Deep Sixer

TORONTO -- Maurice Cheeks, now entering his third year as the 76ers coach, went down to the wire until officially announcing that Willie Green would be his starting shooting guard in tonight’s game at the Air Canada Centre against the Toronto Raptors.
In truth, it’s been known for some time that Green had won the starting job ahead of Rodney Carney.
During the preseason, Green had worked primarily with the first team.
“I thought both of those guys had been great throughout the preseason and up to this point, but I liked Willie Green and liked the progression he has made, the things he was doing,” Cheeks said following this morning’s shootaround at the Air Canada Centre.
Green said he was happy to be starting, but all he wants to do is help the team win.
The real question is whether Green or Carney will be playing in the fourth quarter during crunch time.
Cheeks said he isn’t sure, simply because it will depend on how the players are faring.
He also said there could be somebody else occupying that position if they are playing well.
What Cheeks has made clear is that playing time can still be earned by people. He will no doubt go with the hot hand, even though he has a rotation in his mind.
For a team that is so young, this isn’t a bad idea. That means that Green won’t be relaxing because he has the starting job.
And it also means that Carney will continue to push him. It also means that somebody such as Lou Williams could also see time at shooting guard if he is playing well.
So one spot was earned, but it will still be much more important who finishes than starts and right now that could be up for grabs almost on a daily basis.