2008 Woodie Awards
76ers look good on paper but dissapoint on the court
Shane Evans
Issue date: 10/20/06 Section: Sports
What do you do to fix a team that at the end of their last season looked to be in total disarray and was considered one of the biggest underachievers in the league in the last five years?
Well, there is a lot that can be done. Trade away the player who has been the face of the franchise for the better part of a decade and move in a new direction? Rebuild around him for the umpteenth time with a supporting cast that will lead the team back to the promise land with unselfish play and good defense?
Or maybe try another head coach for the fifth time in less than five years?
Or they could decide to do nothing to change the team and go into the 2006-07 season exactly the same way they exited the last one. And with three weeks until the tip-off of the season, the Philadelphia 76ers have done just that, nothing. Absolutely nothing.
The off-season was filled with trade rumors and subtle threats from management that the team was going to be changed drastically for this season.
Star player and first overall pick in the 1996 NBA Draft, Allen Iverson was the topic of rampant trade rumors. The Sixers fielded offers from virtually half of the league's teams involving numerous players and salary dump situations but nothing happened.
Then the decision was made not to trade Iverson. That the franchise would give it another shot with Iverson, arguably one of the leagues best players, manning the backcourt for the 11th straight season with the team.
It was assumed the team was going to bring in some new talent, some flexible, unselfish talent to mix with Iverson so the team could go back to it's ways of spotlighting Iverson in the offense and playing hard defense at the other end, the way that got them to the 2001 NBA Finals. But that didn't happen either.
A new coach manning the 76ers bench is virtually inconceivable, as they have had practically zero consistency at the post since Larry Brown left following the 2003 season.
Well, there is a lot that can be done. Trade away the player who has been the face of the franchise for the better part of a decade and move in a new direction? Rebuild around him for the umpteenth time with a supporting cast that will lead the team back to the promise land with unselfish play and good defense?
Or maybe try another head coach for the fifth time in less than five years?
Or they could decide to do nothing to change the team and go into the 2006-07 season exactly the same way they exited the last one. And with three weeks until the tip-off of the season, the Philadelphia 76ers have done just that, nothing. Absolutely nothing.
The off-season was filled with trade rumors and subtle threats from management that the team was going to be changed drastically for this season.
Star player and first overall pick in the 1996 NBA Draft, Allen Iverson was the topic of rampant trade rumors. The Sixers fielded offers from virtually half of the league's teams involving numerous players and salary dump situations but nothing happened.
Then the decision was made not to trade Iverson. That the franchise would give it another shot with Iverson, arguably one of the leagues best players, manning the backcourt for the 11th straight season with the team.
It was assumed the team was going to bring in some new talent, some flexible, unselfish talent to mix with Iverson so the team could go back to it's ways of spotlighting Iverson in the offense and playing hard defense at the other end, the way that got them to the 2001 NBA Finals. But that didn't happen either.
A new coach manning the 76ers bench is virtually inconceivable, as they have had practically zero consistency at the post since Larry Brown left following the 2003 season.
Be the first to comment on this story