Sixers Rumors: Mo Cheeks, Zach Randolph

I planned on starting in on the Phillies this AM (Tim Redding? Again??!!?), but I was reading Peter Vecsey's column this AM (via BigLead.com) and found a couple of juicy, somewhat unrelated Sixers rumors that warranted their own post.

1.) Apparently, there is a unsubstantiated rumor claiming that the Chicago Bulls requested permission to speak to Mo Cheeks about their coaching opening. According to Vecsey, GM Ed Stefanski received no phone calls from Chicago on Cheeks. This rumor was probably more wishful thinking on the part of the Bulls; Cheeks' coaching stock has never been higher. The Sixers extended Cheeks into next year during last season and it is believed (though I'm not certain) that a longer extension is in the works.

2.) Vecsey, in the same article, goes on to speculate that Cheeks may ask Ed Stefanski to find a way to get Zach Randolph from the Knicks. Apparently, according to Vecsey, Randolph and Cheeks got on well when they were both in Portland.

Plenty to consider with this rumor (and by "rumor", I mean "item that Peter Vecsey probably made up himself"):

First of all, the Knicks would probably like nothing more than to get from under what is an incredibly onerous contract. Do the Sixers really want to help a divisional rival out of a bind like this? Who would they send to New York in return? Don't even think the trade could work, salary cap wise and since I have a day job, I have no intention of going on the NBA trade machine to find out.

Secondly, Randolph has not exactly been a choir boy. Could some of this just be circumstances? After all, he broke into the league with Portland during a time they were known as the "Jailblazers". From that bad situation, he went into a worse situation in New York, with the Isiah Thomas-led Knicks. Is he really a bad guy or has he just been in bad circumstances? Not sure, but he sure does have a funny way of grieving a loss according to this report from Fanhouse.

Third, despite his checkered personal history, he does provide a low post offensive presence that the Sixers do not currently have. Randolph averaged 17 points and 10 rebounds on just a horrible Knicks team. He plays almost no defense from I can ascertain, but that is what Sam Dalembert is for.

Don't know if I would approve of a Sixers deal for Randolph strictly on face value without some very good assurances that he won't screw up the rest of the team and that the Sixers could swing a cap-friendly deal.

Otherwise, this is one move I wouldn't want the Sixers to make despite the Sixers' need for a guy with Randolph's offensive talents.

HUGE Win on the Road for the 76ers

Had to come back today to post a 2nd time to give some love to the Sixers.

Despite not shooting all that well (40% as a team) and despite missing their floor leader, Andre Miller, for the final 7 minutes of the game, the Sixers went on to gut out an 83-82 win over perennial Eastern Conference power Detroit Pistons.

Andre Iguodala managed 22 points on 6 of 22 shooting, but most importantly, he made 9 of 12 free throws, but Iggy was not the whole story here.

With Miller out (low back bruise and ab strain), everyone seemed to contribute from Sam Dalembert (15 boards, 3 blocks that should have been 4 but for a bullshit goaltending call) to Rodney Carney (16 points on 7 of 10 shooting) to even Jason Smith, who used all 5 of his fouls (I mean that in a good way....it's not a horrible thing to be an energy guy and come out, play physically, and use up your fouls).

It's been said by better writers and observers of the team than myself, but I cannot say enough for the style of play this team has taken on since Ed Stefanski became the GM. Don't listen to me.....take it from Chauncey Billups (from Phil Jasner's article in today's DN):

"I think you've got to run different sets that sometimes you might not run," he said, "because [the Sixers] are locked in, and that team is long and very athletic, and they used that to their advantage."

Basically, what that means is that a coach is using the talent he has in the most appropriate way. Not sure there is another coach in the city that can be said of other than Mo Cheeks. Sure, this Sixer team definitely has holes (no consistent, dead-on 3 point threat, no low-post offensive presence) and Lou Williams' development sometimes scares me (1 for 10 shooting last night....yikes!), but you can't dispute that this team has been damn entertaining for some time now.

It's fun that Sixer basketball is starting to matter again.

Andre Miller: Sixers Floor General

Philadelphia basketball fans have a very specific idea on what a point guard should play like. Almost unanimously, fans will first bring up the name of Maurice Cheeks, the point guard on the 1983 championship team as well as the head coach of the current incarnation of the Sixers.

Cheeks was an unselfish passer, almost to a fault. He had a smooth jump shot that he seemed to almost always bury when given an open shot. He could penetrate the lane and kick the ball out and he could run the fast break. He was the consummate floor general.

With that said, it must do Cheeks proud to have a player on his team like Andre Miller, who seems to have many of the same attributes Cheeks himself had as a player. Like Cheeks, Miller does not seem to do a lot of talking off of the basketball court and in the press. As a kid, I didn't even know what Mo Cheeks' voice sounded like, mostly because there were so many other stars on the team that served as team spokesmen.

But make no mistake; it's Miller's floor leadership that has enabled this latest Sixers team to challenge for a playoff spot in the Eastern conference. The NBA thinks Miller is pretty good too; he's been named the Eastern Conference player of the week for his work in three games last week.

Even in last night's game, a 106- 80 laugher over the LA Clippers, Miller recorded only 6 points, but managed 8 assists in only 28 minutes of work. Despite not playing real big minutes because of the blowout, Miller's influence is even felt (to some degree) in his understudy, Lou Williams, who recorded 16 points and 8 assists.

As for Miller, he mostly plays down his own effectiveness (emphasis in bold is mine):

"[The award] is the last thing I expected," Miller said. "The first time[for Feb. 4-10], it was a surprise. The second time was something I didn't
expect at all. I'm sure a lot of other guys could have won the award. Andre
[Iguodala] has been playing good basketball. Other guys on other teams have been
playing good basketball. I think there will be more recognition when we win games and try to make the playoffs."

Worrying about winning games and making the playoffs? Must be music to the ears of all Sixers fans.

(photo: Yahoo.com; Andy Hayt/NBAE via Getty Images)

Sixers Crush Knicks; Gagne Done For Year

The Sixers cranked up their running game and simply kicked the ever loving crap out of the Knicks last night by a score of 124 - 84.

Willie Green poured in 21 points on 9 of 14 shooting and Thad Young scored 20 points off of the bench for the young Sixers. Reggie Evans started at power forward last night, in order to give the Sixers a veteran defensive presence against Zack Randolph and Eddy Curry, but it hardly mattered.

The Sixers jumped out to a quick lead in this one simply by pressuring the ball and running. The Knicks looked slow and disinterested. You read blogs and such about how bad this Knick team is and how Isaiah has ruined everything he ever touched, but last night was just embarassing if you were a Knick fan. The Knicks are at 14th in the Eastern Conference and judging by what I saw last night, that is purely on merit. They suck.

The Sixers, on the other hand, played their new found running style to perfection last night. On the strength of 16 steals, the Sixers surged with 36 fast break points after playing a lack luster game at Minnesota the night before. They are all alone in the 8th spot in the Eastern Conference by a game over Atlanta.

As mentioned yesterday by Phil Jasner in the DN, Mo Cheeks got his deserved one-year extension. Mo has done nice work to this point; hopefully, GM Ed Stefanski can give him some talent to work with.

(Picture from Yahoo! sports - H. Rumph Jr.)

Simon Gagne: "Lindros'd" For the Year

After being examined by Dr. James Kelly yesterday, it was determined that Simon Gagne should sit out the rest of the year in order to allow for his brain to heal from the 3 concussions he's sustained this year.

This obviously sucks for the Flyers to lose an elite two-way forward of Gagne's status, but if there is a silver lining to be taken, it's that the Flyers now know they need to get some offensive help before next week's trade deadline hits. I doubt seriously they'll be a player in the Mats Sundin or Marian Hossa sweepstakes, but a lesser forward like Brad Richards, Alex Tanguay, or even Ruslan Fedotenko may be something to look at as the Flyers will have Gagne's money off of the cap for the rest of the year.

Vandermeer Traded

The Flyers dumped Jim Vandermeer on the Calgary Flames for a 3rd round pick in the 2009 NHL Entry draft. The Flames got robbed. I loved Vandermeer's toughness in his first go-round with the Flyers, but he was just a turnover machine in his most current stint. Vandermeer may develop into a solid 5th or 6th defenseman, but he's going to have to regain his confidence. Right now, he looks like a confused player.

Sixers Lose; Can Marty Biron Stop a Breakaway?

Both of the winter sports teams lost last night. The Sixers never could get into any sort of rhythm and did not get their running game going in dropping a winnable game to the woeful Minnesota Timberwolves by a score of 104 - 88. The Sixers started out slowly and never recovered. Al Jefferson provided a glimpse as to why the T-Wolves had to get him from the Celtics when they traded away Kevin Garnett, as Jefferson scored 19 points (on 9 of 14 shooting) and grabbed 14 points in a fairly dominant performance.

Andre Iguodala had 17 points for the Sixers in a losing effort. The Sixers come home tonite to face the New York Knicks.

Potential good news off of the court: Mo Cheeks may be getting an extension. I think he's earned at least another year, maybe two. He's done a really good job with the hand he's been dealt. This team will get to a point, however, where they will outgrow the type of coach (laid back) that Cheeks is, but for the state of the team right now, he's the right guy.

Flyers Lose. Again.

The Flyers dropped another game in their march towards saving many season ticket holders some money on playoff tickets by dropping a 3 - 2 decision to the Ottawa Senators that was decided by a shootout.

I felt this was the best game the Flyers played in a long time. The game reminded me of the type of game they played early in the year where they allowed a lot of long shots that Biron handled easily followed by opportunities in transition.

Once again, however, the Flyers lost in a shootout. I don't know what it will take for the Flyers to actually win a shootout. I give John Stevens credit for at least trying something different in giving rookie Claude Giroux an opportunity in the shootout as well as Kimmo Timonen.

By the way, has anyone ever seen Biron make a save on a breakaway? I mean, has it really happened? I don't think I've seen Biron stop one single breakaway since he's been a Flyer. Usually, during the shootouts, it's been the opposing shooter who lost control of the puck or just flat out missed the net. But I don't believe Biron has actively made a save on a breakaway at all this year (whether during the game or during the shootout). Biron simply does not engender confidence during shootouts, which is , I guess, a change of pace from Antero Niittymaki, who doesn't engender confidence (for me) during the 65 minutes it takes to get to a shootout.

Off the ice, the Flyers managed to make a minor deal yesterday that should help them get through the next 3 weeks where they won't have Derian Hatcher. The Flyers traded a 3rd round pick to the LA Kings for defenseman Jaroslav Modry. He's 37 years old, so this trade will give Jim Dowd someone to talk to. He's a good veteran to have around during the stretch run. Not the "WOW" acquisition some Flyer fans are waiting in vain for, but not bad either.

The Sixers? Playoffs?!?@ Playoffs??

Ummm...don't look now, but the Sixers, after beating the LA Clippers last night by a score of 101-80 are only a 1/2 game out of the 8th and final playoff spot in the NBA Eastern Conference.

How bad is the East if the Sixers have a shot at the 8th spot?

Don't get me wrong; I like a lot of the Sixers' young players, but this team lacks lots of elements you need to be successful in the NBA: any sort of 3-pt. threat, a consistent inside scoring threat, the lack of good perimeter defense, etc, etc. I could go on and on. And alot of the issues are mostly due to lack of talent and the poor construction of the team, in general.

But the fact that the Sixers are this close to a playoff spot is a testament to the young talent on this team as well as coach Mo Cheeks. Cheeks, not thought of as an elite coach in this league, seems to be making the best of the state of flux that the Sixer organization is currently experiencing.

The real trick is to figure out what is best for the franchise: making the playoffs this year or to continue to trade away assets in order to rebuild for this summer? That is the question for GM Ed Stefanski.

The Flyers

The Flyers lost again to that paragon of goaltending Stephen Valiquette and the NY Rangers by a score of 2 - 0. The Flyers' offense is simply non-existent right now. Simon Gagne is still trying to find his game as there were several occasions where he lost puck battles or simply looked disinterested in getting into a prolonged puck battle.

Defensively, I thought the Flyers played about as well as you could. The first goal was a miscommunication between the defense and the goaltender, but otherwise, they were solid. Derian Hatcher was an absolute beast in this game, playing about as physically as I've seen from him in a long time. The team, in general, possibly from being frustrated at not scoring consistently, seemed to have a collective burr under their saddle. A huge fight in the 2nd period occurred, punctuated by Steve Downie beating Fedor Tyutin like he stole something. Mike Richards seemed to be searching out a fight for most of the 2nd period, first trying to go with Sean Avery and later, he finally did go with Brandon Dubinsky.

But other than the spark from the fight, the Flyers' offense has been largely dormant of late. You sort of wonder how much this has to do with the Peter Forsberg rumors that have been circulating about, because the way they are playing offensively reminds me of how they played last year when Forsberg was flying all over the globe searching for a new skate boot.