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Sixers coach Jordan still pushing Princeton offense

Whether or not 76ers coach Eddie Jordan is still in that same position next year probably will be decided after this disappointing season is over, but Jordan is proceeding as if he still will be at the helm. Case in point: The continuation of trying to implement the Princeton offense.

Eddie Jordan's Princeton-style offense hasn't worked well with the 76ers. (Yong Kim/Staff file photo)
Eddie Jordan's Princeton-style offense hasn't worked well with the 76ers. (Yong Kim/Staff file photo)Read more

Whether or not 76ers coach Eddie Jordan is still in that same position next year probably will be decided after this disappointing season is over, but Jordan is proceeding as if he still will be at the helm. Case in point: The continuation of trying to implement the Princeton offense.

To rehash, when Jordan was hired over the summer to replace Tony DiLeo, who filled in for fired Maurice Cheeks most of last season, he brought with him the offense that was supposed to be a perfect fit for this team. Or so we were told.

That hasn't exactly worked out, and an early season, 12-game losing streak and the return of Allen Iverson put the Princeton on hold, much like Tiger's golf game.

But now Iverson is out, tending to his 4-year-old daughter's illness, and the team is sinking itself ever closer to a lottery pick. Jordan, however, is still looking for his club to pick up the offense.

"There are times when we're in specific routes and there are times when we're playing out of principle," Jordan said. "And eventually, that's where I'd like to get to - playing out of principle and not necessarily in specific routes."

Translation: The Princeton offense, when run efficiently and with the right group of players, calls for players to read and react. Once the reaction is made, there should be many options as to what comes next. Jordan and his past and current players have all said it takes a long time to learn.

"I think we're still sticking to some of the same principles on offense," said guard Willie Green, who returned last night against Orlando after sitting out five games due to a sprained left shoulder. "Maybe we're running a little bit more wrinkles. It just takes the team continuing to work on it. Everything coach can't call from the sideline, a lot of it is reads. If a guy is denying us, go back door. If he's playing below me, you can make certain cuts. So, it's just about us making better reads, and continue to get better and just work on the offense."

What if this offense isn't made for this group of players? What if a different style altogether might be more beneficial?

"Sometimes it just makes it easy if a team is able to be consistent at getting better at one particular thing," Green said. "But sometimes you're dealt a different hand and you just have to try to play the hand that you have the best way you can. I think that's what we've been doing thus far."

By most indications, the dealt hands have been folding ones.

Injury report

Elton Brand sat out last night with what was diagnosed as tendinitis in his right Achilles'. Thaddeus Young started in Brand's place. Brand tore his left Achilles tendon in 2007 while with the Los Angeles Clippers. He will not make the trip today to Atlanta for tomorrow's game against the Hawks.

Willie Green said he wasn't close to being 100 percent, but that his shoulder was holding up enough for him to get back on the court and contribute. He still has a pretty good amount of pain, even when not using the shoulder at all. Green took a hit against the Miami Heat on Feb. 16 when he tried to run around a pick set by center Jermaine O'Neal.

"I have to get well enough to be able to run through those picks, because that's what I do," Green said. "Either that or I have to get around it a little different. Maybe go through headfirst or something."

Jason Smith finally returned from the sprained right ankle he suffered Feb. 10 at Toronto. The injury came at a bad time for Smith, who finally was getting some playing time after not seeing any action for most of January.