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
Listen, if you look at the moves from Day 1 of the Stefanski regime, nothing has made sense. 1) Trading Korver 3 weeks into his stay with nothing in return (our outside shooting STILL hasn't been replaced 2 1/2 seasons later). 2) Become a running team, but the max out your payroll for a halfcourt player coming off a blown out achilles (Brand). 3) Not trading Andre Miller at any point over the '07 or '09 seasons - why keep him? Did Stefanski really think that he was going to contend for a championship with this roster? If so, he should have been fired then. Miller could have been packaged with any number of young players (Thad, Lou) to bring back a stud starting SG. 4) Hiring Eddie Jordan and attempting to install the Princeton offense, which is predicated on passing, cutting, and most importantly outside shooting. Two problems here...the Sixers have the worst outside shooting in the league and don't have a legitimate NBA point guard on the roster. 5) Maxing out the cap for till 2013 while being one of the bottom 5 teams in the league - IMPRESSIVE!! Stefanski may rank as the worst GM in Philadelphia sports history...and I'm not exaggerating.— Dean1- It stinks at the head, Snider and Stefanski. No name coach would touch this mess.— JonKap
New sixers coach Kate Fagan, seriously, couldn't the NBA use a woman's touch?!?— meteo30- tear it down and start from scratch. Keep Holiday and Speights and send everyone else wherever anyone will take them--that includes the coach, the GM, and the ownership team (if only that was possible). As long as he has the Flyers, Ed Snider could not possibly care less about the Sixers. It's a disgrace that a basketball town like this has to put up with this slop. The fans proved they would support a good team that played hard, but this is as bad as it gets.— thewiseone
- Many good posts, most right on the money. Having said that, however, once again the issue is: how many ex-coaches, ex-general managers, revolving personnel will it take to become a quality pro basketball team, while the man at the top remains? Snider fired King, hired Stefanski, signed off on firing Cheeks, pushing out Dileo, hiring Jordan, signing Brand, Dalembert, and Iguodala to obscene contracts, locking in the Sixers to sustained mediocrity. The NBA is a cruel taskmaster for teams that make long-term mistakes and particularly for teams caught perpetually in drafting outside the lottery. The Sixers have some talented players, but are dysfunctional, in part because they do not fit well together and in large part because Jordan is the absolute worst coach I have seen in years. Cheeks and Dileo, contrary to some posters, are/were not quality head coaches either. What we don't know is this: could Phil Jackson, Larry Brown, even Red Auerbach turn this group of players into an elite team? Even a 45-50 win team? The only way we can find out: fire Jordan today, hire any one of the following: Jeff van Gundy, Avery Johnson, Byron Scott, even Doug Collins and give them carte blanche, which may mean firing Ed Stefanski as well and for Comcast to tell Ed. Snider to put in place a President who actually has winning NBA experience in putting together a franchise.— chuckw
- I remember Roy Rueben as coach in the 9-73 year. Was fired pretty quickly to let Kevin Loughery finish the debacle. Somehow, Jordan looks worse. I have never seen a coach so ignorant to what his player's strengths are, and misuse them so badly. I actually feel sorry for the players, who by and large, have behaved professionally throughout what must be a nightmare for them. Eds must go.— Lpaul
- guys dont forget, Kate wanted Iguodala with the ball late, as she mentioned thats what Sixers did last year in one of her other numerous Jordan bashing posts....— vandy123
- Start by trading for Stoudamire (Iggy & Williams) and/or going after Bosh as a free agent over the summer. Groom Holiday! Trade Brand to a contender for a high draft choice to free up money. Dismiss Jordan!— ginzo
- vandy123: since you obviously think Jordan is a quality coach and that Kate Fagan has been unfair in her analysis, then explain why you think Jordan is the right man for the job and why you think she has it in for him. I would like Kate at some point to write a piece in which she describes the strengths and weaknesses of each player in turn and whether they fit together, no matter who coaches.— chuckw
- Why are we surprised by the sixers performance? When you hire a coach with a lifetime losing record - you have already set the vision for what you are willing to accept for your future. This is a self-fulfilling phenomena.— Bobphxville
- Kate, you are doing a solid, in-depth job covering a team with no character or identity. Hopefully you'll get to cover a team that has these qualities in the coming years.— frankenslade
- It's really shameful, where this once PROUD, WELL RESPECTED franchise has fallen to. We've gone from being perinnial contenders to the new Clippers. If not for the Nets this team will be the worst in the league. This is hard to swollow. Looking at the few games I've seen, I dont think these player actually respect Jordan one bit, and no one wants to play for him. No one can figure out WHAT his plans are from day to day, and it's embarrasing to the players, the franchise, and mostly, the city. What ever happened to Pat Croce, someone that REALLY cared about the team that he owned. This is an embarrasment.— hawaiiphillyfan
- How do you spell losers ..... SIXERS!— RJM16
- the only thing i was interested in last night was the constant sound of an air horn some crazy fan kept using during the game. i was dead asleep before halftime just like this lousy franchise. blow everything up from gm to 12th man on the bench. bring barkley in as GM! He will straighten things out— stefanskimakesmesick
- Eddie Jordan couldn't have been a worse fit for this team. Transition basketball was what hid some of the huge holes for the last couple years. Slowing things down into the "Princeton Offense" and now into a morphed mess exposed the lack of shooters on this team. A coach like Mike D'Antoni would be ideal on this team, let the guys run. At least losing would look a little more fun...— Phillies1120
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.
