they're damned if they win and they're damned if they don't. If they win they imperil getting a high draft choice, if they lose (which they do very well) they look listless and despondent, but increase the chances of getting some real talent. The coach pretends to coach, the team pretends to play, while the writers try to write seriously about professional basketball. Kate, what needs to be "sorted out"? Please tell us. Even if they get a high draft choice there is no assurance that this team will go anywhere next year.— prudential2
- Comment removed.
- First, the NBA is structured to make it impossible to build a team, unless you are bad enough to pick a great #1 pick - that being said - this team has amassed talent without any pick higher than #9 (Iggy). So, the GMs are handcuffed by the NBA, BUT - this team is so badly coached - no direction - and I do blame Stefanski for putting friendship ahead of the team. He can fire a legend in Mo during a season - but not Jordan - who is even close to Mo. Ed - way to be professional!— AllDawk_AllTheTime
- Both EDs need to go. Talk about disinterested, Iggy could be the most selfish player when he does not get his offense. From what I saw he was just going through the motions and joining his partner AI for a turnover fest. Most amazing thing was that they actually run a play at the end for Iggy to shoot a 3, what a joke the guy was 1-5 and could have the worst technical form for a 2 guard in the history of the league.— bigtuna
- And people wondered why Avery Johnson wanted no part of this...— gwfisher
- Who cares ...— dondon
- Good, accurate article based on what I saw on TV last night...it's OK with me if you name names, too...it seemed obvious last night that Iguodala has checked out...Iverson looks so frustrated lately, and as he goes, so goes Dalembert...it really, really is time to blow this thing up...Pat Croce would have gone nuts by this time...what in the world is Snider waiting for?— dasher
- I am a 10-game plan partial season ticket holder and a life-long 76ers fan. I greatly appreciate your candid observations. This is so disheartening to watch. Eddie Jordan's post-game comments that they had done some good things were out of touch with reality and cause him to lose any credibility with the fans. He looks like he has completely lost the team. Although the team the last two seasons was not a championship contender, it was competitive there was a sense of hope for the future. The current team is playing far worse than its level of talent. There is no consistency in the substitution pattern and it is difficult to understand the lineups that are on the court at the end of games. There is no logical explanation as to why Iverson would not be on the floor in every last shot situation. The franchise needs to show its core fans that it understands how bad things are and make some immediate changes to show that it cares. I do not know how in good conscience they could let Jordan coach against the Lakers on Friday.— gtball
- can we finally agree that eddie jordan has to go? he clearly has no concept, the players don't listen, and the team is heading nowhere fast. stefanski needs to admit he made a mistake and move on. he has 3 other coaches currently under contract, let's try one.— sixer1
John Mitchell is in his second year covering the 76ers for the Inquirer after joining the paper in November 2011. He covered the Washington Wizards for the Washington Times from 1998 to 2008. He's also worked at the Philadelphia Tribune, the Wilmington News Journal, Courier-Post, Trenton Times and Elmira Star-Gazette.Born and raised in West Philadelphia - not too far from Will Smith - he graduated from Overbrook High School the same year the 76ers won their last championship. He's a proud graduate of Howard University and the proud father of two sons, Jared and Jordan.
ABOUT MARC NARDUCCI
Marc Narducci has served in a variety of roles with the Inquirer since beginning in 1983. He has covered the 76ers as a backup and a beat writer. In addition, Narducci has covered everything from the Super Bowl to the World Series and a lot in between. Narducci also has a true passion for South Jersey scholastic sports, which he has covered for many years.
