We first though ( Well I thought ) that when the season began we were going to be a team to be reckoned with. Well in the East for that matter. Our first couple games werent that bad. We were a couple games under .500 and we won a couple games and got back to the .500 and eventually went 2 games over .500. Suddenly...We went down. Down the drain. Injuries plauged us all season long, and we lead the league for the most different starting line-ups. Iverson questioned his teamates. His teamates responded the next game against a dipleaded and beat up Lakers team Iverson led the way with 39 Points. Some were thinking that it was all said and done and the Sixers would be back on track. That wasnt the answer. We actually started to do worse. Next we had Allen Iverson knee injury that caused the Sixers to go 1-4 on a 4 Game West road trip. Later on there was more Iverson drama. His name came up in numerous trade rumors. Randy Ayers eventually got fired. Chris Ford and Allen Iverson bumped heads every week. From there on things simply werent looking good for us. Here is a link thats more detailed and more in depth about the Sixers 03-04 season. Post what you thought about their disappointing season, and what hurt us the most. 2003-04 Season in Review
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">How did Larry Brown's absence hurt us, do explain.</div> Well first of all. Larry Brown is the only coach that can handle Allen Iverson. Probably not the only coach (I'm waiting to see how Jim O'Brien does), but he's proven that he can handle Allen Iverson. He's been with the team for 7 years. From the ups and downs he has been through it all with this team. He's a Hall of Fame coach and trust me on this one…Despite all of the injuries. Larry Brown would find a way to keep the Sixers alive fighting for a playoff spot. Probably the 7th seed at best, because that’s what Hall of Fame coaches do. Since he's been with the team for quite some time, he's obviously familiar with the players. Such as Snow, McKie, Dalembart etc…He knows what they can do and what they can't do. He's knows about the roles that they play on the court. Therefore he would use them in a way that best suits them. Instead we had Randy Ayers. He had NO experience as an NBA coach. Its not like there is anything entirely wrong with that, but that played a major factor. Although, he's been Larry Brown assistant for over 7 years. Face it, he's no Larry Brown. I don’t if guys noticed it. But Randy Ayers didn’t seem as if he was tough on the players. I'm pretty sure Allen Iverson was calling all the shots. Randy Ayers wasn’t mentally ready to coach an NBA team. Especially, a team with a loose cannon such as Allen Iverson on it.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Banks:</div><div class="quote_post">Well first of all. Larry Brown is the only coach that can handle Allen Iverson. Probably not the only coach (I'm waiting to see how Jim O'Brien does), but he's proven that he can handle Allen Iverson. He's been with the team for 7 years. From the ups and downs he has been through it all with this team. He's a Hall of Fame coach and trust me on this one?Despite all of the injuries. Larry Brown would find a way to keep the Sixers alive fighting for a playoff spot. Probably the 7th seed at best, because that?s what Hall of Fame coaches do. Since he's been with the team for quite some time, he's obviously familiar with the players. Such as Snow, McKie, Dalembart etc?He knows what they can do and what they can't do. He's knows about the roles that they play on the court. Therefore he would use them in a way that best suits them. Instead we had Randy Ayers. He had NO experience as an NBA coach. Its not like there is anything entirely wrong with that, but that played a major factor. Although, he's been Larry Brown assistant for over 7 years. Face it, he's no Larry Brown. I don?t if guys noticed it. But Randy Ayers didn?t seem as if he was tough on the players. I'm pretty sure Allen Iverson was calling all the shots. Randy Ayers wasn?t mentally ready to coach an NBA team. Especially, a team with a loose cannon such as Allen Iverson on it.</div> I know it was Randy's first year but to be honest, I kind of expected a little more from him than what I saw. He was by Larry's side for a while here in Philly and I guess I just expected Larry to maybe... wear off on him? I dunno.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting kvh4fan:</div><div class="quote_post">Because he left us with a mess of a team.</div> Um, no. We actually gained a player to help Allen and the rest of the team. The fact that he didn't know it was gametime more than half the season, is an entirely different subject. So to say that the team was a mess, when Larry left is obsurd. I think what hurt us the most was injuries, and a lack of leadership because of those injuries.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Sasha:</div><div class="quote_post">Um, no. We actually gained a player to help Allen and the rest of the team. The fact that he didn't know it was gametime more than half the season, is an entirely different subject. So to say that the team was a mess, when Larry left is obsurd. I think what hurt us the most was injuries, and a lack of leadership because of those injuries.</div> Well, that's your opinion and I have my own. So leave it as that.
