| Cheeks Must Repair Roller Coaster Authored by Brian Poliakoff - December 28, 2005 - 1:39 am
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The latest loss at Atlanta put to rest the notion that this team’s rebounding, defensive and late-game shortcomings are behind them.
Even worse, in addition to the on the court flaws, Mo Cheeks must now also tend to a locker room filled of unhappy campers.
Simply put, the ride is filled with a surplus of peaks and valleys. Eventually, if not already, the fans riding the coaster will get sick.
How sick and for how long you may ask. Well the doctor says that at times it can be good and at times really bad. Just like the Sixers season thus far.
Here’s how the Sixers’ 14-13 record has played out:
0-3, 6-0, 2-8, 6-2
This defines inconsistent. And inconsistent teams don’t win in the playoffs.
The loss to the Hawks brought back the same old problems. Atlanta, who averages just over 94 points per game, scored an embarrassing 111 points against the Sixers.
Also, the interior-challenged Hawks still managed to out-rebound Philly 43-41. Fourth quarter score? 35-24 Hawks.
And don’t expect ugly losses to go quietly inside the locker room.
After taking three ill-advised shots at the end of the game, John Salmons apparently heard negative comments from teammates.
Then Webber responded to the negativity by telling local papers that the team doesn’t play together enough and that the unrest in the locker room is contagious. Thanks C-Webb, you should have just said the sky is blue.
The challenge for Cheeks is steep. He must find a way to fix the on the court issues, which will, hopefully in effect, solve the locker room dilemma.
This is how I see it. First of all, Cheeks’ personnel is clearly a major factor in the team’s horrendous defense and rebounding. The Sixers lack inside depth and overall team speed. As is, the roster is just an awful defensive team. But I still believe they, like any other organized team, can improve.
One solution: share the ball. The lack of offensive camaraderie very well can have a lingering effect on the defense.
Allen Iverson and Chris Webber are having great individual offensive seasons. But the success has come at the expense of their teammates. The scoring due has combined for 52% of the Sixers’ made field goals. That means Kyle Korver, Andre Iguodala, Sammy Dalembert and even Salmons combine for less that half the team’s shots.
There is validity to the fact that when players don’t see the ball for a number of possessions in a row, it can lead to a lack of intensity on defense.
For instance, Korver has been open more than a handful of times at the end of games. Yet, everyone in the arena knows Iverson will take the shot. You don’t think this may stick in Korver’s mind as he runs down the court to guard somebody?
I am not saying sharing the ball will turn the Sixers into a defensive powerhouse.
But it will make them a bit better on defense. And that can lead to more wins in these close games. |
