I like this move for the 76ers. It was a very bold move to make this move but I think it is the necessary one because O'Brien didn't form chemistry between his players and in the end that really hurt the Sixers. The thing with Mo is that he gets the best out of his players and gets along with them, so with that being said the 76ers will be a closer team and know each other a lot better next season. If their chemistry is better then hopefully we won't see the same 76ers that gave up leads time after time or the 76ers that often left three point shooters wide open. As others have said a lot of questions need to be answered with this move as well, it seemed as if Korver was fond of O'Brien will he still coming back? If he does come back how will Mo Cheeks utilize him? Although I like the hiring of Mo Cheeks, O'Brien only got one season to put together a championship team. Like CourtKing said Cheeks has always been the Sixers desired coach and that's probably why this move was made. Also, if the 76ers would have kept O'Brien as their coach then the futures of Dalembert, Green, and Webber would have been very questionable, now I think all three should be optimistic about Philadelphia new head coach.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I don't think that this was a good move at all. Jim O'Brien may have rubbed a lot of people the wrong way, but he did maximize the potential of this Sixers team.</div> I'm not so sure about that. You're right he did get a lot out of the team, but he didn't necessarily maximize the potential. Reason being is particularly because he decided to start Josh Davis and Marc Jackson at the PF and C while benching Dalembert and Kenny Thomas. That alone is a downgrade for this ball club. If he maximized players individually that would put the team in a better situation. If it weren?t for those o? so questionable moves this team could have potentially win an additional 5+ games or so. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Allen Iverson probably had his best season as a professional this year both on and off the court.</div> I think it was more of a case of Iverson bouncing back after having the worse season of his career. Before the hiring of O'Brien he made a vow that he would change and be the leader that everyone wants him to be or more like the leader everyone needs him to be. But at the same time, O'Brien decision moving Iverson to the PG obviously brought out the best out of him, but in entirety I'd say it was more on Iverson?s part on why he had such a phenomenal season. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The Sixers made a mistake before hiring a players coach to replace a discipliarian. Randy Ayers was the opposite of Larry Brown and he didn't finish the season. Now Mo Cheeks is more ept to coach the Sixers than Ayers was, but need I remind everyone how the Blazers underachieved under his leadership while also finding themselves on the police blotters. Who is going to push Webber to get after defensively or challenge Iverson if he reverts to some of his previous behaviors. I don't think that Mo' has the personality to get after his underachieving players.</div> Good point. That may be the only regretful thing about hiring Cheeks. With a group of young guys you need a disciplinarian more so than a players coach. His comfort level with the players may sway to well that the players won't play up to their potential and slack off. If Cheeks want to get the best out of this team he will have to toughen up. But at the same time he can't be to strict he must remain vivacious because again this is young guys he?s dealing with and when they're struggling they are going to need someone to talk to. A disciplinarian such as O?Brien would just tell them to suck it up and keep playing while a players coach would give them a prep talk and encourage them. So there are some positives to this players coach as well as negatives. This is not Iverson?s first time being under Cheeks so for the most part I think they will get along fine, I just want to see what kind of impact he will have on this team overall. I also think he will accommodate Webber and Iverson to the best they can be. I?m sure that he will realize that he has two superstars on this team and he will make sure he uses them to the best of they?re abilities.
I do understand that Cheeks is a players coach, but the young guys on the 76ers still have to learn discipline. If MO is too soft on them then Philly may turn into a bunch of head cases. The Jail Blazers had a lot of off court problems, I hope the 76ers don't end up like them.
I like this move a lot. Allen Iverson defended Cheeks last year when he was in Portland and they seem to get along nicely. If these two can develop a good relationship, Cheeks will should be able to help Philadelphia just as much as when he was a player, if not more.
