<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">After watching hours of his new team on videotape, Maurice Cheeks is preparing for the good stuff - getting the 76ers into training camp and watching them in the flesh, competing for playing time. The Sixers' new coach will enter camp with an open mind. To hear him tell it, only two starting berths are secure. The remainder of the starting jobs - and minutes off the bench - are up for grabs. "Training camp is about competing," Cheeks said yesterday during a luncheon with reporters. "It's about showing what you've learned over the off-season, what you've learned in the previous year. So you go to camp, and you try to get that out of each player. "Camp is not about 'This guy's a starter, that guy's a starter.' It's about competing and finding your own niche on the basketball team." It's also about developing depth - something that seems questionable as the Sixers get ready to start camp next Tuesday at Duke University in Durham, N.C. The loss of Willie Green to knee surgery, the trade of Marc Jackson, and the release of Aaron McKie have placed the Sixers at a disadvantage compared with the team that finished last season with 43 victories and a loss in five games to the Detroit Pistons in the opening round of the NBA playoffs. The Sixers must rely on such relatively unproven players as free-agent center Steven Hunter and guard John Salmons to play major minutes. Guard Kevin Ollie, who played only 26 games last season, has to be a key component of the backcourt rotation.</div> link: http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/sports/ba...ll/12749444.htm
The simple acquisition on Maurice Cheeks as our coach this offseaon in my mind made it a successful offseason. He is one of the highest class coaches in the league he has been loyal to the 76ers his whole career, and it is great for him to finally be the head coach of this organization. After many years of being an assistant to Larry and the horrible situation in Portland he had to go through by having to coach punks like Darius Miles. I can not wait for opening day. Cheeks is probably a top ten coach in this league hopefully we get off to a quick start this season, and people being to recognize that. He is one of those guys you just believe in when he talks, and I believe he will get the best out of everyone on this roster. To quote Cheeks ? I was born in Chicago, but Philadelphia will always be my home.?
