Posted: Wednesday, October 29, 2008, 5:23 PM | 9 comments |
 

It's Official: Speights Inactive
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The 76ers just confirmed that rookie Marreese Speights will be on the Inactive List for tonight's season opening game against the Toronto Raptors.

Speights had an impressive preseason, starting the last preseason game against the New Jersey Nets. Cheeks did not speak further about the decision to deactive Speights.

Also, Royal Ivey is serving the second game of a three-game suspension incurred last season. Ivey will not be in the arena tonight or on Friday.

The Sixers will have 11 eligible players.

Here are the offensive points as listed on the Sixers' pre-game whiteboard: Push the ball, execute, spacing, set screens to get people open, attack basket don't settle for jumpers, take care of the ball, throw ahead, swing the basketball.

I probably won't list those every pre-game because, I think you'd find, they're often the same.

Tonight's starters: point guard Andre Miller, shooting guard Andre Iguodala, small forward Thaddeus Young, power forward Elton Brand, center Sam Dalembert.

Photos: The first photo is Donyell Marshall taking some 3-pointers from the top of the key. The second is Jose Calderon, whom many of you might remember from the Spanish National team that played in the Beijing Olympics this summer ... and gave the U.S. a very tough game.

Cheeks on opening night: "I don't necessarily get crazy. I think players are more into the first game because they've been practicing. We all realize it's one of many games."

Be back later ...

--Kate
Posted by Kate Fagan @ 5:23 PM  Permalink | 9 comments
9
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:25 PM, 10/29/2008
    kate: nice early start as the sixers are following the white board. can't say speights' status is surprising, especially for the opener against a division rival. cheeks wants the experience, particularly with ivey inactive so one under the limit. brand/dalembert rebounding effectively. hope it continues!
    — 127sixer59
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:11 PM, 10/29/2008
    127: The first 10 minutes were great for the Sixers. Not so much, since. They got out of the flow.
    — Kfagan
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:19 PM, 10/29/2008
    kate: noted (sadly). while our rebounding is solid, too many turnovers and raptors' 3 pt shots. ukic played well for toronto off the bench. williams looks effective. game of flows, maybe the 2nd half will be ours as in the first 10 mins. otherwise, i'll resign myself to being a jinx for my teams...
    — 127sixer59
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:22 PM, 10/29/2008
    127: Looks like you're a jinx ;) ...
    — Kfagan
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:21 PM, 10/29/2008
    Kate, can you relay to Mo Cheeks how much the fans really want to see Marreese Speights active and getting some time on this team? I for one wil not spend my money coming to games if Cheeks doesn't play one of the most talented players on the team. Our second unit needs Speights scoring because the only player that is a shot maker and not just a shot taker off the bench is Lou Williams. Please let Cheeks know that we want to see Speights. Thanks.
    — datruth4life
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:11 AM, 10/30/2008
    datruth4life=I would be surprised if you continued to see Speights on the inactive list. My guess is they wanted him to watch and see the speed of a real NBA game (read: Not preseason).
    — Kfagan
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:19 AM, 10/30/2008
    kate: hope i'm not banished. while rebounding was strong, we need to convert those rebounds into something tangible. frustrating to see the same lapses on defense (inside & outside) and few steals/forced tos to spark the transition game (and not taking advantage of the ones we got). philly fans: congratulations.
    — 127sixer59
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:45 AM, 10/30/2008
    Is there a point at which the love affair with Cheeks sour? To sit Speights was a stupid decision; and, it would be overlooked if it were not typical of Cheeks. His in-game decisions are just as poor. Last year's team overachieved - largely due to push by the GM - and Cheeks got an extension in the bargain; wish he had got some sense to go along with it...
    — kavm
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:34 AM, 10/30/2008
    kavm: not sure the speights decision was that bad for opening night but certainly bears watching going forward. the more problematic issue is our lack of defense. granted bosh is a top tier player but really the defense has to be tightened-up. while effort is important, proper schemes and positioning matter as well and last night's game is a continuing reflection of these deficiencies (even though it's only 1 game).
    — 127sixer59


9 comments
About John Mitchell
John Mitchell is in his first 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.

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