Is it our defense?

[DuckyNinja]

I'm pretty sure it's our defense.

Sorry, I'm frustrated >_<

[RickyPryor]

I'm pretty sure it's our defense.

Sorry, I'm frustrated >_<

Who isn't.

Well I think there's more going on here than just defense.  Or just shooting percentage.  Or just anything else, singularly.  I mean, for a team that likes to run (not saying we do up-tempo effectively), we sure don't give up a ton of points.  Do I think our defense is bad?  Yeah, I guess.  But no worse than about 8 other things.

I just think we're playing bad basketball and Mo's style of coaching encourages that discouraging style.  He's always been an awful game-day coach.  Some may remember that I announced that opinion after Mo's third game coached here.  I felt it was not too early to recognize various decisions that could not possibly have been made by a talented coach.  Know what I mean?  In other words, how long does it take the average fan to decide that Sam is not as smart a player as, say, Tim Duncan?  Or even Brand?  Smart players simply don't do what Sam occasionally does.  And good coaches simply don't DO what Mo often does.  Simple as that.

I believe Mo led the league over these past few seasons in blown leads in the 4th quarter.  That's not a coincidence.

Let's break it down:

-Good coaches all know that the name of the game is high percentage opportunities (and preventing same while on defense).  Most of these same coaches will tell you that the most effective way of creating these opportunities is by having 'numbers'...space.  And that comes most effectively in transition.  Simple, right?  Then why did Mo NEVER employ the fastbreak offense as an actual, solid, plan of attack?  It took a new friggin GM to encourage that style of play. 

-When Mo first arrived, you will recall that AI was to be switched to the 1.  Forget whether or not that was a good idea...that WAS the plan.  Yet it was evident - immediately - that AI was ill-prepared for that transition.  I mean, I just KNEW that Mo (one of the best PG of all time) hadn't spent the weeks and months required working with AI prior to that new season.

Same thing this year.  Does this team seem to have ANY idea what it's doing in the half court?  Defending the pick and roll?  Consistently EXECUTING the pick and roll?  Switching?  Did Mo do a good job creating a system of play for his new squad?  Do these guys look remotely comfortable out there, playing together?  Not to me they don't.

-Do we EVER blow a team out in the second half?  Nope.  Know why?  Because Mo has no clue how to adjust.  How to pre-adjust for the OTHER team's inevitable adjustments.

-His rotations are laughable.  Royal Ivey?  Who the fuck is Royal Ivey?  Where the hell was Marshall all this time?  Remember him?  Jesus, we tried to GET Donyell more than once (or so it was rumored) these past couple years to play the 4.  Now all of a suddent he's at the games in business attire?

-Hey, if you know anything about me - I hate Sam (as a player).  But even I know that Sam serves a purpose.  Where the hell is HE at times?  Is Marreese now in some doghouse of Mo's?  Why?  For having 3 bad games in a row, in an 82 game season?!

Get Mo the hell out of here already.  It'll have been a couple years too late...but now's as good a time as any.

We're a damn playoff team and are not only playing LOUSY...we look scared, confused and beaten out there.  And that's BEFORE the opening tip.



   

[jemagee]

Yes the defense is not good (I guess) but the offense is atrocious - it's one of the worst run offenses in the league...

[rickortreat]

What you're really asking is, "Why aren't the Sixers winning?"

And I think Ricky does a good job of pointing out that Mo Cheeks poor coaching is the problem.

A new coach with a basic understanding of the game and strategy would make the team significantly better, simply by putting the right players on the floor together.

Against a good team like Cleveland, it will take a bit more work.  They don't run any plays effeciently on offense. Andre Miller is not a good point guard at setting up his teamates. I saw him blow a 24 sec. possession last night dribbling the ball away, and Cheeks did NOTHING!

I can't stand the idea that Cleveland plays better than the Sixers. Man for man, the Sixers have better players except for LeBron, but they play a more disciplined game and they can execute in the half-court.  Last night's 4th qarter was all about executing in the half court and the Sixers who were within 10 points couldn't close the gap. You can't defend against an outside shooter going off, all you can do is put pressure on them to make those shots, by scoring on your end, which slows the game and gives you time to set up your defense.

The Sixers couldn't buy a basket in a half-court set last night. That's why they lost and that's why they will continue to have a loosing record until they learn how to run plays.

[tk76-]

Temporary fix:

Put a healthy Brand at center in place of Sam.  Move Thad back to PF.  Try to recapture some of last year's magic by creating athletic mismatches.

Eventually plan to move Brand back to PF once Speights or someone else who has a clue is ready to play center and Thad is ready to carry the scoring load i a conventional offense (and we have a new PG.)

Either Mire Fo or make him add a new "offensive coordinator."

[jemagee]

A 'good coach' isn't what you'll find mid season - you'll find an interim coach who can be more of a caretaker (and puppet for the GM) and it's not exactly something the sixers want to portray to the few paying fans they have left because it's almost kind of a concession of this season (which i have no problem with)

I HOPE that Ed is using backchannel avenues to talk to 'real' potential candidates, like jordan or avery johnson, or whomever, gauging their interest and ideas about this team and this roster so that they don't go through the embarassing situations the last few job hires have had where they get turned down a few times...like when they gave the job to randy ayers - no one else wanted it - which is pretty sad.

At this point, it's time to play thad and speights at least 30 MPG and see what they can do - it's time to decide who will be the next coach and whether he's officially hired or not get his input on the roster (and hope your verbal agreement comes through)

It's now time for Ed Stefanski to demonstrate he has some balls and a vision and is willing to do what he thinks is best for the team for the future regardless if the average fan doesn't get it immediately.

The sixers half court offense is pretty suck ass this year.

I wonder if having a player who could play in the low post would help the sixers at all.

[RickyPryor]

Get Mo the hell out of here already.  It'll have been a couple years too late...but now's as good a time as any.

Thanks for listening.

[Derek Bodner]

Get Mo the hell out of here already.  It'll have been a couple years too late...but now's as good a time as any.

Thanks for listening.

Right.  You're the first one to mention it.

[jemagee]

Can I claim credit since i mentioned it the day he was hired (if not before)...oh please oh please give me the credit - cause we nkow we have so much influence.

[RickyPryor]

Get Mo the hell out of here already.  It'll have been a couple years too late...but now's as good a time as any.

Thanks for listening.

Right.  You're the first one to mention it.

I don't recall saying I was first, but I'll reread my post.  But I also don't recall anyone demanding it before me - Mo's third game.

I guess I could be wrong.

At what point did you call for the action?  Game 2 or 1?

[RickyPryor]

Can I claim credit since i mentioned it the day he was hired (if not before)...oh please oh please give me the credit - cause we nkow we have so much influence.

Yes, that's right.  When I wrote:  "Thanks for listening." I actually thought that Ed logged on, read my post, mulled it over, decided it was the right move and pulled the trigger.

You mean that's NOT how it happened?

Pssst.  "Thanks for listening." was a joke.  Apparently not a good one.

[bebopdeluxe]

If I have to choose between fixing the defense and fixing the offense, it is a no-brainer to me...

"Hello...Eddie Jordan?  Hey - it's Ed Stefanski!  So...what are you doing these days?"

[Skates]

From the games I have seen this season our offense has been attrocious, and our defense has been fine - against crappy teams.  Our D has not been very good against good, veteran offensive teams.  The kind of D Mo liked to play feasted on bad offense, and while our defensive rebounding has improved considerably with the addition of Brand, our straight-up D is barely adequate.  Can't we hope for a coach to fix both sides of the ball.

[Derek Bodner]

Get Mo the hell out of here already.  It'll have been a couple years too late...but now's as good a time as any.

Thanks for listening.

Right.  You're the first one to mention it.

I don't recall saying I was first, but I'll reread my post.  But I also don't recall anyone demanding it before me - Mo's third game.

I guess I could be wrong.

At what point did you call for the action?  Game 2 or 1?

Here's an idea Ricky.  If you would like to make it past a week here, don't make the posts about yourself.  Make them about the Sixers. 

Remember, there are no rules here.  I can ban anyone for any reason.   I haven't banned anyone yet, and don't plan to, but won't to ban your ass if you become anything like you were in the past.

Rather than make some pissant argument about who wanted mo fired first in a stupid effort to figure out who was smarter, how about you discuss about what this means for the future of the team and why he was deserving or not.

Thanks.