Celtics head coach Doc Rivers has been thoroughly impressed by 76ers counterpart Maurice Cheeks.
"I think Mo has done a better job that anyone in our league," Rivers said. "They were (already) talking about next year. All of a sudden, that's gone. "Players hear that talk, too. Mo had to fight through that stuff and he got 'em to do it. I don't know who's doing a better job. I think he's done an amazing job."
Cheeks, the Sixers' third-year coach, has guided the Sixers to 31 wins in their first 65 games and into the top seven in the Eastern Conference after they were widely picked in the bottom three of the 15-team conference. They had won 12 of 15, including eight in a row at home, until losing to the Celtics at the Wachovia Center.
Although his record as Sixers' coach is 104-124 (he was 162-139 in three-and-a-half seasons with the Trail Blazers) and he was unable to get them into the playoffs in his first two seasons, Cheeks didn't lose the Sixers after they traded Allen Iverson on Dec. 19, 2006, with a 5-18 record. They went 30-29 in the remainder of the season. And he kept them on track despite a 16-28 start this year.
Cheeks, whose contract was set to expire in June until he received a one-year contract extension on Feb. 20, defers any credit that's directed his way.
"It's good they're noticing our players," Cheeks said. "That's all it is -- about our players going out on the floor working, night in and night out. That's where we as coaches have pride. It's really about our players -- it's not about me or anybody else."
SIXERS 83, PISTONS 82: Philly bounced back from losing to the Celtics by stunning the host Pistons despite not scoring in the final 2:26.
The Sixers (31-34) held a 39-32 rebounding advantage and committed just eight turnovers to the Pistons' 15.
Andre Iguodala led the Sixers with 22 points despite shooting 6-for-22. Rodney Carney chipped in 16 points off the bench, while Reggie Evans added 12 points and 11 rebounds, and Andre Miller and Thaddeus Young had 10 points apiece. Samuel Dalembert contributed 15 rebounds and six points.
Despite being without starting guard Willie Green (low back strain), the Sixers' bench outscored the Pistons' reserves, 23-14.
The Sixers visit the Bulls Friday before hosting the Spurs Saturday. A 2-2 week would be an accomplishment for Maurice Cheeks' team.
