<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">When a team is not performing up to the expectations of their coach, usually changes are made. The 76ers, currently with a record of 8-12, so far have not been performing up to the expectations of Head Coach Jim O'Brien. To try to fix whatever problems that he has seen throughout the first quarter of the season, O'Brien has made multiple changes to his lineup in search of a combination that can perform to his liking night in and night out. These adjustments have caused many of the team's core players to not only lose minutes, but sometimes to miss entire games. Seven players on the Sixers have had games in which they did not play due to a "Coach's Decision." Four of those seven have started for the team in at least one game as well. The latest victim of O'Brien's changing format is shooting guard Willie Green. After playing in the season's first 18 games, including seven starts, Green watched his team go 2-0 this weekend from the bench. O'Brien chose to go with second-year guard John Salmons for more minutes instead. Yet, O'Brien insists that he is still just looking for a combination that works, and that Green has not done anything that has caused him to find himself on the bench. "My estimation was Johnny (Salmons) would give us more length at the point guard," said O'Brien at practice on Monday. "Johnny's position is a natural point guard. I want to give him a very thorough look, and I want him to have the ball in his hands, period. (Willy) really has done nothing wrong, I'm very pleased with Willy."</div> <div align="center">Full Story</div> Like Dalembert and Thomas, Green came into the season projected to run the backcourt with Iverson and have a major impact on this squad. He was actually up there alongside with Dalembert for the MIP award, and now he's lucky if he even gets to take his warm-up off. However, now unlike Thomas and Dalembert he has yet to make an impression on O'Brien and thus he remains in O'Brien's doghouse. Green is one of our most explosive players, and the energy he brings is tremendous, but when you see great talent like this not getting any minutes it really makes you think. So my question is what should be done with Green? I'm not saying to trade him because that?s completely out of the picture. But where does he fit on the team, and how can we use him because he's a talented player no questions asked but his talent is being used for nothing and one way or another he can help this team. I for one think he needs to be a defensive specialist in order to get some playing time. This team really lacks defense, and so far McKie(aging) and Iguodala are our only legitimate perimeter defenders. For Green to establish himself into this team as a force he needs to stand out from the rest of those other offensive players. Salmons, Korver, Williamson and so on are on the court primarily for offensive reasons, so Green must do the opposite and play defense to stand out. The 76ers has a really defensive minded assistant coach in Dick Harter and Green needs to impress him and the rest of the coaching staff. With Green quick feet, aggressiveness and energy what better use would he be by being a defensive specialist? If anything he is very capable of doing so and as of right now that the only way I could see him being an meritorious player for this team.
This is something that bothers me about JO he does not have confidence in our players at all he just has one vision of what he wants and like a horse in a race he has blinders to all other things that go on around us. He did not see that Dalemebrt was putting up bigger defensive numbers in the blocking department then Marc Jackson ahd been doing in 8 less minutes, and nearly equalling Marc's rebounding production only falling to Marc by .20 . He did not see that Kenny thomas averaged a double double last season, and is a player who ha sa vetern influence on the team despite his relatively young age to other veterns on the team. He also did not realise that last season KT was our second leading scorer in the absence of Iverson and Robinson in the stetch runof last season where we only missed the playoffs by a game. All he sees is his view of perfection and if you are not part of it. He does not see you. he has to be more open minded and supportive of the players he does not give the players enough of a shot to learn the system with his in and out of the rotation game plan. He also seriously hurts the players confidence instead of boasting it so it is sad to watch the team right now because they have no chemistry, flow, and they do not know each other well, because most normally do not play together as much outside of practice and in a game.
I was looking forward to seeing this season from Willie. I thought he was going to be a good player in the future and that we would have the 2 guard spot locked up for a few years. I don't know why JO isn't playing him, there is just no explaination. Didn't even take off those warm-ups for yesterday's game against the Bucks! I would also like to see a lot more point guard from Willie, if he is not starting at the 2, you mine as well put him in a back-up point guard role behind Iverson. With Willie becoming a free agent I would think he would have to ask for some cash. Weather the money will come from the Sixers, I don't think so. Maybe a team like Denver would love to bring in Willie in the off-season. He would be PERFECT for them. Hey why not Willie and Skinner for Nene (who is on the block)?
Again Willie Green is a good player, I remember through out the summer Obrien was really praising his game and he really liked Willie Green, many of us thought he would start. I don?t know why it?s not working out with Green; it?s probably because we have so many swingmen type players that are better then him. It seems as if Green's role on this team now is to be the backup point guard, and we know being behind Allen he isn?t going to log many minutes. Some would maybe say give him some decent playing time, maybe by placing Green at pg and AI at sg, then again would a back court if those shoot first players will be able to co exist?
Well, we all see that Willie tore it up last night. I definitely think OB will look to use him a tad bit more. Wouldn't be suprised if he starts the next game either.
I'm not sure about that, yeah Willie had a good game but Obrien is going to have to test him before putting him in the starting line up. Its not that he didnt have a strong game against Denver, its just that a lot of guards have ben killing them lately so we can't use Greens game as influence on some of his minutes.
My sources are telling me that Willie Green will indeed be a starter, replacing Kyle Korver in the Starting 5 within the next week.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting stephenasmith:</div><div class="quote_post">My sources are telling me that Willie Green will indeed be a starter, replacing Kyle Korver in the Starting 5 within the next week.</div> Can you name your "sources" or post a link to your "sources" if your "sources" are correct then I think it is a good move. KK has been in a slump for the last few games yet the Sixers have not struggled because of it going on a three game win streak. I personally think that although Korver is a great scorer when it comes to his jump shot he can not create his own shot as much as Green can, and it has cost us a few times this season. Last season I remember a game against the Memphis Griz in Memphis we where down by two it was AI's first game back from injury so they did not want to pressure him. In the end of the game where down by 1. Korver has got the ball looking to get open for a shot gets stripped of the ball we lose a heart breaker. One reasons why I am not crazy about KK is that he is so wildly inconsistant, and I mean really inconsistant you do not know if you will ctach him on a good night or on a night where he is 2-7 from the arc with 6 points. Or a night where he goes for 23 points whcih he has done 5 times this season. So far this year he is averaging 11 points not bad, but then so far this year counting te preseason he has failed to reach double digit scoring 12 times, and his longest stint of double digit scoring is six games not counting that he does not have one stretch where he went for double digits three straight games. Willi Green on the other hand is averaging 3 less points in 11 minutes. In 11 less minutes and four inches shorter than Korver he averages 1.9 less rebounds. Now why I am down on stating Willi. He does not shoot well from the field at all he shoots .371 percent that is horrible for any player. He shoots also less than the league average from the three point strip. He also does not have quick hands not saying Korver does, but for a player his size Green really does not pressure the ball like he should. KK gives us better matchups and better size then Green does. With AI at point and Green at 2 we will get killed by teams with bigger back courts like the Nets now with Kidd 6'5" and VC 6'6". Or even with Rip and Billups. Another reason I am down on this move if it happens. We NEVER EVER have a set lineup how can you expect to win without even having job security always having to worry about if your starting or not. Unless we start losing again I say dont change the lineup. Though I would rather have had Green in there from the beginning as long as this is working they got chemistry dont change it. Also having Iggy and Korver on the floor at the same time sort of makes up for KK's lack of moves to get to the basket we can take the other team inside and out with two different players also tiring out and slowing down defenders. That is one of the positives of Korver starting. plus if Korver goes to the bench he will lose cofidence and probably minutes since JO does not know how to work rotations when we need a clutch shot he will probably be down on him self, and not have the confidence to hit it.
