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The Sixers were a morass of mediocrity last season, making the playoffs in a weak Eastern Conference, but going out with a whimper losing in five games to the Detroit Pistons. While losing to the eventual conference champions is not necessarily embarrassing, the Sixers were a chemistry-challenged team under Jim O'Brien and it was apparent to team president Billy King that the future looked dim. As a result, King took the time-honored route of firing his coach and bringing in fan-favorite Maurice Cheeks to take over. In four seasons in Portland, Cheeks' Blazers made the playoffs twice and were eliminated in the first round each time. So much for a great track record.
The players will certainly like Cheeks (an ex-Sixer great) better than his predecessor. But successful coaching is not about winning the popularity contest. He must win their respect and give this team an identity beyond superstar Alien Iverson. They have to get back to the team concept they had under former coach Larry Brown (now with the Knicks) or the team will continue to play mediocre basketball.
There is a significant amount of pressure on Cheeks to get this situation turned around. While his players may not have liked O'Brien — he's a legitimate "my way or the highway" kind of coach — he generally got results when coaching with the Celtics. Cheeks will ride the wave of past hero returning home, but the team's first four-game losing streak will likely undo that good will. Cheeks needs to grow in his second coaching stint or his return to Philly could be a painful one.
King wants to give Cheeks a full and talented roster to work with. After the NBA announced the end of its moratorium against signing free agents, the Sixers signed center Samuel Dalembert and shooting guard Kyle Korver. They also reached an agreement with backup guard Willie Green, but he tore the ACL and lateral meniscus cartilage in his left knee in a pickup game shortly before he was supposed to sign his contract.
Whatever comes of the Green situation, the season will rest on the performance of Iverson and how well his teammates complement him. Green is expected to miss six to nine months. In a best-case scenario he'd return sometime after the All-Star break, and the 76ers were still inclined to sign-him, although to a much smaller deal.
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Alien Iverson's ability to score makes us salivate from a Fantasy standpoint. However, that isn't the only area in which he excels. Iverson averaged nearly eight assists a game and led the league in total steals last season. The ball is in his hands nearly every possession and he'll turn it over frequently as a result. That may be why new coach Maurice Cheeks is deciding whether to position Iverson at shooting guard rather than point guard. Iverson's shift to shooting guard could affect his numbers, but only slightly. He remains a valuable Fantasy pick. Iverson and Andre Iguodala form an athletic backcourt that will enable the Sixers to play up-tempo.
The athletic Iguodala entered the league as a defensive specialist but made tremendous strides on offense. His game is raw and inconsistent, but Iguodala will surely improve upon the 9.0 points per game he averaged last season. He is also strong on the boards (5.7 rebounds per game) for a shooting guard. He serves as a comfortable pick in the middle rounds. |
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