Posted: Wednesday, October 29, 2008, 11:40 AM | 2 comments |
 

Tonight's Starters
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The 76ers held shootaround this morning at PCOM (see photo for PCOM banner). Also starring in the photo with the PCOM banner is rookie center Marreese Speights.

Here are your starters, not shockingly, for tonight's season opening game against the Toronto Raptors (remember, 6 p.m. start to allow all Philadelphians to attend both the Sixers game and watch the Philllies in Game 5):

PG: Andre Miller

SG: Andre Iguodala

SF: Thaddeus Young

PF: Elton Brand

C: Sam Dalembert

Head Coach Maurice Cheeks said the final decision on the Inactive List will come exactly an hour before tip-off (per NBA regulations).

Quick hit: The Raptors are known for effectively using the pick-and-roll, which happens to be a lingering deficiency in the Sixers' defensive efforts. Cheeks said the team has been working on pick-and-roll defense all week. Obviously, it isn't just the Raptors who use this offense effectively, it's most of the NBA. Some coaches have one philosophy when it comes to stopping a pick-and-roll, and their teams use the same method (i.e. trap the ballhandler coming off the pick, show hard and recover, have the defender slip behind the pick with no help ... ) regardless of the skills which the ballhandler possesses. Cheeks said his philosophy is to play the pick-and-roll dependent on who is coming off the screen.

We'll chat more about all things Sixers in a few hours. If you have some time around 2 p.m., that's when we'll chat. Here's the link: Sixers Chat.

Be back soon ...

-- Kate
Posted by Kate Fagan @ 11:40 AM  Permalink | 2 comments
2
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  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:16 PM, 10/29/2008
    kate: good point regarding the varying philosophies of defending the pick-&-roll. wonder if cheeks' views play a "role" in our own shortcomings. perhaps consistently playing it straight regardless of the handler would allow our defenders to develop more of an instinctive feel for playing it. while it often comes down to the players themselves, having them play it just one way may improve preventing easy baskets on something we've recently been far too vulnerable.
    — 127sixer59
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:57 PM, 10/29/2008
    127: Knowing you're always playing the screen the same way makes it easier for the defender -- because they expect the same thing every time. But as the season progressed, each team would scout how the Sixers defended it. Works both ways, I suppose. See you in the chat.
    — Kfagan


2 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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