Despite a "raggedy" first scrimmage as he described it, 76ers coach Maurice Cheeks joked around, laughed with reporters and even sounded the shot clock alarm every time a sweat-drenched Reggie Evans tried to answer a reporter's questions.
While this first scrimmage was closed to the public, the team will be hosting a free, open practice and scrimmage from 6:30 to 8 tonight for Penn State students and other local fans to come out for an early glimpse of this year's Philadelphia 76ers.
Andre Iguodala, Elton Brand and the rest of the team have called the Bryce Jordan Center hardwood their home this past week for their 2008 training camp that will continue through Sunday and is highlighted by Friday's practice for the fans.
"[Fans] can expect to see some traditional practice-type stuff which is uncommon for us to allow access to and probably some scrimmaging," said Michael Preston, director of public relations for the 76ers. "This is the first chance to see Elton Brand in action as a member of the 76ers, first chance to see Andre Iguodala back, Lou Williams back, Thaddeus Young. [It] should be a great time."
The atmosphere surrounding the team this week at training camp has been seemingly carefree -- thanks to a busy offseason and a season that saw the 40-42 76ers return to the playoffs after falling short the two previous years.
Center Samuel Dalembert could be spotted on the sidelines discussing why he loves matzah ball soup with a reporter and 'oohing and ahhing' after watching Iguodala throw down a one-handed dunk. While the team may have looked a little sluggish in the first scrimmage, the team believes it's building a positive chemistry despite many new additions to the team, most notably the signing of Brand, a two-time all-star.
"We have a great core group of guys from last year's team and there are some new guys," Young said. "I think we can make it far. As long as we play as a team and go out there and stay focused we'll be fine."
Tonight's open practice, which will also include free parking and a T-shirt toss at the end of the scrimmage, isn't the first time the team has held its training camp at Penn State, Preston said. The team was here about six years ago before spending recent years overseas in Spain and Germany as well as at Duke University in North Carolina.
"The people have been great, particularly the staff here at the Bryce Jordan Center," Preston said. "They've been attentive. They've been helpful with obviously anything that we need. Even at a moment's notice, they've been right there for us. And certainly the student atmosphere here, having everyone on campus. Hopefully, Friday night they all come out to see the new-look 76ers."
Some of the players, like second-year forward Young, are just excited to be back on a college campus since many of the players are relatively young and only a few years removed from being students themselves.
The team is especially anticipating Friday night's open practice for the fans after spending the past week running suicides and drills.
"We're looking forward to having some fun, getting up and down for the fans and also for the fact that we get to scrimmage again," Brand said.
