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**Sliccat** · 02-20-2008, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Maurice Cheeks and the Philadelphia 76ers are finalizing a contract extension, a vote of confidence for the popular coach as the team makes a playoff push.
The deal was expected to be announced Wednesday, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because final details of the contract had yet to be resolved.

The Sixers have not reached the playoffs in Cheeks' first two full seasons and they entered Wednesday night's game against New York holding the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference.

Cheeks, in the final season of a three-year deal, is 96-122 with the Sixers.

The Philadelphia Daily News and The Philadelphia Inquirer also reported Wednesday that a deal was close.

A four-time All-Star point guard during 15 seasons in the NBA, Cheeks was a fan favorite on Philly teams that also included Julius "Dr. J" Erving and Moses Malone. Cheeks helped lead the Sixers to the NBA title in 1983, the last time any of Philadelphia's four major pro teams won a championship.

Cheeks was an assistant under three coaches from 1994-2001, and was part of Larry Brown's staff when the Sixers went to the NBA Finals in 2001.

He was hired to be head coach by former team president Billy King in 2005 and inherited a playoff team that was expected to contend again in the East. The franchise was hopeful the bond Cheeks developed as an assistant with former MVP Allen Iverson would soothe the mercurial star. Iverson even joked he was so elated Cheeks was hired he wanted to kiss him on the mouth.

Instead, their relationship soured and Iverson's pairing with Chris Webber fizzled. Once the Sixers traded Iverson and cut ties with Webber last season, the Sixers decided to rebuild. With Brown lurking in the front office, Cheeks was never sure he would get to see the rebuilding effort come to fruition.

The mild-mannered Cheeks is popular with his players and they always play hard for him, perhaps the biggest reason the Sixers are even in the mix for a playoff spot in the weak Eastern Conference.

Cheeks always remains steady and optimistic, never publicly scolds his young team and tells them to ignore chatter from fans who want lottery picks instead of an eighth seed. The Sixers responded with a season-high five straight wins until the streak was snapped in a 104-88 loss at Minnesota on Tuesday night.

http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_8313732

iversonfan 349 · 02-20-2008, 12:34 PM

I dont want cheeks to stay i dont think he is the answer on this team.

**Coatesvillain** · 02-20-2008, 12:56 PM

This is pretty much a non-issue. The team really isn't in a position, as of right now, to really require a better coach. When expectations are raised and the talent base is better that's when you make the switch. Until then I guess you go with a team that's overachieving, working hard, and trying to get better.

**Sliccat** · 02-20-2008, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coatesvillain

This is pretty much a non-issue. The team really isn't in a position, as of right now, to really require a better coach. When expectations are raised and the talent base is better that's when you make the switch. Until then I guess you go with a team that's overachieving, working hard, and trying to get better.

They're building a good youth base, and have a ton of cap room coming up. I don't see why they couldn't get a better coach, they'll certainly be much better next year.

**Kunlun** · 02-20-2008, 01:53 PM

I don't mind the extension. Cheeks has been doing pretty well with the team we have right now. The Sixers play hard and are doing better than what we expected at the beginning of the season. One year extension seems right.

Is there anyone else we might have gotten that would be better for the team?

**Coatesvillain** · 02-20-2008, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sliccat

They're building a good youth base, and have a ton of cap room coming up. I don't see why they couldn't get a better coach, they'll certainly be much better next year.

There's not really any great coaching prospect out on the market. So the option would be to go and grab someone recycled (ala Van Gundy, or Carlisle) and some of these recycled types want to slow the pace down completely.

I have a soft spot for Terry Porter, and he's been a guy I wanted as coach for a long assed time but it's not gonna happen. So might as well role with what we have for now.

I like the direction the team is but I think if anything this group needs continuity. I think they might as well keep Mo around till he gets them as far as he can and they have to make a change. I'm sure that'll happen sometime in the next three years.

**Kunlun** · 02-20-2008, 02:39 PM

Maybe after next year when Cheeks' contract is up we can get Skiles or Carlisle.

Skiles would be nice for a young team like ours (look what he did with Chicago).

Carlisle seems to be a very good defensive coach and he has had great seasons with the Pacers and Pistons.

**Coatesvillain** · 02-20-2008, 02:45 PM

Those guys are exactly what the Sixers don't need.

They slow the pace down and micromanage. That provides not only for bad basketball, but a team that can only go so far. Same reason why I wouldn't really go for Nate McMillan.

**croco** · 02-20-2008, 02:51 PM

Skiles shouldn't even be on the list, he has basically done what Cheeks is doing now. Getting a young team to play hard, believe in themselves and become professional basketball players is what he was supposed to do. Skiles had the Bulls gotten to the point where they were a solid team again, but they were never going to win anything wth the way the roster is constructed. It was not his fault, I just don't think that Skiles is the type of coach who will ever win a championship, he is too stubborn.

iversonfan 349 · 02-20-2008, 02:54 PM

What about bringing larry brown back to philly. He helped the pistons win a title so we know hes a good coach. He was bad in new york but that wasent his fault.

**Coatesvillain** · 02-20-2008, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iversonfan 349

What about bringing larry brown back to philly. He helped the pistons win a title so we know hes a good coach. He was bad in new york but that wasent his fault.

If you could find a coach who was as good as Larry Brown without being Larry Brown, I'd go for it in a heartbeat. That said.. I wouldn't take that beady eyed snake back at all.

**Sliccat** · 02-20-2008, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coatesvillain

If you could find a coach who was as good as Larry Brown without being Larry Brown, I'd go for it in a heartbeat. That said.. I wouldn't take that beady eyed snake back at all.

where does this come from?

anyways, this is only a year, so its not too bad. I think of Cheeks like the Hunter/Dalembert frontcourt last year. Good, and overachieving, but just not a long term solution. He's too stubborn and has no vision either in terms of games or long term.

**Coatesvillain** · 02-20-2008, 03:32 PM

It's been this way for awhile. Larry Brown is a great coach but he's a backstabber, who manages to leave teams in bad shape after he leaves. A lot of the problems with the Sixers were either indirectly or directly because of Larry Brown. Sure he took them to the playoffs and the finals, but we're trying to dig from underneath his regime still.

Also it's hard to forgive someone who was plotting on taking Carlisle's job while being outcoached in the playoffs against him. That was a very winnable series, and it just makes you think where his mind was.

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