The Eddie Jordan Saga
by Jordan Sams on Jan 6, 2010 6:57 PM PST
22 comments
By now, every Sixers follower shares the same sentiment: Eddie Jordan needs to be fired. That's been pretty evident for a while now. It started very early in EJ's tenure when he gave Willie Green all of Jrue Holiday's minutes in training camp. Everyone shrugged it off and attributed it to either a) The myth that Eddie Jordan is old school when it comes to rookies or b) "The Willie Green Spell" that Green seemingly puts every coach or GM under.
("The Spell" involves Willie tricking -- you can interpret the word "tricking" any way you want; use your imagination -- coaches or GMs into thinking he's a component basketball player, when in reality, he's really really bad. ESPN's John Hollinger acknowledges "The Spell" in a chat earlier this year.
"...Willie Green has compromising photos of the Sixers owners. It's the only explanation. Coaches and management changes, but somehow he always ends up with a prominent role in the rotation for no apparent reason. Now they're even using him as the backup point guard."
...Back to Jordan.)
Then it escalated to the famous "I didn't want to damage his psyche," quote after benching Jrue Holiday in a pre-season game against he Knicks, claiming that he didn't want Nate Robinson or Chris Duhon to damage the rookie's psyche. EJ's relationship with Sixer Nation (all 12 of us) was permanently damaged from this day on.
34 games later the Sixers are 10-24. Considering I predicted a 48-win season, you can imagine how surprised and depressed I became with each loss. I even factored in the learning curve for the "Princeton Offense", and expected a slow start. But here's where I messed up. I didn't do my research on Eddie Jordan-coached teams. This is evident in my final paragraph.
"I think the Sixers will be a top 5 team defensively, and the Princeton Offense will allow them to be average on the offensive end."
I still believe this team has "top 5" talent on defense, but according to Basketball Reference they currently rank 27th in the league when it comes to defense. That's down from 14th last year and 8th the year before. The Sixers' roster hasn't changed enough in the past two seasons to warrant that kind of drop off. The biggest difference is Eddie Jordan. It's no coincidence that an Eddie Jordan-coached team has never finished higher than 19th in defense. A simple Googling of "Fire Eddie Jordan" would've better prepared me for this train-wreck season. The first link to come up is a 'Fire Eddie Jordan petition' created in 2007 by -- I assume -- a Washington Wizards fan (Eddie Jordan's last coaching stop). The first time I read the signatures on this petition I nearly wet myself. I had just convinced myself that all of EJ's coaching inadequacies were simply aberrations and would all disappear once he and his team adjusted to each other. Then I read these signatures and it was almost like someone recorded every thought I've ever had during the Eddie Jordan era, put them all in one place, and time-stamped them "2007". Here are the dreaded signatures. Keep in mind, these are real quotes, from real people... in 2007, not 2009.
- "Under his idiotic regime the Wizards have been one of the worst teams in the league defensively and have the absolute lowest basketball IQ."
- "I can't even watch this team play any more. between the lack of intensity early in games, the lack of defensive rebounding, the wide open 3s, its just too frustrating."
- "This team needs a greater commitment to defense - Eddie has had opportunities to do this, and our defense has only become worse. And I find his favoritism to be completely unprofessional."
- "What ridiculous subsitution patterns. Why haven't we seen Blatche in the playoffs, especially given the defensive rebounding difficulties."
- "Jordan plays favorites and is a close-minded coach."
- "He's a complete fool when it comes to basketball."
- "EJ is a bum. It's time for him to go. He's holding this franchise back.
- "Exceptional as individual talents, mediocre as a team - It could only be the coachs fault."
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Problem is – like I said anywhere else – what else can we talk about – everything starts with the coach – it goes back to the coach – the lack of minutes – the bad rotations – the poor defense – the stupid losses – the right guys not getting minutes to avoid player development.
IT’s ALL eddie
by jemagee on Jan 6, 2010 8:05 PM PST reply actions
+1
Totally agreed!
"... You play to win the game. Hello? You play to win the game. You don't play it to just play it. That's the great thing about sports: you play to win..."
I concur with what Jem said.
Game after game, it’s the same thing.
"They say that nobody is perfect. Then they tell you practice makes perfect. I wish they'd make up their minds." - Wilt Chamberlain
Game after game...its the same thing......Bad Play and consistent negatives
This alone should’ve gotten him fired!
"... You play to win the game. Hello? You play to win the game. You don't play it to just play it. That's the great thing about sports: you play to win..."
Unfortunately, it’s impossible to discuss anything sixer-related without talking about how he has affected this team. We can’t discuss development because it’s apparent that no one is going to develop on a team that doesn’t have set rotations/doesn’t stress play on both sides of the court/doesn’t have a coach that acklowedges the necessity of a PG/doesn’t realize there is more to offense than contested 20ft jumpers, etc.
We can’t discuss draft picks because we are all secretly fearful of EJ coaching this team past this year.
We can’t discuss future championship contention because it’s completely unforseeable under this coaching staff.
We can’t discuss the possibilities of Iguodala and Thad excelling together as the young core at SG/SF because Jordan plays small ball.
We can’t even discuss how this team will perform once it has a good bench – at this rate, if Jordan is still coaching this team, tell me Willie doesn’t get a contract extension. Try to tell me that. Go ahead.
My point is, we don’t know anymore. We don’t know where this team is going, what is objectives are…nothing. Anything could happen to this team in the future, anywhere from absolutely horrible to promising.
When problems are evident, a responsible person will try to fix them. Until then, there is nothing else to do but remain pessimistic.
by jefu on Jan 6, 2010 9:17 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
+1
Amen! Rec’d
"... You play to win the game. Hello? You play to win the game. You don't play it to just play it. That's the great thing about sports: you play to win..."
The Coach is the Main focus as
It indeed revolves around the Coach! A Team let alone a player can NOT succeed until the Coach starts coaching! And coaching correctly. Meaning the Coach “Evolves”! He learns from his mistakes, he tries to be innovative and creative, not afraid of unconventional, he understands the importance of ALL aspects of the game (offensive and defensive etc…), does not live off of favoritism but chemistry of players and more important live for the win, he must be CONFIDENT in his players and this includes the rookies, understands his and KNOWS his players and their game, understand when he needs to take a step back inorder to move forward meaning knows when to reevaluate himself and asses his tendencies. And much more.! Not ONE of these things describe Eddie Jordan! Therefore we know what should be done! U cant stop talking about Eddie becuz he is the reason why this team has taken a STEP BACK!
"... You play to win the game. Hello? You play to win the game. You don't play it to just play it. That's the great thing about sports: you play to win..."
very good piece
let’s go ping pong balls. at this point it’s our only hope…besides firing the eddies (Jordan and Stefanski).
Chase Utley is so good that on one pitch he stole second, third and the shortstop's hat.
Dear Jordan
Please give us suggestion of what to look for if Eddie Jordan should no longer be a topic of conversation?:)
by jemagee on Jan 7, 2010 8:33 AM PST reply actions
Can someone explain to me...
How does Jordan continue to get hired in the National Basketball Association? Why did Stefanski, et al, think he’d be a good hire, given the disaster he had presided over in DC?
Redleg Nation: A Cincinnati Reds blog
We’ll explain it to you as soon as you can explain how dusty baker continues to get jobs when everyone knows he’s going to kill pitchers
by jemagee on Jan 7, 2010 12:12 PM PST up reply actions
Dusty vs. Eddie in a tables, ladders, and chairs match — somebody make it happen
by Michael Levin on Jan 7, 2010 3:59 PM PST up reply actions
Eddie Jordan is the only thing we can talk about, because he mucks things up so much that you can’t come to any real conclusions about the team.
I thought this was a 50 win team at least, but that assumed a competent coach. If you ever wanted to do a case study on the difference a coach can make, the Sixers could give a good coach a decent opportunity. I would rather have a no-name coach than an inept retread like Eddie Jordan.
Stefanski probably feels bad about this and is reluctant to turn out his friend, but if anyone ever deserved to be fired it’s this coach! I cannot continue to think positively about Ed S’s tenure if he continues to keep Eddie Jordan.
Im not buying into that...I will continue to talk about Eddie J..(sorry for the long post)
I’m not going to let him kill my passion for the Sixers any longer and ultimately turn me into a depressed fan.
I am NOT a depressed fan. Eddie Jordan has NOT killed my passion for this team! I am a smart fan. And a loyal fan. Sticking with my team though thick and thin. Depressed and lost passion, I would not let that happen to me as I know what the deal is. Its sports and these things happen occasionally! U hire as bad coach or GM and things turn bad. And sometimes get worse as it goes along. Its the nature of the beast! Unfortunately its happening to us right now! But im not gonna be depressed and lose passion becuz I know once we make some changes, and make the right changes, things will get better! And I hear what u r saying about not letting Eddie rule this blog and other ones and not talking about Eddie J, but the FACT of the matter is HE is killing this team. He is a Problem on the team. I will alwayz support my team…but i will NEVER support a problem my team and a problem that is hindering us from moving forward! So i will continue to talk about Eddie Jordan and wont stop til he’s gone becuz he is hindering us from moving forward. And is hindering us from reaching the ultimate prize. That trophy! I dont see it as “he is ruling this blog”. I see it as, we all know and see that he is a MAJOR problem, so we continue to debate and brain storm why: he still has a job here let alone the NBA, what he needs to do to become a better coach, what can we do to relieve him of his job, and what he needs to do to help our team move forward! Eddie isnt
“holding us fans or this blog hostage in the process.”
Eddie is just a subject. The Sixers are the topic. Right now we are blogging about Eddie becuz he is APART of the Sixers. Becuz he is involved in Sixers nation like it or not. Anything related to the Sixers, we talk about. We dont live for the Sixers, the Sixers live for us! We are the viewers and buyers of their products. WE choose to watch them on TV and or fill the stands and the Players play to put on a show for us. They feed off of OUR energy!!
"... You play to win the game. Hello? You play to win the game. You don't play it to just play it. That's the great thing about sports: you play to win..."
look on the bright side
every sixers game is a “win/win” situation. either they lose and get closer to a top pick in this year’s draft or they win.
in the last few years, the sixers were competitive, so when they lost, it really affected their seeding in the east, but not enough to give them a lottery pick.
with only 10 wins, every game is a win/win! except for wins. those are really losses. or something.
optimism in its lowest form — I like it.
by Michael Levin on Jan 8, 2010 10:40 AM PST up reply actions
Ok, so if they fire Jordan...
…do you guys think Elton Brand is suddenly going to be productive again? Yeah, he’s a crap coach, but the roster is pretty bad as well. Outside of AI (the young one), this roster is pretty much an assembly of minor role players and throwaways. I’m a fan in general, not specifically of the 76ers, but I can’t help but to wonder why you guys aren’t calling for Stef’s head? From an outsider’s view, it seems like he has been making bad decisions for years….long before Jordan was around
Well we do agree that based on Stefanski’s moves and unwillingness to admit/correct mistakes, he should be tossed as well. However, I still think the Brand signing was the right move, as did many of the people here. At the time, it was absolutely the thing to do. We needed help at the 4, and he was the best free agent available. Anything we offered Josh Smith would have been matched by the Hawks so Brand was the best option. Unfortunately he got hurt soon into last season, and this season Eddie Jordan is so completely inept that he’s relegated Elton to the bench.
If he were starting, he’d put up 18-9, which isn’t superstar numbers but it’s certainly not unproductive. Our team isn’t going anywhere so I feel bad for the guy, but he’s one of our best players and definitely talented enough to start in the NBA. Do I suddenly think he’ll be productive upon Jordan’s firing? No, because he’s already productive — a better coach would know how to weave him into the offense, whereas Jordan is clueless.
And you said Stef’s been making bad decisions for years — this is only his second full season.
by Michael Levin on Jan 9, 2010 7:42 AM PST up reply actions
Elton Brand is productive already.
I’m not sure how Stefanski has been making bad decisions ‘for years’ – it’s not like he had the job for a decade or so.
by jemagee on Jan 9, 2010 9:45 AM PST up reply actions
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