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**Coatesvillain** · 11-09-2004, 09:09 AM

Quote:

It's been only three games, way too early for panic to creep in, but the 76ers have begun this season the way they played most of last year - by missing too many open shots.

While going 33-49 last season, the Sixers shot 42.8 percent from the field. In the first three games, the Sixers (1-2) are shooting 42.1 percent. Of course, part of the reason for the low percentage is that the defending NBA champion Detroit Pistons blocked 13 shots in Saturday's 99-91 win over the Sixers. That type of shot-blocking exhibition would dull anybody's shooting percentage. As a team, the Sixers shot 31 for 80 (38.8 percent) against the Pistons.

"I don't think you can overreact after you play against the Detroit Pistons, who are the premier defensive team in the league," Sixers coach Jim O'Brien said following yesterday's practice at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. "As a coach, if I'm going to base everything on what we did against the Pistons, it would be a very shortsighted viewpoint on my part."

Still, in beating Boston and losing to Phoenix, along with the game in Detroit, the Sixers missed an inordinate number of open shots.

Now the Sixers will see if they can improve their outside game when they visit the New York Knicks tonight in Madison Square Garden.

All during the preseason, O'Brien has used the word defense in virtually every sentence, saying that how the Sixers defend would determine their success.

There comes a point when offense is also needed, and if a team can't hit open shots, defenses will sag off shooters and make it more difficult to get inside opportunities.

When asked his thought about the Sixers' shooting, O'Brien got right to the point.

"We are going to be a good shooting team; that is my thought," he said.

And apparently there are no concerns about the team's inability to hit from the perimeter.

"We're not knocking down open shots, which is the least of my concerns, because we are a good shooting team and we will knock down those shots without a doubt," O'Brien said.

That may happen, but these were the same words that were spoken last year by O'Brien's predecessors, first Randy Ayers and then Chris Ford. There comes a time when players have to make shots, and that is something the Sixers haven't done with any regularity even while making five consecutive playoff appearances before last season.

So based on history and the start of this season, one has to wonder if this team has the makeup to hit open jumpers.

Right now Allen Iverson, a 41.7 percent career shooter, is off to a strong start (30-61, 49.2 percent). Not known as a pure shooter, if Iverson reverts back to his career shooting percentage, then the Sixers could be in deep trouble.

Starters Willie Green (12-36, 33 percent) and Kenny Thomas (12-35, 34 percent) need to improve their shooting.

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chewgum · 11-11-2004, 07:29 AM

I must say O'brien is a confused chump.

Quote:

"As a coach, if I'm going to base everything on what we did against the Pistons, it would be a very shortsighted viewpoint on my part."

Oh really? And here I thought one would want to build a team to beat one of the best team. I guess that's not a worthy goal for O'brien.

Quote:

"We are going to be a good shooting team; that is my thought,"

Ok somebody tell this man that his thouth goes against all statistical data collected from the Sixers for the past several years.

Quote:

"We're not knocking down open shots, which is the least of my concerns, because we are a good shooting team and we will knock down those shots without a doubt"

Ok I also seem to remember he said something like this when the Celtics was struggling too. God I can't believe this old hack is a head coach in the NBA. I'd take a few college coaches before I'd this hack. And they let Larry Brown go for this dude? Whose idea was it? lol

**Coatesvillain** · 11-11-2004, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by chewgum!
Ok I also seem to remember he said something like this when the Celtics was struggling too. God I can't believe this old hack is a head coach in the NBA. I'd take a few college coaches before I'd this hack. And they let Larry Brown go for this dude? Whose idea was it? lol

Larry Brown left on his own accord, and a year prior. Considering what was out there, I'm happy with O'Brien being the Sixers head coach, trust me it could've been worst.. the Sixers could've been coached by Mo Cheeks.

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