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Day 4 Update
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October 3, 2008 - Day 4
Video: Elton Brand Audio: Sammy Dalembert | Coach Cheeks
The first half of Day 4 at Penn State is in the books and it consisted largely of the installation and review of more sets on offense and defense. Additionally, the team went over some of their inbounds plays for this season.
The session kicked off on a serious note, with Coach Cheeks calling the team into the huddle and asking them if they knew what practice meant. The question was meant to get the guys thinking about where they should be positioned and prepare for situations they knew they would encounter in a game.
Additionally, he touched on working hard and taking nothing for granted, as it is harder to play up to expectation than it is to exceed them, as the team did last year. Another point he emphasized prior to the start of the morning session was for the younger players to listen to the veterans, as they have been around the league for so many years for a reason.
After that, the team went straight into stretching and then drills. The Sixers open practice will be at the Bryce Jordan Center tonight starting at 6:30pm (although the team will arrive at 6:00pm and begin practice on the auxiliary court at that time.
Yesterday, the team had a players-only event featuring a street magician in the style of David Blaine. Among his most remarkable illusions: One of the players picked a card, and not only did the magician successfully pick the card, but it appeared as a tattoo on his side. Another one that had the guys talking, he signed a quarter that Jared Reiner gave him and it ended up inside the last of five, metal boxes.
One common sight on the television while the guys are in the training room: The baseball playoffs.
Day 3 Update
Video: Willie Green Audio: Andre Iguodala
The Sixers held their first intra-squad scrimmage of training camp this afternoon. With three officials on hand, the team broke into teams and played two quarters.
Starting on the black team was Andre Iguodala, Andre Miller, Elton Brand, Sammy Dalembert and Thaddeus Young, who were facing off against Lou Williams, Willie Green, Reggie Evans, Theo Ratliff and Kareem Rush.
Of note was that Iguodala went full-speed for the entire 2 1/2 hour practice, scrimmage included. Additionally, the first sub in for the black team was Donyell Marshall, who replaced Sam Dalembert. Marreesse Speights and Royal Ivey each got an extended look for the white team, both in their first intra-squad action for the team. Coach Cheeks said that Speights did what was expected of him, while adding that he liked what Ivey brought to the team on both ends of the floor.
When asked if he thought Kareem Rush was a shooter, Coach Cheeks responded, "He's a maker."
The games were what was to be expected from the Sixers this year: Fast-break transition basketball. Both teams got out and ran when they could. Coach Cheeks said after practice that the team still needs to work a little more on their transition defense, as well as playing through any calls that the officials may have missed.
There are no new injuries to report. There is a 4:00 p.m. players-only team building outing scheduled.
Today was only one session, with the Sixers scheduled to practice twice again tomorrow (11:00 a.m. and then again at 6:30 p.m. for their open practice at the Bryce Jordan Center). The team returns to Philadelphia on Sunday afternoon.
October 2, 2008 - Day 3
The third day of training camp at Penn State opened with a good sight: Andre Iguodala was on the floor participating in walk-through drills. His status for the remainder of the day is yet to be determined by the team's training staff.
The training staff of Kevin Johnson and Scott Faust, as well as strength coach Jesse Wright and team massage therapist Sergei Khmelevski are getting a workout this camp. They have been on top of things from a preventive standpoint since the beginning of camp - from stretching to treatment - and are looking out for the vets and the young guys, alike.
The first and only session of the day - one that is scheduled to go approximately three hours - is underway and they are covering additional half-court sets, including high pick-and-rolls. There has yet to be any "starting five" set in stone for the session. The rest of the practice will continue with some conditioning drills and more offensive/defensive work before the first intrasquad scrimmage of camp (the three referees just arrived).
An additional scrimmage will likely come Friday night on the main court at the Bryce Jordan Center. The staff will likely take the first half hour that night or so to continue fine-tuning, but the plan is for some full-court action at some point during tomorrow night, as well.
A new addition to the training room: Coach Cheeks was seen getting treatment today, which didn't stop him from some good natured razzing of scout T.J. Zanin and re-counting a story that came during the Golden State game last year:
Head Trainer Kevin Johnson is always the guy who calls out the shot clock as its winding down (if you're at a Sixers game, home or away, listen closely for a booming voice yelling, "5, 4, 3, 2, 1!"). He NEVER misses it - usually he's kneeling right next to Coach Cheeks shouting it out.
However, during one particular possession last season, Johnson and the bench was engrossed with a dribbling display at the top of the key by Willie Green. Momentarily lost in the moment, strength coach Jesse Wright tapped KJ on the shoulder, with only enough time for KJ to shout, "ONE!" - exactly the amount of time left on the shot clock.
That night, Coach Cheeks gave KJ a little stare, and KJ apologized. As a testament that time heals all wounds, Coach said today, "That game, we ALL were having an off night!"
Day 2 Update
Andre Iguodala sat out the evening session with a left ankle sprain. He is listed as day-to-day.
October 1, 2008 - Day 2
Exclusive Coach Cheeks audio prior to the start of day 2 Andre Miller video Lou Williams video
Day Two of Training Camp is underway, with the team back on the court early this morning. They are looking to build off a strong first day that including the following:
The buzz of the first day was around Kareem Rush running sets with a group that included Andre Iguodala, Andre Miller, Elton Brand and Sam Dalembert. Head Coach Maurice Cheeks reiterated to the assembled media yesterday - as he did during his pre-season availability - that the starting five has not been decided and the best players for the team will get the starting nod. Basically, nothing to read into the move to start the first day of training camp.
Today more of the same is expected from Happy Valley. Yesterday was the installation and review of some of last year's offensive and defensive sets, as well as five-on-five half-court drills. There is a morning and evening session scheduled and while Coach Cheeks alluded to scrimmaging at some point, there has yet to be any full-court, five-on-five game action that has taken place.
He added in the team huddle yesterday that when the guys are on the court, it's a competition and they can be friends once they step off of it. He said he expected Royal Ivey to challenge Lou Williams every day, because when Coach was first coming up, that was his mentality.
He also said yesterday that the veterans should go at their own pace during this camp - it is a long season and they know what to expect and how to take care of their bodies. But he added that the young guys better get after it, whether its during drills or the sideline-to-sideline conditioning sprints.
Check SIXERS.COM throughout the week for more exclusive insider access plus interviews, video from camp and more!
September 30, 2008 - Day 1
The team departed the Wachovia Center after the league-mandated Media Day, a two-and-a-half-hour affair that gave the media access to the full team for interviews, photos and more.
The team boarded their new Airbus 320 NWA team charter for the 31-minute flight to Penn State. Not that the flight was short, but upon boarding the plane, the pilot came on the overhead to say that it would be a 20-minute taxi to the runway (yes, it was almost longer to get to the runway to leave than the actual flight itself).
After landing and getting all the bags sorted, it was off to the team dinner at the hotel. Sam Dalembert and Thaddeus Young got in a quick (and very laid back) game of ping-pong in the lounge area set up for the team.
After dinner, Head Coach Maurice Cheeks addressed the team and among the points he touched on were that every player is in this together and the goal was to play for a championship. He also touched on the team rules, the chief of which was to always be on time. President and General Manager Ed Stefanski also spoke to the team and talked about this being a family and the perception of the team around the league as one that looks like they have fun together on the floor.
Following the traditional part of the night where the rookies get up in front of the team and talk about themselves, there was a players-only meeting to get ready for the start of Training Camp.
Check SIXERS.COM throughout the week for more exclusive insider access plus interviews, video from camp and more!
