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Hawks-Sixers Preview | Apr. 4, 2008
Hawks.com emailed Enrico from the Philly Blog the700level to get his take on how the Sixers have performed so far in 2007-08. His responses are below:
1. The Sixers were an afterthought in the Eastern
Conference for a better part
of the season, but have
really turned it on to
become a legitimate playoff
team. What has been the key
to the team's
transformation?
Enrico: Everybody is
pointing towards Ed
Stefanksi's chat with
Maurice Cheeks when he told
Mo to "play the kids." Once
Korver was dealt, the team
transformed into a running
squad that can really get up
and down the court. With
Korver gone, a guy like
Thaddeus Young has seen a
whole lot more court time
and he's performed very
well. I don't think anyone
saw the success they've been
having coming. I think even
the players and coaches were
a bit surprised.
2. Now that the team is
playing so well, what do you
think is the best case
scenario for them heading
into the postseason?
Enrico: To play the
Celtics and have KG break
his ankle in the first game?
Really, I think the best
case scenario is for these
young kids to win a few
games in the post-season.
Even if they can't make any
real noise in the playoffs,
that experience could be a
huge asset once these guys
are a few years older.
3. Andre Miller was
mentioned in trade talks all
season before the deadline
but never moved. Obviously
that has worked out well for
the team in the short-term.
Do you think he'll be with
the Sixers for the long-term
now, or will they look to
move him again in the
offseason?
Enrico: I'm not sure
about Miller's future.
Watching him this season,
most Sixers fans have really
been impressed and grown a
strong liking for Andre. Not
trading him has proven to be
a great move as he has
helped the younger guys
grow. Whether he will be
hear longer term will depend
on what other teams offer Ed
Stefanski for him as well as
if Stefanksi believes Miller
would want to be in
Philadelphia past next
season. Miller has hinted
that he's not in love with
Philly but I believe if he
leaves as a free agent it
will be because he thinks
another team will provide
him with a better chance for
a ring.
4. Andre Iguodala
famously turned down an
extension with the Sixers
before the season. Do you
foresee the Sixers getting a
deal done with him this
summer or is there a chance
he'll end up testing free
agency after the 2008-09
season?
Enrico: I think the
Sixers will get a deal done.
He may use some other offers
as leverage but I think at
the end of the day he'll be
back in Philly. Well, I
hope.
5. Maurice Cheeks was
considered by some to be on
the chopping block at
various points in the last
couple years - how do you
assess the job he has done
with the Sixers?
Enrico: I'm partial
on Mo. He was one of my
idols as a kid, so I have a
soft spot for him. If you
look at the teams he's had
to deal with the past few
seasons, it wasn't exactly a
star studded roster. I'm
just happy he's had a lot of
success in this latter part
of the season. I'm looking
forward to having Mo around
to turn these kids into
stars.





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