Igoudala, the point guard and Iverson
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Igoudala, the point guard and Iverson
TNT had a conference call to talk about its All-Star coverage and members of their broadcast team were asked about several of the pressing issues facing the 76ers.
1. Andre Igoudala's future.
“They are going to have to come up with a solution for Andre Iguodala," Reggie Miller said. "Are they going to trade him or are they going to keep him? He’s reading his name in the paper every time he’s going into the sports complex. They bring back Allen Iverson the senior member of that team to try to bring back some stability. This is not the Philly team that we all expected; we expected them to be one of the top eight teams in the Eastern Conference so it’s been a little tough. Lou Williams was out with that broken jaw for a month or two months, so we haven’t seen the real Philadelphia 76ers.”
2. The lack of a point guard.
“People now are starting to figure out how important Andre Miller was to that team," Doug Collins said. "You take a point guard off that team, Andre Miller is one of the best to throw the ball ahead on the break and let guys attack. Sometimes you lose assists that way and usually a lot of point guards hold on to that ball until the last second to get assists. This guy advances the ball, he can get down to the post, play out of the post. When you look at Philadelphia, the year that they had the really good finish and they went to the playoffs, it was a team that was built on speed and quickness, they played a small line-up. When you get Elton Brand and you put Elton Brand with Samuel Dalembert, all of a sudden you have two guys (Thaddeus Young and Andre Iguodala) playing out of position with no point guard. Now all of a sudden your struggles start coming and you’ve got to teach an offense predicated on cutting and moving and reading. That’s an offense that takes a lot of time to learn and a lot of time to teach. Now you have some injuries and you bring Allen Iverson into the mix and they play a different style. They are twisting and turning in between, they are all over the board with what they are trying to get accomplished. That Philadelphia team is much better playing one big guy and four smalls and running and getting in the open court. I just don’t think the pieces fit well and they really, really miss a point guard.”
3. Iverson the All-Star?
“Sure (he should be starting), why not? The fans have spoken," Miller said. "It’s not Allen Iverson’s fault (that) the fans love him that much. I understand that playing in the All-Star Game shouldn’t be a lifetime achievement award. I go back to his press conference in Philadelphia the first time around when I remember him as a snotty-nosed brat talking about practice. The press conference he had when he came back to Philadelphia has the emotion, the tears, it showed how grateful (he was) to be back in the league with the team that gave him his start; that was a man in front of us. I’m happy that he’s going to be playing in the All-Star Game.”
“People now are starting to figure out how important Andre Miller was to that team," Doug Collins said. Anybody with half a brain already knew that when the Sixers decided to give him a lowball contract offer and let him walk.— JimG- Same old Sixers... No front office leadership. This team, over the last 15 yrs, has been run like the ugly stepsister of philly teams. What a waste of money— BBAX
- The real problem is that they panicked into both the Brand and Iguodala deals trying to build around those two guys when in reality they are a terrible mix for each other. Neither is a number one and Brand needs a set offense to shine in and Iguodala is a run the floor type player who is probable a third option on a decent team. Blow this team up!— richien12
- I figured they wanted to tank when they got rid of Miller. I hope Stefanski is lying about basketball value in trades. When you have no attendance, no talent, and no cap room, you need to trade and lose.— HandNik
Comment removed.- Tank the season, lets grab some balls, lottery balls— GetRidofIguodola
- #9 is an above average player at best, he has hit his skill peak trade him for anything just to clear his salary hit. The 76ers are pitiful and over analyzed in a basketball savvy town. We have some foundational pieces for a serious title run 3-5yrs from now in Speights, Young, Holliday. You need to blend them with an established vet who is a number one and/or floor leader. Speights can average 28 in this league with ease he shoots 60% and has 18ft range. He should play 40mins a night. Speights and Holliday will be top notch pro's whether its in Philly or elsewhere— DJ-Kid #10
- Pro basketball is dead in Philly...NBA in general is a horrible league. Wonder if the NHL gets better ratings than the NBA now? It's a much better product that's for sure!— tralala
- Recognize that there short on talent and in need of a point guard, but I've been watching this game for 40 years and I have never seen such an incompetent coach as Jordan. Their offensive flow is non-existent, they play terrible team defense and he has yet to develop a substitution pattern. From middle school to the pros, once a player is not sure of his role, he checks out.— cvtrav
- Take Sixernex tonight and sleep calm and restful sleep sleep sleep!ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ Wake me up from my self induced coma when they get a real coach. Not this loser with a losing record.
- Comment removed.
- Tralala, I agree. I have been a pro ball fan for 40 years. Now everyone in the NBA wants to be Jordan. It is easier to build a team that can do the essentials, pass, shoot, rebound, dribble, and defend then find five players that can do them all to stick on the floor. Take players make them specialize, then blend them on the floor.— cuch
- We have a point guard for the future in Holiday. We really need a 2 guard and to trade Thad or Andre, preferably Thad. How about Iguodola and Speights for Marcus Camby (expiring deal), DeAndre Jordan, and Rasual Butler (expiring deal). Gives you Holiday, Lou Williams, Thaddeus, Brand, Dalembert. DeAndre (up & coming big man), Jason Smith and clears up $15 million in cap space (Joe Johnson?)— theannswr6
This franchise is stuck in the mud. If they can flip Iggy for an expiring contract or a pick, they should. We're stuck with Brand's ginormous deal and Dalembert's bloated cap figure, but if I'm Ed I'm listening to any and every deal that doesn't involve Holiday or Speights.— jpk- NBA is Lebron, Kobe, Lakers, Cavs and maybe Celtics. That is it. Does everyone remember two years ago......Sixers and Atlanta Hawks had similar teams, young nucleus, up and coming.....now look. Hawks went in one direction......up up up......Sixers in the other....struggle to beat the Nets. This team does not want to play for the current coach. I think the coach is bad...but this team has put a stake in the ground with a message directed at Stefanski...we will not play hard for Jordan. They do not trust him, don't understand his style etc. Step one........fire Jordan and bring in coach who simplifies things and lets this team play. If the right trade comes up before the deadline....pull the trigger. But if Jordan is the coach this team will not show up.— donaldp
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.
