News & Features

76ers Mini-Camp
Las Vegas, NV
Day 3: Tuesday, July 8, 2008

The 76ers third and final day of double-sessions at mini-camp was certainly an eventful one. After competing with great intensity in their first workout of the day, the team took to the floor at Spring Valley High School for their second practice at 6:00 p.m. PDT.

With the temperature a sizzling 111-degrees outside at the start of practice, the temperature inside was quickly turned up at the start of practice by Sixers Head Coach Maurice Cheeks.

Cheeks pulled the team together to remind them what they were in Las Vegas to accomplish. Cheeks' message to the team was simple "Run the floor and compete." His message would be received by this group of players on this night.

Following Cheeks' words of advice, Sixers Summer League Team Head Coach John Loyer told his team this practice was designed for them to run through lots of sets and get a lot of shots up.

After some group workouts, the teams broke down into two teams and scrimmaged for three games. The highlight of the first few games was the strong play and leadership of Sixers second year players Thaddeus Young and Jason Smith.

While Smith knocked down jumpers with consistency, Young ran the floor and attacked the basket with a flurry if layups and dunks.

However, the night's biggest highlight (or maybe dark-light) was when the lights in the gym went out with 6:35 left in the final scrimage. After the players stopped playing for a few minutes and the Sixers support staff and Spring Valley High representatives tried to resolve the problem, Sixers Executive Advisor Sonny Hill commented, "Back in the day we used to play in the dark.” After Hill noted there was enough light in the gym to resume play, Coach Cheeks agreed and play resumed.

Right off the bat Jason Smith and Junior Harrington nailed long range jumpers in the dim gym. But eventually the lights came back on and the white team, led by Sixers rookie Marreese Speights defeated the black team.

The mini camp will resume tomorrow, with practice starting at 1:00 p.m. PDT.

For the latest photo coverage from inside practice, candid images from throughout the week and behind-the-scenes shots from mini-camp and Summer League, check out the Sixers' Flickr page.