1. A Czar, Zeke, Doc and Cheeks
If a coach is judged by wins and loses, then four coaches are clearly in line to be the first to get whacked this season. Doc Rivers, Mike Fratello, Maurice Cheeks and Bernie Bickerstaff all reside in futility with less than six wins each. Each coach has their own reasons for why they should be fired, but if one deserves to go first, who should it be? Bickerstaff is doing all he can with a team of kids. Fratello has to be given the benefit of the doubt considering that he has started the season in a ship without a sail after Pau Gasol broke his foot over the summer. Doc Rivers coaches a team of one, with Paul Pierce as the sole star in Boston. So, the pink slip goes to Cheeks. He is accomplishing the least with a team that is experienced, talented and athletic. Two AI’s, Chris Webber and Samuel Dalembert have to add up to more than five wins.
2. Marion, Out
Last night during a dominating win over Sacramento, the Suns Shawn Marion hit a 14 foot jumper at the buzzer. He proceeded to run off the court and into the locker room to the sweet sounds of an arena filled with cheers. One problem, it was only the end of the first quarter. Once Marion realized that he was the only player to have left the court, he returned to a bench full of laughing and pointing teammates. Some of the Suns were laughing so hard, they were literally holding their sides. There’s nothing like a little humor to keep a winning streak alive.
3. M.V.Three?
Steve Nash has won two consecutive MVP awards, and if the formula used by voters over the last two seasons holds true, then Nash is well on his way to a third. Nashty is currently averaging career highs in points (19.9) and minutes (36.5) while leading the league in assists per game with 11.4. If he can slightly increase his scoring, he will be the first player to average 20 points and ten assists since Tim Hardaway in 1992-93. While his trademark long locks are gone this season, his annoying habit of licking his fingers remains. But whatever he’s been doing, its working and the Suns have won nine out of ten, including a current seven game win streak. Last night against Sacramento, Nash put on a passing clinic as he dished out 20 assists.
Tuesday’s Player of the Day: Elton Brand vs. Miami 42 min, 33 pts (FG: 13-18, FT: 7-8), 17 reb, 3 ast, 1 blk
Wednesday’s Game to Watch: Houston (12-5) @ Minnesota (7-9) The Rockets have won six of their last seven games and Tracy McGrady has become much more active on the offensive side of the ball lately. Kevin Garnett continues to do everything for Minnesota as he leads the team in points, rebounds, steals and blocks. Lots of talent and All-Star appearances will be on the court between The Big Ticket, T-Mac and Yao Ming.
Buzzer Beater: David Stern finally admitted to not taking player’s opinions into consideration before forcing a new ball on the league. It’s about time, players have only been complaining about the new rock since training camp. Guess that the backlash from his stars finally became too much to handle for the commissioner. Stern made a decision that affected the entire league and thought that the initial revolt would simply go away, but it hasn’t. Swallowing your pride is tough, but continuing to lose face over an unnecessary change in procedure is just stupid. Bring back the leather ball already!
8 replies on “Around the Rim: The Hot Seat”
Sixers are what they are… — “Two AI’s, Chris Webber and Samuel Dalembert have to add up to more than five wins.”
– Do they? I mean really.
1 – Chris Webber does not play defense
2 – AI is a ballhog who doesn’t play defense
3 – Dalembert is the David Boston (Talent wise) of the NBA
4 – AI2 can dunk and everything else is average
It’s all hype. The SIXERS are all hype and I’m a Sixers fan. Can we find a GM who buys the hype? I mean really. Dalembert, AI and Webber should be moved if possible.
LB was a genius — The current version of Iverson is just as good as the MVP/NBA Finals version. And in my opinion, the current talent on the team is not that different from that Finals team:
Dalembert = Ratliff/Cookie Monster
AI2 > Lynch
etc
but LB used his talent better. Put AI back to the 2, get a defensive, passing point guard, and a new coach.
Give LB his props — but the difference between the Finals team and this team is that the players on the 2001 team didnt mind playing defense and understood their roles.
I agree that AI is playing as well as he has his entire career but let’s look at the other players. “Who Wants to Sex” Mutombo understood the game while Dalembert is a space cadet who blocks shots on the way up, on the way down, whatever, takes bad shots and even worse fouls. Finally, while AI2 is better all around than George Lynch, Lynch understood his role and was willing to play tough minutes and NEVER take a shot. Eric Snow was also a pretty good point guard at the time that was perfect for the “Pass the ball to AI Offense”.
Iverson might be a ball hog but other than Kyle Korver (I wonder if the Sixers could have beaten the Lakers in 2001 with an outside threat like KK on the squad…) no one on the Sixers can shoot. Willie Green THINKS he can shoot but his shot selection is terrible. And let’s not forget the contribution of Aaron McKie. He had a career year that year and was a key part of the Sixers run. And finally, the cryptkeeper (Tyrone Hill) also played tough minutes knowing he’d never get a shot.
Man I loved that 2001 team. Iverson stepping over Tyronn Lue was perhaps my favorite in basketball history.
Sixers play no defense…don’t ever compare them.. — “The current version of Iverson is just as good as the MVP/NBA Finals version. And in my opinion, the current talent on the team is not that different from that Finals team:
Dalembert = Ratliff/Cookie Monster
AI2 > Lynch
etc”
but LB used his talent better. Put AI back to the 2, get a defensive, passing point guard, and a new coach.
– Thoroughly disagree. George Lynch, Aaron McKie, Eric Snow and Co. were legitimate veterans who played sick defense.
AI2 is a severely overrated defensive player because of his athleticism and Chris Webber is an offensive player 93% and defensive 7% while players like Tyrone Hill from the Finals team were 90% rebounding and defense and 10% offense.
Major major major difference. Pedicated on defense vs. what the rest of the NBA does – predicated on offense – is a fine line and the best teams play “REAL” NBA Defense.
This SIXERS team plays none.
That’s like saying the current Eagles defense is the same as the one that went to the SUPER BOWL.
It’s subtle but it’s major.
The new NBA — the new NBA might get a championship out of a team that plays no defense like the Phoenix Suns though. Too bad when you look at the current sixers offense vs the suns offense it’s a joke. It’s not just that we don’t play defense this year, our offense goes ice cold for stretches. I blame Willie Green. He’s the black Mark Simoneau. :)
defense can be coached — I’m not going to deny that Webber is a huge defensive liability and doesn’t compare to Tyrone Hill in that department. Webber is who he is.
But I do believe that AI2 and Dalembert are skilled and young enough to be coached to play defense.
Lynch, McKie, and Snow were nobodys before LB. And they went back to being nobodys after he left.
I’m not saying the current Sixers are championship contenders, but they are definitely underachieving. Iverson is still good enough to build a playoff (at least in the East) team around.
> Sixers play no defense…don’t ever compare them..
Yep. They don’t. But I’m saying it’s because of the coaching, not the players (except at the point; you need a defensive complement to Iverson at the point).
Dalembert — I think AI2 with the proper coach could be Scottie Pippen 2 but Dalembert is an idiot. I realize he started playing basketball like 5 years ago but he really hasn’t shown any growth in his mental game. HIs huge contract is based all on athleticism and potential. Another Billy King special.
Garnett or Oden? — What it boils down to is that this team has potential to be better than they are. They need the missing piece and if they continue to suck, they just might get it. If they manage to get the top pick in the draft then they could either draft Ohio State’s Greg Oden or trade the pick to Minnesota for Kevin Garnett and a title run in 2008. Minnesota has said that if they trade their big man that they want a big man of the future, that’s Oden. None of this helps the team now but the possibilities must make losing more tolerable for Philly fans.