Posted: Sunday, September 28, 2008, 2:32 PM | 5 comments |
 

Gentlemen, Start Your Engines
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The 76ers are heading for training camp at Penn State, where workouts begin Tuesday morning. I know coach Maurice Cheeks has a laundry list of things he'll be looking for. And I have mine.

I'm ready to see . . .

Elton  Brand draw double-teams, even in scrimmages.

Perimeter players, including--especially--Andre Iguodala make open shots.

Kareem Rush make shots, because that is precisely what he has been signed to do.

Royal Ivey show the toughness and defense he was known for in Atlanta and Milwaukee.

Samuel Dalembert and Brand co-exist in the paint.

Thaddeus Young stake his claim to the small forward spot.

Aaron McKie resume his coaching career. I believe in second chances. And I believe McKie is a solid addition to the staff.

Jeff Ruland offer thoughts and suggestions to Dalembert, Brand, Marreese Speights, etc. Ruland was an effective big man in the league because he knew how to play, not because he could run fast and jump high.

Somebody, anybody, be as impressive in camp as Kevin Ollie was last year.
Posted by Phil Jasner @ 2:32 PM  Permalink | 5 comments
5
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:32 PM, 09/29/2008
    also would like to know (since fans are pretty much reliant on the media at this point): if young doesn't claim the 3, does iguodala remain fixed there and who takes over the 2; can rush display a more all around game or will he just be shooting long-range; can speights show enuf to earn meaningful minutes; can the team play both an effective run and half-court offense; will permiter players make contested shots; can ruland and mckie be effective teachers (mckie especailly for helping our guards play a little defense); if anyone is as impressive as ollie, will he actually see real court time.
    — 127sixer59
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:30 PM, 09/29/2008
    Great queastions... I'd like to add;
    Can Willie Green improve his game enough to earn some minutes on this team, or at least bring us a future pg in a trade when packaged with a one of these guys we signed to a minimum deal?
    Can Theo Ratliff and Donyell Marshall still play?
    I think a fair extension for Miller would be to add another 3 years and $35 Million to his current deal, but what if he holds out for more? Is Miller worth a 4 year $50 Million extension that will keep him on this team until 2013 when he'll be 38?
    Can Lou Williams be a starting PG on a championship contending team?
    — BFrank
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:48 PM, 09/29/2008
    I wanna see Marreese Speights make enough of a contribution this year to justify selecting him 16th overall in this year's draft. He's got a tremendous upside based on what I saw in college and the summer league.
    — mdriban
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:45 PM, 09/29/2008
    I just kept thinking I'm ready to not see any injuries 8-0 por favor!
    — allrightknight
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:44 PM, 09/30/2008
    phil/john: thoughts from the first day of practice (understadning limited media availability)? heard rush was practicing offensive sets with the first team, although that may not be significant at this point. would you aniticipate brand being the team "leader" since miller is so quiet and iguodala will likely be the second option?
    — 127sixer59


5 comments
About Bob Cooney
Bob Cooney has been at the Daily News for more than 20 years, working in the sports department for the past 15. This is his third season on the Sixers beat. He has covered just about everything, but mostly college basketball, where he was the La Salle beat writer for six seasons. E-mail Bob at cooneyb@phillynews.com and follow him on Twitter.

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