Sixers prep for 2009-10 season against stiff competition - 8/19/2009

The Philadelphia 76ers will open Training Camp at the end of September, but that hasn’t stopped the players from getting themselves ready for the season in a variety of ways. From individual workouts to extended sessions at PCOM, players are using this time to their benefit.

That was evident this afternoon when a bevy of NBA players descended on Philadelphia to workout with one another and a number of Sixers were present to participate.

Sixers guard Lou Williams, forward Thaddeus Young and forward/center Jason Smith participated in full-court, five-on-five scrimmages with players that included the Orlando Magic’s Jameer Nelson, Rashard Lewis, Vince Carter, Anthony Johnson, J.J. Redick and Ryan Anderson, the Milwaukee Bucks’ Hakim Warrick, the Houston Rockets’ Kyle Lowry among others. Williams in particular knows that it is important to take advantage of the opportunities that this type of environment provides at this point of the year.

“I think it’s beneficial for everyone you know just to kind of level up against other guys, especially six weeks out from the season,” Williams said. “I think it is very beneficial for everyone just to start getting their legs wet again, getting things warmed up against guys of there caliber.

“You know, for me personally it’s been a great week. I had an opportunity to work out with [Celtics guard Rajon] Rondo on Saturday, Kyle Lowry and Jameer Nelson on Monday and today, so its been a great week for me just to go against other starting point guards in the league in preparation for my role this year.

Moreover, when asked what he was working on against this level of competition, his response was all-encompassing.

“My overall game,” Williams said. “Being a leader out there, getting guys in their spots, knowing when to score the ball and when to pass the ball and making plays, just working on my complete package.”

Young is also seizing this opportunity, using the time and competition to “work on my jump shot, try to handle the ball and think through certain situations because I’m going to play multiple positions this year.”

“It’s very beneficial,” Young said. “Any time you can come out here and get on the court with a lot of pros at one time it’s great, because these are the guys you are going to compete against every day and they can’t do anything but make you better.”

Just as encouraging was Smith – who is completely recovered from a knee injury that forced him to miss all of last season – and his participation in the full-court games against NBA competition.

“I feel really good and the knee is holding up just fine,” Smith said. “I’m just trying to get back in shape and just knock the rust off, try and stay in front of my man on defense and go through a lot of lateral movement. It’s really good to take a test and see how good I am, how much the recovery process is going, and how far along I am.”

JORDAN VISITS EAGLES PRACTICE:

Prior to joining President and General Manager Ed Stefanski to watch the Sixers workout, Head Coach Eddie Jordan attended the Philadelphia Eagles practice at the NovaCare Complex this afternoon. There, he spent most of the time in the corner of one of the practice field’s end zones speaking with Eagles Head Coach Andy Reid.

“It was a great experience,” Jordan said. “I got to talk to Andy Reid, it was a pleasure, we talked for about a half an hour, talked to some of the players, but just watching their practices, watching the intensity of it, the coaches, it was a great experience for me.”

There are certainly obvious differences between an NFL practice and an NBA practice, not the least of which is the scorching heat in which the Eagles practiced today. But among the many opposites, there was one in particular that stood out to Coach Jordan.

“Yeah how different guys can survive on the field,” Jordan said. “You can see a 5’9” guy that weighs about 175 pounds and you can see guys who are 6’6” and 325 pounds and they co exist going against each other, its just incredible.”

But the question now is, has Coach Jordan switched allegiances to the Eagles – particularly after receiving a generous amount of new Eagles gear from their PR staff prior to his departure?

“Absolutely,” Jordan replied.