SIXERS NEWS

The Sixers made news today even before tonight's game against the Washington Wizards, as GM Ed Stefanski relieved Maurice Cheeks of his head coaching duties, and replaced him with team vice president of player personnel Tony Dileo. Dileo hasn't coached since the 80s but boasts an impressive resume nonetheless. Clearly the move was an attempt at a wakeup call for the players, in order to get them to play up to their potential and tonight at least it worked. Of course the Sixers did play the agent zeroeless Wizards tonight who have compiled all of 4 wins so far this season, so in a way a win should have been inevitable tonight anyway, but who knows the coaching change may have already started to help as well. Statistically the team had one of its most complete games. Offensively, it may have been their best night of the season. The bench contributed a season best 50 points, Elton Brand dropped a season best 27 points, and the team shot close to a season best 51% from the field, and dished out 24 assists to just 13 turnovers. Defensively, they were not as impressive but still solid. Essentially They did just enough to get a win, out rebounding Washington 46-37, and holding them to just 41% shooting from the field. Early on the Sixers jumped out to a 5 point lead with the score 25-20 after a quarter of play. Rather than sit on that lead they kept pushing it in the 2nd quarter and by the half the lead was up to 11, with the score 51-40. They just kept it going in the 3rd quarter and by the beginning of the 4th quarter the lead was up to 14, with the score 79-65. Finally in the 4th quarter the Sixers did not let off the gas pedal and eventually sprinted out a 15 point win, with the final score 104-89. So the Sixers improve to 10-14 overall and have perhaps been given the wakeup call they needed. Only time will tell though if inserting Dileo at head coach was the right move.