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**Coatesvillain** · 05-24-2004, 11:35 AM

It wasn't a very long chat, and like always my questions never seem to get through, but he touched on a lot of important areas in a 20 minute session. I'll quote the highlights..

Quote:

William, charleston, wva : Do you see Derrick Coleman being with this team and having a big impact next year? His size and rebounding ability would be a big help to us if healthy.

Jim O'Brien: (2:06 PM ET ) We have not made a firm decision on Derrick. Billy and his staff, along with me, will evaluate all our players in depth, including Derrick. We want to see if this is a place, an environment that Derrick will thrive in.

Quote:

Vince (France): What do you hope for Samuel Dalembert next year? Will he be starter nex season?

Jim O'Brien: (2:09 PM ET ) I have high expectations for Samuel. I'd like him to continue to develop, which will happen with lots of hard work from him and guidance from our staff. We think he can be a starter, but we also need some depth there, and we'll want to bring someone in to help in that regard. Depending on the quality of that player, and the competition, we'll see if that means Sam will start.

Quote:

Alexander Fox (Altoona, Pa): I am so happy your the 76ers coach! I wanted to know your thoughts on the young players on this team (Green, Korver, etc.)

Jim O'Brien: (2:15 PM ET ) I think Willie Green is gonna be a heckuva player. Not only can he make his shot, but he can learn to be a good defensive player. Kyle's ability to hit his shot from deep is well documented. He'll need to improve his all-around game. Samuel is a good player too. He has to create an attitude defensively where he won't want to allow teams to get layups against us and he needs to work on his footwork. John Salmon is very athletic and needs to work on some things too, including expanding his offensive game.

Quote:

Marilyn ( los Angeles): Are you looking forward to coaching AI, if he is to remain a sixer? Do you think the sixers have what it takes to get to the easter finals next year with the right additions to the team?

Jim O'Brien: (2:21 PM ET ) Yeah, I'm very much looking forward to coaching Allen. Anyone who has coached against him will tell you he is a nightmare to coach against, so it will be fun to have him on my side. Nobody gives more to a game in order to win. I think it's a key we draft well, we need to fill some holes in the 4 and 5 position. Any opportunities to upgrade our team, we'll take. On the playoffs, the key is to get homecourt advantage. We want to play defense, which leads to wins in the playoffs. We're gonna need some help, but we think if we get the commitment we need and bond as a group going into the season, we'll be able to challenge teams in the playoffs.

LINK

Usually going into sports personality chats, I don't expect to learn anything from it, but this one shows that O'Brien is already in a Sixers state of mind which is really a fresh change of pace. I mean, could anyone imagine a Randy Ayers chat a year ago?

Two key things he mentioned, one was that at #9 they'll address it with the best player available instead of addressing simply an area of need (which could possibly signal the arrival of wing player). The second important thing, is the fact he said the team needs help at the 4 and 5. Just from reading that, I'm figuring that he's looking to move Kenny Thomas to the 3.

I've read in some places on the net, where they said that Kenny is too slow to play the 3, but isn't he faster than Eric Williams who played the three for Boston under Jim O'Brien? KT's post-up abilities gives him a huge advantage over many 3's in the league, and working on his perimeter game would make him into a solid player.

Edit: D'oh! Forgot to add link, it's there now.

dcrono3 · 05-25-2004, 04:17 AM

I wouldn't mind Thomas moving to the 3. He is undersized at 4 and while it hasn't really stopped him having a taller 4 could be helpful in post D. My only question is that the Sixers would have no decent 3pt shooter in the starting lineup. 1, 2, and 3 are the traditional 3pt shooters, but Snow isn't a good 3pt shooter, Kenny Thomas isn't one, and sorry to say, Iverson isn't a really good one too (way too streaky).

**Coatesvillain** · 05-26-2004, 06:41 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by dcrono3!
I wouldn't mind Thomas moving to the 3. He is undersized at 4 and while it hasn't really stopped him having a taller 4 could be helpful in post D. My only question is that the Sixers would have no decent 3pt shooter in the starting lineup. 1, 2, and 3 are the traditional 3pt shooters, but Snow isn't a good 3pt shooter, Kenny Thomas isn't one, and sorry to say, Iverson isn't a really good one too (way too streaky).

That's true, but it wouldn't be that odd for the Sixers since that was pretty much the setup for years during the Larry Brown stint. Though it is a good point to bring up, not having that three point shooter in the lineup is pretty concerning. Only real three point three we have is Korver, with how McKie cooled off as the season wore on I don't count him as a real three point threat.

Too bad there's no four man out there who's good at hitting the occassional three pointer.

**Coatesvillain** · 05-26-2004, 07:07 AM

Quote:

The draft is June 24, two days after the expansion draft. The free agency period begins July 1. Out of that will come a reshaped roster, a sleek, streamlined team that will be able to guard the way O'Brien wants to guard and play the fire-at-will offensive style he prefers.

''I have no interest,'' he said, ''in milking the shot clock at all.''

He wants to surround Iverson with shooters — the better to let his resident star attack the lane with impunity — and shore up the front line with another big body or two.

His players have assured him they are on board with him, that they will do whatever it takes to avoid a repeat of the nightmare that was last season.

Then again, doesn't Iverson always say that?

''Generally speaking, when I develop or attempt to develop relationships, whether on the basketball court or elsewhere, I take into account the past,'' O'Brien said, ''but only in a small way.''

LINK

I linked this article in the Coleman post too, but I didn't quote this part. The thoughts of this tells me that the Sixers might be very active this offseason. Just reading what O'Brien has to say, you can tell he has an idea how he wants to shape the team, and what he wants to do, moreso than Billy King ever has.

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