Inside the Sixers: 76ers' next coach must exert discipline

The next 76ers coach must exercise, above all else, discipline.

Sure, a little perimeter defense would ease fans' minds as well, but before the Sixers learn to close out on shooters, they need - absolutely need - a guy who commands, and demands, respect and hard work.

This season was filled with many things, but hard work and discipline weren't the main ingredients.

It was bad.

How bad?

It's not a state secret that center Samuel Dalembert is rarely the first in the gym, rarely the last out.

Twice this season, Dalembert has been benched for tardiness: once at the Toronto Raptors on March 7 for being late to a team meeting, and again for arriving late to the Wachovia Center for a game against the Atlanta Hawks on March 26.

But those associated with this season's team said Dalembert was routinely late without fine, which frustrated teammates.

According to a team source, Jordan's decision to go without fines cost him credibility within the locker room, where players discussed instituting their own fines. Players weren't as frustrated with Dalembert, who always apologized for his lateness, as they were with the lax discipline of which Dalembert took advantage.

Dalembert's behavior is not unique to Jordan's tenure.

In past seasons - according to those closely associated with the team - Dalembert would arrive at practice without a moment to spare, sometimes still with his sneakers untied or sweatpants still on, technically on-time but also unprepared.

"That's just Sam, everyone knows that's how Sam works," said one source close to the team.

Sure, that's Sam, and Sam's been this way for years; he still plays all 82 games and grabs every other rebound.

That's fine, but that's not winning.

Those closely associated with the players have also expressed frustration with the undisciplined environment, saying that this roster, more than in years past, was in need of a relentless, demanding, respected taskmaster.

That blame isn't solely Jordan's. Those near the team also place a portion on the players themselves, pointing toward a lack of internal leadership, which allowed the season to crumble. The chances of trading for that on-court leader or drafting him or signing him during free agency are minimal.

The next coach will determine not just the path to travel but how that path should be traveled.

But perhaps the most damning, worrisome complaint centered on player development: the mandatory workouts required of young players. In past seasons, guys like Marreese Speights, Jason Smith, Thaddeus Young, and Lou Williams would be required to do prepractice individual workouts and moderately paced pregame workouts, with the intensity depending on a player's playing time.

The intensity this year appeared to depend on a player's mood.

Those around the team felt little was achieved in the way of player development this season, with the younger guys being allowed to regress if they so chose.

"I think everybody has their own perspective of what they believe the difference is from last year to this year," said veteran guard Willie Green. "It wouldn't surprise me to hear anything. Some people are going to give their opinion and that's how they feel."

All of these fuzzy pieces, the edges of which aren't clear - only the players know exactly what happened this season - help in understanding the psyche of this team, the energy around these players, and exactly whom they might need going forward.

This roster doesn't have a distinct pocket of leadership, a few players drawing the rest upward, to higher places. That key element is missing.

But there's a certain opening right now. And more than some offensive scheme, some defensive resumé, some hollow collection of numbers, this team appears to need a guy who won't try to be their friend and won't allow anyone on the staff to become that, either.

If the players don't have a leader among them, hire one.

Read Kate Fagan's 76ers blog, Deep Sixer, at

www.philly.com/sixers.

Posted 09:09 a.m., 04/15/2010

kjuggs77

Agreed - Jordan was set up for failure in the first place - glad to see him gone and hopefully start a new era. . . . I mean, this is 76ers basketball!!! Let's show some pride in the team and refuse to accept the mess that was the 09/10 Philly team - The NBA might be the easiest league to turn around a terrible team. I think Elton Brand might be the only player on this team who is not able to run and gun - I wish Don Nelson were available. . . . where's Doug Moe when you need him? I would love to see Larry Brown back here to develop the same core of players. It's only been a year since the Sixers were a .500 team. Their record indicates how bad the coaching was; the players were clearly confused or not buying into Jordan's system by the all-star break. We can get back on track.