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Friday, October 23, 2009
Royal Ivey working out before tonight's game.

We're here at Carnesecca Arena on the campus of St. John's University in Queens, N.Y. The 76ers are playing the New Jersey Nets in about 90 minutes, their final pre-season game before opening Wednesday at the Orlando Magic. Sixers are 5-2 this preseason, the Nets are 0-6.

We've been Tweeting much of the day on Twitter (which is where you Tweet). If you're not yet following, and you want to follow, click here: Deep Sixer. I just got back from the court where assistant coach Aaron McKie was working with Marreese Speights (who will play tonight, but will not be made available to talk to the media), Rodney Carney (who will play his first pre-season game tonight after missing the first 7 with a strained hamstring), and rookie Jrue Holiday (who I have nothing else to say about, but didn't want to leave him out of the fun of parentheses). If you want to see what the arena looks like and what's happening here in Queens, you can check out the video I just posted in the video player at the right. It's called "St. John's." There's also one from this morning's shootaround of Speights.

After Wednesday's cuts of Dionte Christmas and Brandon Bowman, the Sixers are down to their roster of 13, all of whom are under contract. I talked with Sixers head coach Eddie Jordan this morning. He said the team has played this entire pre-season with winning in mind.

"Our whole makeup was to perform as if it's a game to win," Jordan said. "It shouldn't be any different on Wednesday when we play. There hasn't been any diversion from the style and what our approach is. It wasn't like, 'I'm going to play you 15 minutes because it's the pre-season.' We didn't hold anybody out, we needed to play unselfish teamwork and know how to execute on both ends. That's why we stayed, pretty much, with the regular rotation. I threw in the young guys we made a move on, but other than that we've played with our top 10, 12 guys."

At this morning's shootaround, Jordan kept the team there for almost 90 minutes. For the last 15, they were working through a new option in the Princeton Offense. After last pre-season game, which was overshadowed by the very-bad call at the end of the game, the Sixers really need a strong performance within their offense. In that game, which was against the Washington Wizards, the offense looked, um, .... not good. Even this week at practice, the players -- specifically Jason Kapono -- said they did not play well that night. After the game, Andre Iguodala said it "can be a struggle."

So, tonight, with the roster standing how it most likely will on Wednesday -- barring some unforeseen move -- the Sixers can concentrate solely on what they need to do. All eyes tonight should be on the offense and how they are able to execute within the Princeton. I sound like I'm on repeat with that, but it really is the major concern.

--Kate

Posted by Kate Fagan @ 6:27 PM  Permalink | 5 comments
5
Comments   
Posted 07:16 PM, 10/23/2009
JBP
Very hard to play any offensive scheme without true NBA starting caliber guards. They have none on their roster.
Posted 12:36 AM, 10/24/2009
chuckw
The Princeton offense was played much better by Princeton. Despite claims by some of the Sixer fanatics, a "system" alone does not win titles, superstars do, if given help by the organization: see Jordan and Pippin; see Kobe and Shaquille; see Kobe and Gasol; see Garnett and Pierce; see Duncan, Parker, and Ginobili. Larry Brown had a system and even with Iverson, that was not enough. Iverson did not get the help from the organization, nor did Barkley. Eddie Jordan has not won an NBA title despite the Princeton system. Stefanski is trying to sell us on Jordan and his "system" because he lacks the horses to win more than 42 games and he knows it. No point guard, erratic center, inconsistent outside shooting. The NBA is a cruel taskmaster, dependent on superstars. For those who claim that anyone who is critical of the Sixers is not a true fan, rubbish! This is an organization that has delivered 50 or more wins only twice in the past 22 seasons and yet the ticket prices continue to climb. Fans can demand more from their ownership. By the way, I am glad Carney is playing; he can help with outside shooting and my apologies for stating in another post that he might get cut because with his injury he has not played in the preseason and thus has not adjusted to Jordan's system. He is, as noted by another poster, on contract and has guaranteed money.
Posted 01:53 AM, 10/24/2009
jefuuetsukusura
apparently ginobili is a superstar... granted he's a good player, but superstar?? the spurs were sucessful because they played within a great system coached by a great coach. when the lakers only had kobe and a bunch of scrubs in 2006, where did they end up? it's a combination of system, coach, and good/great players. they don't have to be superstars (ie pistons when Brown was the coach) some people still like to claim they know what they're talking about when they don't. right chuck?
Posted 08:56 AM, 10/24/2009
srvdove
I think if you go "system" you need to have pieces that fit that "system". If you think mechanically then the pieces you use must work together. I love the guys on this team...extremely athletic..really fun to watch in an up-tempo game and underestimated by their own fans...but...our best player is not playing his best position...our most established player is not playing in an offense that is conducive to his strengths...and our best on-court leader of the past few years is playing in Portland. That being said...there is actually enough talent to win a lot of games and maybe go second round in the playoffs I believe...but as jef says..it is a combo of the talent, system and the coach to get it to work together in the best way possible. I will be interested to see how Carney, J Smith, Speights and Kapono contribute because maybe that depth could make up for some of the problems in pieces fitting together.
Posted 12:16 PM, 10/24/2009
cletisvandam
I just watched the final pre season game against the Nets. The Sixers looked like dreck. I'm tired. Tired of waiting for something decent to watch when watching the Sixers. Last year, at least it was fun to watch when the Sixers would run. They could run most mid level and below teams off the court on any given night. Even some of the better teams would have fits with the Sixers speed on occasion. But coach Jordan seems determined to run his pathetic version of the "Princeton Offense". Maybe he'll put John Lucas' "Amoeba Defense" in for good measure. Another wasted year looms. I'm too old to invest any emotion in this steaming mess of a team. They have some good young talent, but not enough. I can't take watching them miss lay-ups, taps and put backs. And I can't take watching a slow, boring half court mess of an offense neuter the only interesting aspect they have, speed. It's like having Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt and using them to run 5 yard out patterns, and never go deep. Oh, and yes, Ginobli is a superstar. He's on the downside, but in his prime he was a GREAT player. The Spurs won because of great coaching AND great players. They play basketball the way it's meant to be played, fierce defense, movement and spacing away from the ball, and getting open shots. The Sixers would be a lot better team with a player like Ginobli. They'd be worth watching. They'd have a vet who knows how to play the right way and could impart some leadership on a young inexperienced team. In conclusion: Please Mr. Snyder, sell the team. It's obvious you don't care. Maybe looking at an empty arena night in and night out will convince you.
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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