Positive reviews continue for Iguodala
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Positive reviews continue for Iguodala
Team USA coach Mike Krzyzewski and Sixers coach Doug Collins have already raved about the way Andre Iguodala played during last week's minicamp in Las Vegas as USA Basketball prepares to choose the team for the World Championships next month in Turkey.
Now, Jerry Colangelo, the chairman of USA Basketball, has weighed in as well.
"He's an incredible defender," Colangelo told the Arizona Daily Star. (Iguodala was a star at Arizona before being drafted by the Sixers.) "Andre can really guard anyone on the court. And if we're going to become the kind of team we might become, which is small, we want to pressure - and defense is going to be a real important part of it. So he brings a lot to the table. He may be the most athletic guy that we have."
Colangelo also pointed out how a successful run at the Worlds, assuming Iguodala makes the team, could benefit him when he rejoins the Sixers.
"We told the players that if you buy in and do what your asked to do, you'll win," Colangelo said. "It's not just winning - it's how we win and you're going to be better for it. I would say they're better people after the experience. They bring a different culture back to their franchises, so the franchises benefited as does the NBA ultimately."
Iguodala also was asked about playing in Philadelphia, with the high expectations that come with his big contract.
"It's a tough town," Iguodala said. "They're really passionate. But that's something you've gotta be prepared for. Philly's kind of like an acquired taste. You've got to adjust to it; it won't adjust to you. I think that's helped me out.
"You're always going to have doubters wherever you are. You've just got to work hard to prove them wrong."
I think he just called us "haters"— combocancer1975
Iggy plays well with other stars, but he stinks as the main option on anyteam. Trade him now.— BooDuhBud- afrazier31 this experience is going to do nothing for his game. He's still going to be painful to watch, still going to look like a Track Decathlon athlete who thinks he can play basketball. In fact I highly recommend to him to drop BBall together and go for the next Olympics! Yea! see you in 2012 hopefully not on the Sixers.— allrightknight
Iguodala should make the team. They cut Gerald Wallace.- 1st Iggy is a good player. He was playing with one of the worst coaches the Sixers ever had. Now with Collins, Jrue and the young guys coming together he finally has a team around him. Iggy isn't a #1 but you can't blame him for the large contract that's on Ed S. Iggy fills a stat sheet rebounds,points,assists and steals. Thad Young does not. Young can run the floor well and had a mid range shot.He is not great at driving the ball not a great one on one dribbler. So stop saying Young is better or more well rounded he isn't. Iggy plays well with the ball and can pass. If he was on another team say Phoenix playing with Nash, Dirk, etc. he would be the perfect piece. If you move Iggy you need to get young players and draft picks. You also need a outside shooter at the 3. But to say Iggy sucks or Young is better is ridiculous. Young regressed last year. Iggy still put up 17 pts. 6.5 rebound, 5.1 assits, 1.7 steals. Those are good numbers. If those are numbers or a bad player then I would like 4 more of those type of bad players.— sportsgenius99
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.
