Stefanski on DNL

[The Guilty Party]

Ed was on Daily News Live today and for those who didn't see it here's a recap.

- Ed is extremely happy with the team's play (obviously). He gives all of the credit to Mo for his ability to get the players to play the up-tempo style the team has been playing and for getting the team to play hard on a nightly basis.

- Said that he will enter the off-season with no questions about this team because Mo has played the young players and Ed has had a chance to evalutate all of them. He said a lot of teams enter an off-season wondering if a young guy can play in the league and then wish they had played him more during the season but the Sixers do not have this problem.

- Said the jury is in about Rodney Carney and that Carney is an NBA player and a really good fit in this system.

- Said Sixer fans should be thrilled with the way things are going and not panic about who the Sixers might play in the playoffs or who the team might get this off-season and just enjoy the current ride.

- Said that Utah got a really good player in Korver but it was that trade that allowed Thad to get more minutes and it gave the Sixers' cap space and a pick.

- Said Iguodala has shown himself to be "the man" on this team and that he's taken on the leader role on this team.

- He was asked if the fact that this team is going to make the playoffs if that means that 1 year has been trimmed off of the 3 year plan. Ed avoided the question a bit and said that we have to keep in mind that this is still a very young team that needs time to mature.

- He was asked about acquiring talent this off-season. Ed said that the strong play of the team will allow the the front office to be patient and make the right move to improve this team. He said he still has a "white board" in his office that has all kinds of players names (free agents and not) and ways the Sixers can acquire them this summer. If the team does strike out with his list of players, he believes the team may be better served to hold onto the space for the following summer. He said the team needs to use the space sometime over the next two summers.

- He said the team now has an identity as a team that is a high energy team that is going to bring it on every night. He said that when he told Mo he wanted to play "like Phoenix" that it didn't mean that team wasn't going to play defense. Ed likes the lineup of Miller, Lou, Iguodala, Young, and Dalembert as a unit that closes games out. He said that lineup is extremely good defensively that gets out and breaks.

- Finally... he praised Mo. He said that Mo has the respect of the players and that contrary to what some believe, Mo is a very good Xs and Os guy. He also pointed out that if Mo ever had a question with Xs and Os that he can turn to his right and that he has Henry Bibby and Jim Lynam who are two of the best Xs and Os people in the business.

[sixers_610]

I am concerned that Iguodala will not be a sixer after next season. Now seeing how the team is coming together, it bothers me.

[The Guilty Party]

I don't have any worries about that. The only way he walks is if he signs a 1 year deal this summer and I can't see that happening. If he were the only guy who turned down an extension last summer, I might be concerned but he wasn't. I think Ben Gordon will be the only big name guy to sign a 1 year deal this summer and that we'll see Deng, Iguodala, Okafor, Josh Smith, and Childress sign long-term deals this summer.

[sixers_610]

You think they'll pay him what he wanted last year?

[The Sixer Fixer]

He said he still has a "white board" in his office that has all kinds of players names (free agents and not) and ways the Sixers can acquire them this summer. If the team does strike out with his list of players, he believes the team may be better served to hold onto the space for the following summer. He said the team needs to use the space sometime over the next two summers.

Sounds like I need to break into Ed's office and get a look at that board, lol

[freshie2]

Just saw this replay, and Ed is fairly candid in his replies. He didn't say this, but from his comments, I don't know that he's overly concerned about having Young play the PF spot. Given how well this team is playing, and what he said tonight, his main target may not be a PF, but the outside shooter this team lacks. Probably reading too much into it, but I think he's very comfortable with the defensive play of Thad at the PF spot, and maybe we do see him play there instead of at the SF??

[noone]

I hope you're wrong because imo Thad's main position should be SF with the ability to play minutes at PF based on matchups. Thad at PF is great in the regular season, but come playoff time he'll be mismatched.

I think the main reason Phoenix hasn't won it all yet is because they had Marion at PF for so long. Had they found a better big man to put next to Amare with Marion at SF and the option to put him at PF for stretches, they would have been a much better team and probably would have won it all.

Also, shooters will come to you when they know you're a contending team or close. I have no doubts that a shooter will find his way onto our bench in the next couple of years. Go after a PF.

[STChaser]

Given how well this team is playing, and what he said tonight, his main target may not be a PF, but the outside shooter this team lacks.

I was hoping that Carney could evolve into that person. It appeared that he was on his way to doing that but with Green coming back, Carney's minutes have declined once again.

STChaser

[Fire BK]

Said Sixer fans should be thrilled with the way things are going and not panic about who the Sixers might play in the playoffs or who the team might get this off-season and just enjoy the current ride.

Thanks for posting this recap, GP. Great job, fun read.

I personally love this quote. As someone who incessantly thinks about possible tweaks and improvements, this was an important reminder. IMO he's exactly right. This has been such a fun, rewarding season on its own.

Teams are never exactly the same from year-to-year. Often, organizations will add talent yet never quite recapture a certain magic, and chemistry they once relished. Not to be nostalgic in the present, but... We will look back at 07-08 fondly.

[tk76]

Given Ed gave us the straight scoop heading into the trade deadline, I take most of what he says at face value. I believe him when he says he's not the kind of guy who likes to blow smoke.

I'm with Fixer- gotta see that white board... He sounded like there is a very short list of players they will go after in the summer, and if they miss, no band-aids will be acquired that cut into the '09 cap.

What are your guesses for the FA short list? I think JSmith, Okafor and Biedrins. I can't think of a name at SG (maybe Magette- he fits their style of attacking and can shoot.)

[tk76]

Another message from the interview. Ed stressed that given our obvious weaknesses with 3pt shooting and 1/2court offense (and FT shooting) he sees those as opportunities to improve by adding those pieces in a way that preserves our core identity as an young, attacking, running team.

Certainly sounds like he won't sacrifice our athletasism in any move he makes.

[freshie2]

I hope you're wrong because imo Thad's main position should be SF with the ability to play minutes at PF based on matchups. Thad at PF is great in the regular season, but come playoff time he'll be mismatched.

I agree...my hope is they get an athletic big man to play next to Sam such as Biedrens, and they go into next season starting Miller/Iguodala/Young/Biedrens/Dalembert. They talked about the Sixers being thought of in the form of Detroit's team concept playing at the pace of the Suns. Sam/Biedrens aren't as skilled as Wallace, but give you two long/athletic big men who won't slow down the pace and will be solid inside. Your bench is much stronger by moving Willie and Reggie into the bench picture with Lou, Carney and Smith...if they nail the draft pick and get some production there, it's a nice picture moving forward. Still need the 3 pt shooters...

[phillyborn_jacksonite]

beidrins would fit but would he be the best fit? Probably not. The best fit in the short term would be Monta. Put willie on the bench and now we have a legit offense. We woud average over 100pts per game. Plus monta plays d about as good as willie with a little more Quickness.

Problem is I am not sure we could pry him away from GS and perhaps GS will have to make a choice condisering their cap situation and if I were them I would let Beidrins walk.

[51X3RF4N]

Based on his quotes about lack of shooting and addressing it without sacrificing our core, and targeting a small list of players in the offseason, I am guessing 1 of 2 scenarios occurs.

1. Arenas. As much as I hate to admit it, Arenas is exactly(on the court) what this team needs. A Pure shooter who can play some D and get out and run. He would fit perfectly instead of Green and can be our #1 option on offense. Then draft a big such as Arthur/Thabeet. J. Smith can be a hustle guy who comes off the bench as our 5th big in case the others get in foul trouble or get hurt. Daly/Thabeet at C. Young/Evans/Arthur at PF. Arthur can develop by learning more D and rebounding from Evans and wait his turn on the bench. Imagine 2 years from then and the lineup of this: Arenas/Iggy/Thad/Arthur/Daly........man o man that is sickening.

OR

2. We go after a guy similar to Biens....just a big who can play some backup minutes, while keeping Thad at the 4. We draft a guy who can play the 3 and shoot from the outside well enough that we can slide Iggy to the 2 comfortably. Maybe Tyler Smith/Kyle Weaver? Smith is an all around guy that I love, and he could play D, run on the break, and hit the 3. He would work well I think. Weaver is more of a 2. Which fits as well. He is 6-6 compared to WG's 6-2. He can play D, obviously as WSU is a top defensive team in the NCAA. He can shoot(38% from 3) and pass (4 apg.) And he can rebound(5 rpb).

I would be comfortable with either of those 2 in our lineup next year and they will likely be available around our pick.

That gives a future lineup of:
C-Daly/Smith
PF-Young/Evans/FA?
SF-Smith or Iggy/Carney
SG-Iggy or Weaver/Green
PG-Miller/L-Will

I think 1 of those 2 scenarios happens.

[Louis Williams]

I'm ready to throw the entire 10 mil of space at Monta Ellis.

I'm actually OK with Young/Evans/Smith at PF. It gives them different looks to throw at teams.

I think Monta would fit in well as a high scoring guard that can run and excel in the open court.

[51X3RF4N]

I like Monta, don't get me wrong. But what do we do when Miller leaves? Monta and L-Will as 1 and 2 guards? Please, no. What happens to our mentality of Defense and open court? Monta, from what I've seen, is a one trick pony. All he does is shoot well and score score score. Do we want another AI clone? I don't know, maybe I'm way off in my assessment, but I don't see it working.

[phillyborn_jacksonite]

lets keep this simple. you seem to think that we need to make the choice between the two. I choose Monta over Lou. Easy.

But i don't think we have to choose. Keep Lou in his same role. Any yes resign Miller for another 3 years. yeah i said it. What about he guy make you think he is going to slow down. He is already slow accorinding to most. Except, that we know that most pgs can't guard him except for maybe b-diddy or Kidd.

give monta 10 per year and move willie behind Lou on the bench. Draft a big PG in the second round and let Ollie go. New guy might get 5 mins per game. Draft a PF. Eastern Conference Finals here we come.

[bebopdeluxe]

Next to finding a way to get enough caproom to sign Brand (should he opt-out), my #2 option would be getting Ellis (and then extending Miller).

We draft the best available big with our #1 pick (or trade it on Draft night to a team that may want a smaller guy for a young big with some upside).

Stefanski said himself that he would like to see us get a shooter - and Monta Ellis is a shooter....and with the exception of Brand, I don't see a PF out there who would be worth $10-12 million....not even Biedrins (who I like, but is not different enough from Sammy to make him more desirable than Ellis).

[noone]

If we get Monta, I would look to trade Lou to try to fill another need. There's no point in having two players that pretty much do the same thing with one of them much worse at it. Keeping Lou would give us 3 undersized shooting guards in Monta, Lou, and Green.

As for actually getting Monta, I'm against it. I'd rather save the cap space for next offseason. We need a big man, plain and simple. I don't want to waste the cap space on anything else, otherwise it would make it MUCH harder to get an all-star big without trading Iguodala and/or Sammy.

Oh yeah, and we'd be the Warriors of this season. I'll pass.

[dond]

I like Monta, don't get me wrong. But what do we do when Miller leaves? Monta and L-Will as 1 and 2 guards? Please, no. What happens to our mentality of Defense and open court? Monta, from what I've seen, is a one trick pony. All he does is shoot well and score score score. Do we want another AI clone? I don't know, maybe I'm way off in my assessment, but I don't see it working.

I agree. He seems like a poor man's Igoudala with maybe a slightly better mid-range shot and a not quite as good a 3-pt shot. And ... if he does not play defense ... he has no place here.

Don't lose focus ... think POWER FORWARD, POWER FORWARD, POWER FORWORD, POWER FORWARD .... REBOUNDER, REBOUNDER, REBOUNDER, REBOUNDER, DEFENDER, DEFENDER,DEFENDER .....

And yes SCORER ... but INSIDE SCORER ....