<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Billy King was sitting on a second-floor ledge of Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, overlooking the lobby of the 76ers practice facility as he met yesterday with reporters. The symbolism was unintentional, but it was there. His team had gone over the edge in a mind-numbing, 104-76 loss in Washington on Monday afternoon, and it was the president/general manager's job to help reel everything back in. King met in the morning with assistant general manager Tony DiLeo and head coach Maurice Cheeks, then watched what he believed to be a productive practice session. Change was in the air. Maybe not the dramatic, definitive change the team's public constituency wanted, but change. First, there was the addition of Henry Bibby as an assistant coach for the remainder of the season, filling the void left when Jim Lynam stepped away because of personal health issues. Bibby, who last coached the Los Angeles Sparks in the WNBA and coached the Southern California men's team for nine seasons, was scheduled to arrive in town last night and hoped to be on the bench tonight for the game against the New Jersey Nets. Then there was the lineup change that wasn't officially made - John Salmons in place of Kyle Korver - but that appears likely to happen. There is also, King said, a plan in place, although he never laid out the specifics. It unquestionably has to deal with defense, rebounding, sharing the ball on offense and making better use of the backup players. "We've got a plan that started last week," King said. "I said, 'Mo, it's not going to happen overnight. You've got to stick with it and demand it of the guys, and the guys have to demand it of themselves, and it'll turn around.'... As he said, he's forcing the guys to do it, and the guys are being very responsive."</div> <div align="center">Source</div> I was talking to Avery about this last night. King gave an interview with comcast sportnet, and said that him and Mo have a plan in place, it is not going to take place over night, but they started talking about it last week. What does that mean? Who knows, but I am excited
I'm hoping Mo just starts everything from scratch. Forget the past 37 games, or whatever it is, and make players EARN their playing time, and their starting roles. That includes AI and Webber as well.
Okay. I like what I'm hearing. King seems a little more demanding from his players and is also telling Mo to toughen up with that. If they can get that down you will see a new team, not naming any roster moves. So if they can toughen up and make a little tweak here and there this team would finally be the team we expected.
A new gameplan is one thing, but Mo Cheeks thinks a part of the problem is the lack of effort. And nobody should have to teach professional athletes to play with all of their effort.
From what I'm hearing, this team may be falling apart. Webber supposedly demanded to be traded after the Wizards game, but then said he doesn't want to be traded and that he made that comment out of frustration. Korver wanted to say something in the post-game interview, but hesitated and rephrased. Everybody is yelling at each other. Hopefully everything works out...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Super_Sixer_Fan:</div><div class="quote_post">No just the result of having a head coach as nim-minded and incompetent as Maurice Cheeks.</div> I?m tired of people blaming the coach for every thing. Why is it that every coach that comes to Philadelphia the last couple of year?s struggles? Is it because all of them forgot how to coach upon arrival? Did they suffer from amnesia or something? Let?s face it, this team is not built to win. A coach can only go as far as the players he has on the court. I like Cheeks, and thought he would be able to turn this thing around, but obviously he has not. What are we going to do fire him and get another head coach? Eventually after we come to the realization that we fire a coach every year yet still suck we will realize we need to rebuild. As big an AI fan as I am I don?t think this team can really start to rebuild until his and Webber?s contracts come off the book. I hope he is around until he retires don?t get me wrong, but I am starting to hope he retires soon, because the way we are going we will not be winning any time soon.
Mo's attitude is too laid-back for this team, and they have adopted that persona on the court... particularly on defense. At least Mo is making progress in that department. After the NJ game, he was yelling for 30 minutes, and AI described it as a side of Cheeks he had never seen before.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting BigMo763:</div><div class="quote_post">Mo's attitude is too laid-back for this team, and they have adopted that persona on the court... particularly on defense. At least Mo is making progress in that department. After the NJ game, he was yelling for 30 minutes, and AI described it as a side of Cheeks he had never seen before.</div> If Mo is too lenient, and Jim O’Brien was too strict what type of coach can fit this team? Paul Silas is notorious for losing a lot of players with the way he coaches so I don’t think he would be a better fit. Maybe we should go back to AI’s old school days, and bring in his coach from Georgetown, John Thompson. I think that if the right talent was given to Mo he could make it work. Mo could preach defense all he wants he could hold a three hour practice, yell at them, make lineup changes, but these are grown men, and what Mo is trying to teach them is going in one year and out the other. It’s kind of like a father and young child when the father yells at the child for doing something wrong the kid will try to be good for a while, but eventually returns to his old ways. That’s what this team reminds me of.
listen man, i would love to say something like "this team will get better soon," or "dont worry, its still early," but to be honest with you, i dont think this team will get any better. i dont think we will get in the playoffs and i dont have anything optimistic to say. im just dissapointed and i know this team isnt as good as i thought it would be. IMO, if BK doesnt make a signifigant move this season, we're going no where. IMO, we should just trade AI to a contending team and get some youngsters or draft picks and let him get a championship like he deserves. im sorry that im completely giving up on this team, or that i may sound like a "band wagoner," but ive had enough. i either want BK to let us win NOW, or let us prepare for the future. im just sick and tired of having to fight to get into the playoffs each and every year to only get eliminated in the first round. for god sakes BK, do something!!
We need to make a decision, a pure decision like Phila saido we win now, or win in the future. For us to win now, we need a good SF that can play Defense, and somehow, find a way to get at least 55-60 percent of Kyle Korver's scoring average. A guy that comes to mind is Ruben Patterson of Portland, He can shoot (47.9 percent for the year) He can hold guys down somewhat (LBJ was frustrated) and he got the confidence of an Iguodala. He does have a mouth, but that can change. Also he played along-side Cheeks in Portland, this could be a nice bond, given our veterans step up. Another need is a LEGIT starting PF, I'm sorry, but a guy like Chris Webber, who can only crash the boards so often, and shoot 18 footers to score points, is not my idea of a PF, My idea of a PF would be Chris Wilcox of LA Clippers, he's affordable, and available, If we're willing to spend the bucks, he can be in a 76er uniform by the trading deadline. I'd like to say, Improve the PG position, but we don't have enough assets to do that, we'll have to move up in the draft, and take Dee Brown, who's much more talented then Louis Williams. Or at least the Louis Williams Maurice Cheeks is showing me. Which is basically nothing.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Billy King said he anticipated making a move soon, "not a significant one, but one that would give us some flexibility." He declined to elaborate.</div> <div align="center">Source</div>
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting phiLA:</div><div class="quote_post">but i guess any move is better than none.</div> Not necessarily... I don't want Billy making a move just for the sake of making a move, especially if it's a retarded one.
BigMo..I wouldn't be too sure, like "giving them more flexibilty"...am I the only one thinking that this move well help set us up for an even BIGGER move? Makes you wonder.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Psycho Drama:</div><div class="quote_post">BigMo..I wouldn't be too sure, like "giving them more flexibilty"...am I the only one thinking that this move well help set us up for an even BIGGER move? Makes you wonder.</div> in flexibility does he mean salary cap wise?
