i know pistons are PARTIALLY to blame, but sixers seriously did not look like they showed up wanting to play.

i consider myself a new skool jazz fan; i love the combination of okur, ak and boozer. and i am just STUNNED how ak can get so many blocks and steals in a game... IMO he is the best defensive player in the nba. i really enjoyed watching them fight the nuggets and win that game... they would probably face an early exit if they got into the playoffs at all, but i would love for them to make it.

is this a coincidence? that almost all the great defensive-minded coaches in the nba are the ones which are the hardest on their players? i mean, i can list exceptions(MAYBE chicago and detroit), but i think you understand. coaches aren't hired to teach effort. they're hired to teach technique and execution. but if you get up in them and drive them so they want to perform harder at least to shut you up, you can help reach into that effort capability. i say this b/c mo cheeks is very lax; we all know how lax the sixer's d is. doc rivers is very laid back; celtics aren't exactly the best defensive team either. rick charlisle does NOT take crap from his players; indiana constantly ranks amongst the best defensive teams in the league. ditto w/gregg poppavich. avery johnson doesn't have THE best defensive players, but he gets up in their grill, and it has shown with the increase in wins and defense(pushing aside the bogus losses, like the manhandle against the cavs yesterday). etc.

of course, we could cite the knicks. but that's different as well.