[外電] 76ers' Miller, Ratliff no-shows to meeting
Source: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/2009/news/story?id=4126759
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76ers' Miller, Ratliff no-shows to meeting
Updated: May 2, 2009, 2:00 PM ET
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PHILADELPHIA -- Andre Miller's ironman streak for the Philadelphia 76ers does
not extend to team meetings.
The veteran point guard who has played an NBA-high 530 straight games didn't
show for the Sixers' final team meeting on Friday, something his agent blamed
on miscommunication between Miller and the team.
At the final roll call of the Sixers' season, center Theo Ratliff joined
Miller on the unexpected absentee list.
Both veterans are unrestricted free agents and the no-shows at the team
meeting further soured the mood of a franchise that was embarrassed a night
earlier in a Game 6 season-ending playoff loss at home against the Orlando
Magic.
Coach Tony DiLeo and team president Ed Stefanski stewed over the whereabouts
of two leaders they expected to know better than to blow off a team meeting.
Stefanski considered the absences unexcused.
"I don't know if that's sending us a message or what," Stefanski said of
Miller's truancy.
Miller's agent, Andy Miller, said he talked with Andre Miller and the guard
was not taking a stance. Miller thought the meetings were optional.
"He would like to re-sign with Philadelphia if the opportunity presented
itself," Andy Miller said.
Ratliff's absence was particularly troubling since he wasn't there to defend
the criticisms he levied at the coaching staff following the Game 6 clunker.
Ratliff described DiLeo and his staff as not holding players responsible for
a lack of effort and concentration.
DiLeo disagreed with Ratliff's disparaging characterization of the team.
"We do hold players accountable," DiLeo said. "Maybe not in the way his
definition of accountability is. But we do correct players. We point out
things."
And so the drama goes with the Sixers (41-41) who were knocked out of the
playoffs in six games for the second straight season.
They played better with DiLeo (32-27) once he took over for Maurice Cheeks in
December. DiLeo has not decided if he wants to return to the bench or his
role in the front office. He'll meet with Stefanski in the next few weeks to
discuss his future.
His players gave the mild-mannered DiLeo mostly lukewarm endorsements.
Forward Thaddeus Young called DiLeo "one of the nicest guys in the world,"
but didn't go out of his way to praise him.
"Some coaches in the league have that meanness about them," Young said. "We
just haven't found that meanness yet."
Perhaps a more demanding, authoritative coach who can spark an underachieving
team is exactly what the 76ers need.
"That type of coach helps," guard Andre Iguodala said.
Iguodala suggested vague changes and tweaks that needed to be made to
transform the Sixers into the type of team that can become an Eastern
Conference contender.
When asked which way the perennial .500 team was headed, Iguodala was
uncharacteristically blunt.
"I don't know if I can say it, but I think we're going down," Iguodala said.
He quickly backtracked off the statement and said he was committed to winning.
Having a healthy Elton Brand might help.
Expected to be the post-up presence they sorely lacked, Brand instead has
played in only 37 games the past two seasons. Brand vowed to return as the
double-double threat he was in stints with Chicago and the Clippers.
Brand averaged 13.8 points and 8.8 rebounds in 29 games for the Sixers in the
first season of a five-year, $80 million contract.
Maybe Brand could bring out the best in erratic center Samuel Dalembert.
The 6-foot-11 Haitian has never developed any kind of consistent offensive
game and his erratic play has long plagued the Sixers.
Dalembert, who asked for a trade earlier this season, said he wanted to
remain in Philadelphia.
"I'd never come down and be like, 'Get me out of here, or I don't want to be
here," I'm happy with the guys here," Dalembert said. "As long as the Sixers
are here, you'd love to see yourself retire here."
What about the trade demand?
"Anybody can be in the workplace and you don't feel like they utilize you as
much and then your team is losing and you're frustrated. It's like, 'Hey,
please, let me be utilized," he said.
Stefanski found no takers when the Sixers tried to accommodate the trade
request and isn't necessarily looking to move him now. Stefanski warned after
the Game 6 debacle no Sixer was untouchable.
"It's a shame this is the lasting impression," DiLeo said, "but our season
has been pretty good."
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