COACH: Maurice Cheeks | 2004-05: 43-39
Philadelphia 76ers

The Sixers need their star tandem healthy and playing together.
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After coming over from Sacramento at the trading deadline last February, Chris Webber never really got comfortable in the Philadelphia offense. His scoring dropped six points per game after the trade (from 21.3 to 15.6), and he shot just .391 from the field with the Sixers. Webber is probably the most talented teammate Allen Iverson has had in Philly, but the Sixers still relied too much on Iverson for success. The two stars never got comfortable playing together. New head coach Mo Cheeks will need to find more of a balance between Iverson and Webber, while allowing Kyle Korver, Andre Iguodala and Samuel Dalembert to continue their development.

Iguodala improved dramatically over the course of his rookie year and his athleticism and defensive prowess are a great fit with Iverson. Kyle Korver is starting to show that he's more than just a shooter and the Sixers signed him to a new long term deal this summer. They also re-signed Dalembert, who gives them an intimidating defensive presence down low. If each of these three continues to improve, they will take a lot of the pressure off Iverson. AI must be willing to take some of that pressure off of himself though and allow his young teammates to develop.

Most importantly, both Iverson and Webber need to stay healthy, because the Sixers do not have the depth to withstand a prolonged absence from either one. An offseason injury to Willie Green will probably keep Iverson from being able to rest any more than he did last year when he averaged more than 44 minutes per game down the stretch and in the playoffs. The Sixers don't have much depth up front either. The additions of Steven Hunter and Lee Nailon will help, but they lost some quality depth when they dealt Marc Jackson to the Nets.

The Sixers have an interesting, and potentially very strong mix of two star veterans and three talented, young compliments. If they stay healthy, and if Cheeks can find a good balance between Iverson and Webber, they have the ability to challenge for the Atlantic Division and earn their sixth playoff birth in the last seven years.

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Can the Stars Align?

Webber
In order for the Sixers to challenge the best teams in the East, Chris Webber must prove that he is still an upper-tier power forward in the league. He needs to use his size and strength more effectively by playing more in low post, rather than staying up high and settling for the mid-range jumper. Webber has the talent to be one of the best big men in the East, but he needs to stay healthy and he needs Iverson's cooperation to help him do it.

3
THE STAT
The Sixers were 11-4 (.733) in games decided by 3 points or less last season.
X&O STRENGTH

Iverson
Mo Cheeks will have great respect from Iverson and that's very important. Their relationship is very good. Cheeks probably knows the point position better than anybody else coaching in the NBA... Iverson and Webber can be a great pick and roll pair. Webber has as good hands as anybody in basketball. Last year, they talked about how wonderful it was playing with one another, but I didn't see it when they played... The key to this team is Chris Webber - whether he still has it or not. If he can play up to his ability, they'll be pretty darn good. If he can't, I don't see this team doing much.

X&O WEAKNESS
I don't see any bench. If Webber or Iverson got injured, they'd be in big trouble.

HEAD COACH PHILOSOPHY
I think Cheeks would like to run. He was a very unselfish player, and I think that's what he has to get into his team. This is a team that can run.
-- Kevin Loughery (courtesy of the National Basketball Coaches Association)

Andre Iguodala: Pippen-like small forward with tremendous potential.
Chris Webber: He's injury prone and we don't know if he can put up big numbers playing with Iverson.
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Iverson Webber
Ollie
"If you asked me three or four years ago, I would have said that Iverson probably only has one or two more good years left because his body takes such a beating, but he's still going. He's like the Energizer bunny, but one of these years, all that pounding and getting knocked to the ground is going to catch up to him, and you're going to find him to be just an average guy. I've never been overly impressed anyway, because there are a lot of guys in this league that can take a ton of shots, shoot 40% and score a lot of points. I've never liked, and obviously Larry Brown didn't either, that fact that so much was centered around him. I think if you're going to win, you're going to win first with defense, and then by passing the ball."
-- Eastern Conference scout
PLAYER/2004-05 STATS
PPG
RPG
APG
PG
30.7
4.0
7.9
SG
11.5
4.6
2.2
SF
9.0
5.7
3.0
PF
19.5
9.1
4.7
C
8.2
7.5
0.5
F-C
4.6
3.0
0.2
F
14.2
4.4
1.6
G
1.1
0.7
0.7
F
7.7
4.2
1.5
F
4.1
2.1
2.0
F
Free Agent
F-C
Free agent
F
Free Agent
F
Free Agent
G
Draft
F-C
Trade
G
Waived
PPG
30.7
RPG
7.9
APG
7.9
SPG
2.40
BPG
1.68
Points Scored
99.1
(10th)
Points Allowed
99.9
(19th)
Field-Goal Percentage
.437
(23rd)
Opponents' FG%
.443
(11th)
Rebounding Diff.
-2.07
(27th)
Nov. 1 vs. Milwaukee (7:00 p.m. ET, CSN)
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