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MINNEAPOLIS - The 76ers and coach Maurice Cheeks are closing in on a contract extension. An NBA source told The Inquirer tonight that both sides have been in negotiations regarding a new deal, one that appears imminent.
Cheeks, 51, is in the final season of a three-year contract and has received high marks among the players for keeping the team together during difficult times.

The Sixers survived a seven-game losing streak and were 12 games under .500 at one point this season.

They remain in the Eastern Conference playoff hunt with a 23-31 record after a 104-88 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves tonight.

Cheeks declined to confirm or deny whether an extension was near before the game at the Target Center. "I don't comment on those matters," Cheeks said. "I am just going out there and trying to win a game."

Cheeks became the 21st head coach in Sixers history on May 23, 2005. The former Sixers star previously coached the Portland Trail Blazers for four seasons. His overall record with the Sixers is 96-127.

http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/20080219_Cheeks_close_to_contract_extension.html[/url]

I like it...

While I'm niether a huge propponent or opponent of Mo Cheeks coaching, I think consistency is key with a young team. If Stefanski, Cheeks, and the players are on the same page that goes a long way in acheiving success. It's no wonder we struggled through the revolving door of coaches era. Now with a compontent GM, a consistent coach, and solid group of young core players, I have some hope for the future.

give him 2 more years to right the ship.

If this goes through It's ironic that so far Ed has done nearly everythign BK has: keep Miller, extend Cheeks...

THe only exception would be trading Korver which I don't kno whether BK would have done or not.

But funny how a fresh pair of eyes sees the same thing.

I want to vomit.

I have no problems with this. The team plays hard for him and has bought into his schemes. He's done a lot with very little.

This is cool with me. He's a fine coach for this stage of our progress. He may need to be replaced once we get back into contention

imo he deserve the extension.he is still very young(for a coach) an he can still improvee.

darius08 wrote:If this goes through It's ironic that so far Ed has done nearly everythign BK has: keep Miller, extend Cheeks...

THe only exception would be trading Korver which I don't kno whether BK would have done or not.

But funny how a fresh pair of eyes sees the same thing.

It is strange. Stephanski has maintained the exact same course of action BK has, but nobody has a problem with it? We haven't dumped Miller, we're playing ourselves out of the lottery, and lining ourselves up for a meaningless 4 game sweep against Boston, Detriot, or Orlando. Sounds like last year doesn't it?

I'm not sure a three year winning percentage of .430 really deserves a contract extention. I'm guessing Stephanski wants to keep some continuity in place with the current set of players and coaches.

For the sixers sake, I hope it's only a one or two year extention

blazehound wrote:It is strange. Stephanski has maintained the exact same course of action BK has, but nobody has a problem with it?

While BK and Stefanski are adhering to the "same" plan, there is one major difference, Stefanski inherited this mess while BK had created it. I have much more faith in Stefanski executing the plan than BK.

philbe311 wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



While BK and Stefanski are adhering to the "same" plan, there is one major difference, Stefanski inherited this mess while BK had created it. I have much more faith in Stefanski executing the plan than BK.

I'll give Ed the benefit of the doubt, but im going to reserve judgement until opening night next season.

And BK would not have traded Korver. It's only one move but a big indicator that he has a different agenda.

BK had to prove his plan wasn't in the tank. Stephanski may have some of the same choices early on, but he's under no pressure to prove any of BK's choices are legit. He's just working with what he's got.

Like the hotel clerk in Spinal Tap...."I'm just as god made me sir"...

....That's Ed and the Sixers

Additionally, as demonstrated by the KK trade, I think BK was feriously loyal to the players he drafted and brought in. That was a potentially huge fatal flaw for a GM of a rebuilding team.

Very well deserved contract extension, in my opinion. One thing to remember about Maurice Cheeks ... he is a genuinely nice person who gets along well with the players AND management. The rest of it, he can (and will) learn. I anticipate that Maurice Cheeks is going to be coaching the Sixers for more years than most anticipate. The Sixers are going to be doing some more winning and he is going to be the benefactor of that.

If Cheeks can get this group of guys to play hard every night, he's worthy of a contract extension.

I don't think we should bring in another coach anytime soon, unless he is someone that just can't be missed(For example Brown, Wilkins, etc.)

blazehound wrote:It is strange. Stephanski has maintained the exact same course of action BK has, but nobody has a problem with it?

Put me down as someone who might not have a problem with Stefanski... but I'm most definitely cautious right now. I've discussed my feelings in other threads about Stefanski "not getting it" by his actions or lack there of. I've already gone on record as saying that Stefanski decision to to "wait and review" this season is a mistake that will only hold the Sixers back for a longer period of time.

As for the Cheeks' extension. I'm fine with it. Mo has done a nice job and earned the right to coach this team as it matures and increases in talent.

oh my... I lost rest of my sympathies for Sixers...

Mo sucks. This isn't any insult, this is a fact. You never have good team with a bad coach. I understand some die-hard fans can disagree saying he brought some ideas which kind of worked, like Hunter-Dalembert duo.
But watching Sixers basketball is painful. And I'm disappointed Iguodala does not get improved much. Not talking about numbers. His play is just the same ever was. This is coach's fault, too.
I think I like the most era of J O'B. You remember? Kenny Thomas playing for huge contract, Marc Jackson having big games, Iggy a rookie, Kyle a rookie, Skinner, a "funny guy" who Sixers was missing until The Great Reggie came
They couldn't compete for a tittle (still can't). But that tattoed little guy with big heart at least made you believe.
And yeah, they could win at least 40 games...


think I'll still watch some games. You don't have just good bumps about Young (like I had with Shavlick... 'Man. He could be a ROLE PLAYER some day...' ). He's gonna be goooood.
I don't know what is it, but he definitively has it. Every time he steps on the floor, he looks like he knows what to do and when to do.

Maf wrote:oh my... I lost rest of my sympathies for Sixers...

Mo sucks. This isn't any insult, this is a fact. You never have good team with a bad coach. I understand some die-hard fans can disagree saying he brought some ideas which kind of worked, like Hunter-Dalembert duo.
But watching Sixers basketball is painful. And I'm disappointed Iguodala does not get improved much. Not talking about numbers. His play is just the same ever was. This is coach's fault, too.
I think I like the most era of J O'B. You remember? Kenny Thomas playing for huge contract, Marc Jackson having big games, Iggy a rookie, Kyle a rookie, Skinner, a "funny guy" who Sixers was missing until The Great Reggie came
They couldn't compete for a tittle (still can't). But that tattoed little guy with big heart at least made you believe.
And yeah, they could win at least 40 games...


think I'll still watch some games. You don't have just good bumps about Young (like I had with Shavlick... 'Man. He could be a ROLE PLAYER some day...' ). He's gonna be goooood.
I don't know what is it, but he definitively has it. Every time he steps on the floor, he looks like he knows what to do and when to do.

I think your mixing your feelings with Iverson still not being here.

Maf's post just depressed me to the nth degree. The man (?) is talking about the O'Brien era at the good ol' days. WHAT!?!?

Anyone else look back at that year as a good year???

sure. And with Kyle not being there. And Shav being out. And Mo, Willie-G still BEING there. At least C-Webb and Billy King not.

Just as with empty, quitly Wachovia center. Games have no atmosphere