| 15 April 2010
Sixers ended the season in style losing 125-111 in Orlando for a final 27-55 (.329) record, tied with Pistons for the sixth worst in the League and sixteen wins below my 43-39 prediction. Awesome.
But the news (?) of the day is that Ed Stefanski fired Eddie Jordan.
It's pretty safe to say that you won't find a Sixers fan disagreeing with this move. I won't, for example. No need to address for the 82nd time Jordan's shortcomings and all the things he failed at.
At the same time, we have to be fair and call it like it is.
THREE ANSWERS
1) No doubt Jodan did an extremely poor job and the record is there to show it. He had basically the same team that last year finished 41-41, with Holiday for Andre Miller and Kapono for Reggie Evans, PLUS a healthy Brand AND 25 games with Iverson (that now apparently everyone is forgetting) AND a healthy Jason Smith as "bonus" (?). All of this, in a still very weak conference. Final outcome = -14 wins.
2) Yes, Stefanski should be made accountable as well. I was a fan of Stefanski - well, coming after Billy King everyone would have been welcome... - and I liked his very first move: trading Korver (my boy !) to clear cap space.
I started to have a problem with him when he gave Cheeks TWO extentions before firing him (?). I was ok with the Evans/Kapono trade, even if I was a pretty big fan of Reghanistan.
Then Stefanski signed Elton Brand and, the year after, Eddie Jordan. While I was happy when we got Brand - therefore I admit I made a mistake, dude is close to being done, EVEN WHEN HEALTHY as we saw this year, and often behaved like an asshole - I wasn't sure about the signing of Jordan. I absolutely hated the signing of Iverson, also, another evidence that the GM had no idea about the direction to give to the team.
Stefanksi's seat is just as hot as Natalie Portman now and the next move he'll made could easily be his last (more after the jump)3) No, unfortunately players can't be fired. Because I'd gladly cut some jobs in that sector, from Brand to Young, from Speights to Smith.
The list of disappointing individual seasons is very very long, 10 player-long, perhaps, with the only notable exception of Holiday. The rookie is"a gem" according to Stefanski - read it as "at least I made a good choice" as Kate Fagan points out in her usual excellent breakdown - that added Jrue is "the point guard of the future". Which is probably true, but how about letting the next coach decide/say it?
To a lesser extent, also Dalembert and Iguodala had a semi-decent season.
THREE QUESTIONS
1) What will happen now? This is a tough one. Stefanski said there is no timeframe for the decision on the next coach and that everything/everyone will be evaluated - himself included, of course.
2) What do I hope it will happen? I think we need a HARD NOSED coach with some solid NBA experience (= no college coaches), strong personality, that players respect, able to work with and develop young guys, with track record of playing tough defense and installing discipline.
I'd like an Avery Johnson, a Byron Scott, a JVG, more than an assistant coach promoted (Thibodeau or similar). Please no Larry Brown and also please no Doug Collins, Mike Fratello or any other washed up, mediocre veteran.
3) What are the areas that this team needs to improve? I'd say defense, outside shooting, rebounding, in this order. Fix "just" those and we'll be fine... LOL.
REASONS
Why we lost the game
Orlando buried us under the usual rain of threes (8/15 at the half...). Magic shot 15/18 (83%) in the first quarter, so much for Sixers "playing hard" every night.
To be optimistic
We'll have a high pick and, after another probably painful season, be in a position to turn things around in the summer of 2011, with 23 millions coming off the books.
To be worried
The choice of the next coach is clearly crucial and Stefanski's track record in that is bad. Sixers will sign their fourth coach in three years...
