Same old Sixers - and Eagles

Here’s a couple of sports thoughts after a holiday weekend.

For the Sixers, the more things change, the more things stay the same.

After falling behind Portland in their delayed season opener, the Sixers scratched their way back and were within three with the ball with seconds left.

Stop me here if you know what’s coming.

Yep, that was Andre Iguodala throwing up the three-pointer – and clanging it off the rim. Sixers lose.

Have we not seen enough of this to sincerely hope that Iguodala never be allowed to take another shot with the clock winding down?

And yet the Sixers lose the season opener exactly the same way they lost so many games the last few years.

Then there’s the Eagles. I suppose I should thank the Jets, in particular quarterback Mark Sanchez, for saving my Christmas Eve. When I left for Mass, the Giants were cruising. Sanchez failed to do anything as the Eagles won, thus eliminating the Birds from the playoffs and rendering their final two games – including that win over the Cowboys – meaningless.

Now the question is who will be back.

You can count on Andy Reid. Not so clear is the status of Juan Castillo.

One report from San Diego yesterday had Castillo being replaced by Steve Spagnuolo, who is expected to get the ax as head coach of the lowly Rams. Everyone is denying that right now.

Make no mistake. Changes are needed. Spare us all the talk about the lockout, the absence of mini-camps and organized team activities and the abbreviated training camp.

The Eagles were well aware of all that, and still went “all in” with a ton of new players and coaches.

And they knew that when they handed the reins of the defense over to the untested Castillo, who was offensive line coach. It's nice that the defense finally seemed to gel late in the season, but those early-season disasters still count, and it was those games that kept the Eagles out of the playoffs.

Don’t be surprised if Castillo is back on the offensive side of the ball next year.

As for the head coach? Reid it and weep, Andy haters. He’s not going anywhere.

And it says here that when the lose their opener next year, Reid proclaims he has to do a better job of putting players in position to make plays.

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