Staff Blog
Morning Rounds, May 7th
Minutes after the 76ers were eliminated from the 2009 NBA playoffs, Andre Iguodala, the default face of the 76ers franchise, began to rake his team over the coals.
“We weren’t always there,” the young forward opined. “We had mental lapses. … We had inner turmoil.” He targeted the team’s younger players, chiding them for failing to play within themselves. “I’m going to sit down with [76ers President and General Manager] Ed [Stefanski] and discuss what I think will get us over the [hump],” he deadpanned. They’d discuss “all the things that are holding us back, [and] try to get rid of [them],” a statement presumably about people, not practice habits. When asked directly about the future of DiLeo, his boss, Iguodala responded “We’ll see about that.”
And so, with the closest player the 76ers have to a true star calling his team immature and ineffective and then pushing for the non-retention of his coach, the 76ers season ended Still, while it was these attacks that predictably made the headlines, AI2’s main point – “at times, [the team has] tough time understanding the importance of communication as a whole” – rings true. The young guys make mental mistakes, the old guys wouldn’t get in their faces, and no one in management was making either side play their part. On the 2008-2009 Philadelphia 76ers, Andre Iguodala mused, no one seemed to understand their role. Unfortunately, the single strongest piece of evidence towards this claim may be the fact the AI2 himself made it. Iguodala, who has never been an all star nor led his team to a winning record, simply isn’t accomplished enough to presume the general manager should be courting his insight. The fact that he didn’t understand that is an indication of the lack of communication Iguodala chides.
That these 76ers don’t seem to even have a same page to be on is the focus on this week’s column, Andre: “You Suck, Team.” It tries to figure out how this happened, and who is to blame. Money quote:
No matter which young player he was referring to – Thaddeus Young, Marreese Speights and Lou Williams are the three active 76ers younger than AI2 – he was right to say their playoff performance was disappointing. The older guys didn’t exactly set a great example – Andre pointed out that center Samuel Dalembert seems to “enjoy his vacations,” and indeed, Sammy’s never been accused of being a pro’s pro. And no one in management improved the situation.
Anyway, check it out.
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“It’s fun, 80s style.” – Kobe Bryant
Three lines on their world:
Kobe went for 40 as the Lake Show held off the Rockets
Rondo dipped thrice as the Celtics knocked off the Magic
Three lines on ours:
The Phillies fell to Johan Santana and the Mets
But Chan Ho Park held onto his spot in the rotation by tossing a gem
and Simon Gagne went under the knife laser
Phillies, Birds, Sixers, Flyers and what everybody is talking about after the jump
PHILLIES
READ
David Murphy describes the Phillies’ latest tribute to Harry Kalas: his retired jersey.
Mike Sielski goes to visit Kyle Kendrick in triple A and see how the forgotten Phillie is faring.
Ray Parrillo says the Mets new ballpark is going to be a tough one for this Phils team to hit in.
David Murphy’s notes look at why Brett Myers is struggling, and more.
SKIP
Ray Parrillo’s notes look at Utley’s propensity to get hit by pitches, a meeting in the world series, and more.
Frank Fitzpatrick thinks Chase Utley crowding a plate is directly comparable to Pete Reiser, a 1940s baseballer who apparently pulled Aaron Rowands left and right back in the day.
Randy Miller says the Phillies were impressed with the Mets new field.
EAGLES
READ
Jeff McLane follows Chris Gocong as the Birds’ linebacker helps teach a middle school science class.
SKIP
Phil Sheridan points out that while the NFL is king at home, it lags behind the rest of the Big Four when it comes to the overseas market.
SIXERS
READ
SKIP
FLYERS
READ
Frank Seravalli tries to figure out when and where Claude Giroux turned the corner.
SKIP
Sam Carchidi reports that Simon Gagne got laser eye surgery.
TODAY and MORE
The Phils finish their two-game set with the Mets at Citi Field before returning home for three against ATL.
We’ll be taking a hard look at Tony DiLeo and breaking down some local action.
As always, feel free to email with any questions, suggestions, comments or complaints.
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