Sixers should start over

Philadelphia, PA (The Phanatic Magazine) - The Big House is a moribund place these days when the Sixers play.

Ed Stefanski's honeymoon is long over and the Philly native is starting to look a lot more like Billy King than Pat Williams.

Mo Cheeks wasn't the answer as coach but Tony DiLeo is even worse. Elton Brand was a bad fit and, since he went down with a dislocated shoulder, Andre Iguodala has proven he would rather put numbers up on a bad team than do the dirty work for a good one.

Samuel Dalembert and Willie Green aren't the type of basketball players that successful teams covet and Lou Williams, while talented, needs to understand there are other facets to the game that don't involve scoring.

So where do you start turning this mess around?

A real coach would help. The prevailing theory is that Peter Puck (Ed Snider) has handcuffed Stefanski. It was either keep Cheeks, who, for whatever reason, wouldn't push is boss' agenda or hire a caretaker that knows basketball so well he thought Larry Hughes had a better upside than Dirk Nowitzki.

Sure, I guess Stefanski could have elevated Jim Lynam, a real basketball guy, but what if Dei's dad succeeded?

That would derail Stefanski's long term plan to bring in Eddie Jordan.

Of course, there is also no guarantee that Jordan will still be around when Snider and Comcast finally reopen the purse strings.

The former Wizards coach is very well regarded and won't be unemployed for long.

I suppose the Sixers are rolling the dice and counting on the fact that another team won't start sniffing around Jordan since he and Stefanski are so close.

On the personnel front, conventional wisdom says trade Andre Miller since he is going to be a free agent. I can't argue with that but why stop there?

I'm tired of decrying this team's inability to shoot or defend the three. Clearly the talent on hand just doesn't have the ability to knock down open jumpers or defend the perimeter and it's time to clean house.

Despite what you have heard, Dalembert's contract is very manageable and he would be rather easy to move thanks to his shot blocking prowess. Stefanski needs to move the center as quickly as possible.

Green should have never been re-signed by King and should also be shown the door. There are players in the NBADL you could sign to 10-day contracts that can offer you the same things Willie brings to the table. Heck, Royal Ivey is on the bench and would at least give you a better defensive option on a daily basis.

And, finally admit you made a mistake on Iguodala. Yes, his contract is huge but so is his athletic ability. Stefanski needs to find a similar sucker to himself, a GM who thinks Iguodala will develop with sound and patient coaching.

In fact, the only untouchables should be Brand (because of his contract), Thaddeus Young and Marresse Speights.