Posted: Friday, February 17, 2012, 7:58 PM | 13 comments |
 
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Sixers owner Josh Harris gave his state of the team address before Friday's Sixers-Dallas Mavericks game. As he should, Harris said everything a Sixers' fan would want to hear.

On what he thinks about what he's bought so far, from the team on the court to all the other things that owning a team involve:

"Adam Aron and everyone have done a great job of delivering a much better experience for the fans and the fans are starting to show up. We’re 30 percent ahead of last year in terms of ticket sales and we’re doing that with lower prices. It’s accelerating, so that’s great.

On the court, the team’s 20-10 and playing very well and in essence ahead of what everyone expected. Clearly this last stretch has been a little tougher, we’ve been on the road, we’ve played some better teams, but even so playing above .500 ball even during the last stretch. Spencer’s (Hawes) injury and some of the injuries have slowed us down a little bit but I feel like we have a great young team and a great coach. I think really given where we started the season I’m very, very happy at the midpoint and feel we have a real shot at being a contender deep into the season and as we go into the playoffs."

On whether he is a hands-on owner with coach Doug Collins and president Rod Thorn:

"I’m a proactive guy, so I’m impatient, I want to win. But having said that I think we have a great basketball organization and a very experienced team. I am working through Rod and his team and the reality of it is now having talked to a lot of people there are no easy answers. You have to be opportunistic, you have to be on your toes. So we’re exploring all options. Having said that, being 20-10 and leading the Atlantic Division we’re not going to do anything that’s reactive. We’re going to be thoughtful about it. Everyone else is in a similar position. We appreciate the sentiment about needing a big guy in the middle and clearly that’s an obvious thing for us to do but those guys don’t grow on trees. It’s not necessarily as easy as some might think, picking up someone like that. Our eyes are open, we’re focused on it. If somebody becomes available we’re going to do what we need to do financially. So far we’re very comfortable with our team."

On whether using an Amnesty Clause on a player (and the possibility of having to pay a $15-18 million buyout) is something they would do:

"For the right person, yes. But a very high block. Those are the kinds of things that if you do it and you do it wrong it puts you way back. You’ve got to be very careful but if it was a game-changer we would consider that. It’s not something we’re afraid of. We’re a deep-pocketed, committed ownership group. But we’re going to be sensible about it. We’re not going to do that for anyone. It would have to be for someone really good."

On Doug Collins:

"I think that Doug is as talented and passionate about basketball as anyone I’ve ever met. He brings vast knowledge, passion and he definitely gets a lot (from the players). Just being in the locker room and seeing the way the players react and play together as a team you almost get the feel that we have a college team where they’re enjoying themselves out there and that likes each other and wants to win. I don’t think you always get that feeling from a pro team."

More to come...

Posted by Bob Cooney @ 7:58 PM  Permalink | 13 comments
13
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:59 PM, 02/17/2012
    Can our new owner play center or power forward if so that's great. Or can he maybe play shooting guard because Jody Meeks stinks.
    This team is starting to look like Eddie Jordons old team. They would throw the ball up from the South 40 and hit nothing. Again we are clueless about how to take the ball to the hoop.
    This is some of the worst outside shooting by a team Ive ever seen!!!!!!!
    D.C started off good with this team but they are stinken it up fast. I'm losing interest real quick as a sixer fan.
    When you blow a 14 point lead to the old and guard less Dallas Mavericks can we say another new low coming to this team fast.
    This team is Way overrated besides.
    Elton Brand looks like hes 60 years old.
    ALO
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:29 PM, 02/17/2012
    Why have the sixers only beat 4 good teams and beat up on the bad teams? We cannot compete with the better teams, plain and simple.
    marks22
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:35 PM, 02/17/2012
    Hey Sixer Nation this team is sorry!
    The 4 guards shot 6 for 37 against a Mavs team missing 3 guards. Thats 16% perecent run this team out of Philly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    ALO
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:57 PM, 02/17/2012
    Josh, you need to have dolla dog night every game, and 5 dolla tickets!
    Also Collins(the almighty), needs a hearing aid!
    larryv
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:07 PM, 02/17/2012
    A national TV embarassment. What we saw tonight will be a scene of regularity until the end of this season. Please "Sixers" brass, it is time to make changes. DC must be instructed NOW, your starting lineup suks...Meeks is lost, Holliday's head is on MARS, Iggy is inconsistent; Brand is a 10 minute a night guy, and Lavoy needs another year at Temple. We need a shakeup even if it simply is an eternal shakeup. Would playing "NOC" at the 2 be any worse than what Meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeks is giving. You cannot give a guy starters minutes when he is only on once every 8 or 9 games. CHANGES PLEASE, CHANGES NOW, hows that for the teams state of address.
    catfan1971
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:08 PM, 02/17/2012
    24 points in the 2nd half, and blew a 15 point lead. wow
    marks22
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:25 AM, 02/18/2012
    Better experience for the fans? The guy is a idiot. The workers there treat people like airport security. It's a joke there is like 2-3 workers to enter any section down stairs. Up stairs worse seat in the house they check ticket. WHY? Who would try to sit in the worse seats in the building if they have better seats? What the heck is the point of bothering people checking seats up stairs? ZERO NONE. It use to be way better not fan friendly at all now a days. As much as I wanted Snider gone from the Sixers since he is a hockey guy I wish he was still the owner. He would never have fans treated this way.
    Serge77
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:53 AM, 02/18/2012
    Sixers are more worried about accomodating a 400lb pound sack of you know what and his green buddy than the fans who pay for seats. That is why this team will always be a third rate team.
    Drew777
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:59 AM, 02/18/2012
    Wow. Surprised to hear these comments. I think the owners are doing the best they can with what they have. I grew and would play Noc more instead of Meeks right now. Brand is not helping at all and they def need some trade for a big man who can do anything. But the owners are trying for a change here, Collins is very good. Thorn, he hasn't done one thing since he's been here, difficult or not. It's like they don't even need him. He's just taking up space. Good year so far though.
    Ballgame
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:42 AM, 02/18/2012
    Don't break yours ankles jumping off the wagon guys!
    JBP
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:56 PM, 02/18/2012
    These commenters are negadelphia at their best.
    speener
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:30 PM, 02/19/2012
    This thread looks like the Iggles board. Fortunately these are not the regular posters.
    mtairy1
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:12 PM, 02/19/2012
    The fast start and the low ticket prices put fannies in seats, but they've hit the wall, the legs are gone, and that's why they're hoisting up 30 footers. Nothing negative though, that's just basketball. The short season provides a good excuse to not bring reinforcements. One and done in the playoffs.
    eaglescali


13 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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