The Coaching Thread/SF76 Update: Page 54

[ExplosionsInDaSky]

Collins is my least wanted candidate. I'm already so sick of this franchise, if we hired Collins, that might be it for me with this team for a long time.

You keep saying stuff like this.....

As for us hiring Doug Collins... Not sure what there isn't to like about the guy. He has a similar philosophy towards the game as Larry Brown does. Collins has coached Larry Brown type players in the past..I.E. Aaron Mckie, Ratliff, Rip Hamilton, Lindsey Hunter, and Larry Hughes.
He's an old school throwback kind of coach. He preaches defense, and his knowledge of the game itself is amazing and I would love to have Collins coach this team.
What he did with the Pistons in the mid 90's was amazing. He took a team that had one star player in Grant Hill (some of us remember how special he actually was) and molded them into a 50+ win team. They were great defensively and had it not been for Michael Jordan's return to the NBA they may have made a trip to the finals.
His time in Washington was bad because Michael Jordan's formula for a winner didn't work. Collins was only the coach on paper. The team was ran internally and externally by MJ resulting in failure. As the coach, Collins had little to work with there and he still managed to lead the Wizards towards improvement. I believe he won 37 games both years he was there. A success considering he had a 40 year old MJ making such horrible moves like benching a primed Larry Hughes, trading for Stackhouse, drafting Kwame Brown, and then surrounding the team with fringe role players like Chris Whitney, and Jahidi White to become starters. Oh can't forget about Charles Oakley who was about 85 at the time. Collins gets a pass in Washington. If he's hired here and his nerves can hold up he will be a success and we will win provided our players follow his lead. Don't underrate Collins as a head coach. He's always been able to make the best of his situation as a coach and I have little doubt that he would be able to bring the games of Iguodala, Young, Holiday, and even Louis Williams to another level. I hope we hire him.

[tk76]

Collins is a lot like LB. If you want LB, you probably will be happy with Collins. Both are detail oriented, defense mionded, slow pace, play vets guys who rapidly turn bad teams into respectable ones... but wear out there welcome within 3 years.

Here is a good article that highlights his strengths and weaknesses as a coach:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/s ... ins-080529

Positives:

Collins’ track record of immediate improvement is tough to ignore. In his past three coaching stops, his teams have improved by 10, 18 and 18 games in his first season on the bench. With the talent Chicago has on hand, plus the first overall pick, there’s a good chance he’ll have a fourth straight double-figure victory improvement.

Collins brings a lot of strengths to the table. He’s a master of details, and one of the ways he got his teams to turn around so quickly was by fine-tuning all the little things — his teams were among the league’s best-prepared.

That carried over to the hustle side, too. Collins got his teams to compete and defend, as can be seen by the improvements in defensive efficiency at each stop.

By an odd coincidence, each team Collins took over was the worst defensive team in the NBA the year before he arrived, based on defensive efficiency. Unbelievably, Collins got two of those three teams into the top half of the league in his first year, with Chicago jumping from 23rd (last) to 11th and Detroit motoring from 29th to a shocking seventh. The effect wasn’t quite as strong with Washington — 29th to 21st — but it was there.

So, obviously the problem isn’t that Collins can’t coach. He can. The problem is that his strengths and weaknesses are a terrible match for the team he’s taking over.

Those strengths would make him a great fit for a lot of teams, especially teams that are struggling to defend.

Negatives:

Problem No. 1: Pace

Collins might be the most extreme slow-pace coach in the past quarter century. I’m amazed nobody has brought this up yet — the guy makes Jeff Van Gundy look like Paul Westhead.

Problem No. 2: Youth

Collins’ history is that he gets an immediate jump from his team — then things level off in subsequent seasons.
There’s a reason for that. Few coaches in recent history have trusted young players less than Collins has.

Problem No. 3: Temperament
At each of his previous three stops, Collins’ constant harping wore out his players within three years.

[PhilasFinest]

Well said explosions.

[agiaco]

This franchise hasn't done anything to warrant positivity.

The true fans deal with whatever **** happens and hope for the best. I know it sucks, but the Sixers could be a much worse team. If we make the right moves this summer the team could really turn around.

I disagree. I think true fans are the ones that stand up and say they aren't going to take it anymore and walk away. You have to send your franchise a message that this nonsense is unacceptable.

I also heard some quote on WIP that made me even angrier. Something about the team only needing minor tweaks and things really aren't that bad and they made the right decisions for the most part.

When I used to think about the Sixers, it used to make me happy. Now, I have nothing but rage when I think about them. I love the Sixers as the team that represents my city, but as far as the roster and management goes... I hate them with a passion. Everything about them except maybe 3 players on the team and DiLeo. This is their own doing, and the attendance shows represents that.

I'm just as big of a Bucks fan, and as I think as you know, until the Bucks got John Hammond they were awful. This year has shown me just to wait it out. I don't disagree with you at all that I am unhappy where the team (Sixers) is going right now, but I'm just saying we need to hope we make the right personnel moves and things could change quickly.

As far as not attending games or showing support, sure, but I can't just GIVE UP on the team just because we suck. I can tell you care, so I wouldn't give up just yet. Just wait for the summer, maybe some luck (and judgment) will be on our side bro.

[ExplosionsInDaSky]

I still say the positives trump the negatives.
The article speaks of pace of the game-
I like a running team as much as the next person, so pace of the game from the way Collins does things is a little concerning. I think with a healthy Elton Brand next season and hopefully a Demarcus Cousins/Aldrich/or Favors we can be a good halfcourt team. However Collins can't ignore Holiday's abilities in the open court or what he Iguodala, Young, and Williams can all do on the fast break.
We are a very athletic team.. Collins if hired has to utilize that to a strength. However i'm all for him preaching defense.

The mentioning of youth-
Doug Collins plays young players from what i've seen Grant Hill and Allan Houston age 23 and 24 at the time had the most minutes on the Pistons team. Horace Grant and Scottie Pippen were both 23 when he coached the Bulls and they got a ton of minutes. Jordan and Oakley at ages 23 both played a ton of minutes.
We are in a different era now so 23-24 back then is like 20-21 now by NBA standards.
Regardless of age if a player is willing to play some hard nose defense and give the game his heart a coach will play them.

The harping on his players-
Sorry... That is what a coach does, that is what a leader does, that is what a manager does, that is what a boss does, and that is a tactic that will push a player to do their best. I'm willing to bet any amount of money that Phil Jackson, and Greg Popavich do their fair share of bitching towards their players, yet nobody points that out with them because they win. They also have players that are willing to except it (meaning they are coachable). If the players are coachable then the complaining and preaching shouldn't be a problem.

[LongLiveHinkie]

LB has won though and Doug Collins hasn't done anything as a coach in a long time.

[youngcrev]

What he did with the Pistons in the mid 90's was amazing. He took a team that had one star player in Grant Hill (some of us remember how special he actually was) and molded them into a 50+ win team. They were great defensively and had it not been for Michael Jordan's return to the NBA they may have made a trip to the finals.

They didn't play the Bulls in a playoff series or make it out of the 1st round under Collins.

[Maeiv]

Doug Collins sounds a lot like Scott Skiles.

If anything, I think a tough coach is what the Sixers need. Cheeks and Dileo were too nice, and Eddie Jordan couldn't discipline a puppy.

But in his first year, I doubt Collins can make the Sixers a playoff team. The Sixers do not have the personnel to work at a slow pace, half court, grind it out games. They lack shooters and good defenders.

Iguodala, Holiday and Dalembert are all decent defenders but it falls off HORRIBLY after that. Lou Williams, Elton Brand, Thaddeus Young, and Mareese Speights have horrific defense. I just hope that with the coaching change, comes some major trades this coming offseason

[Mojo7]

I'm good with Collins. He would be something new; the result of neither the Brown school or Stefanski's cronyism. He gives us a lot of what Brown does, without as much melodrama. He is a taskmaster and a teacher, two things that this team needs desperately.

Regarding the slow pace issue, imo, pace is not the most important indicator. You can have a running team that plays at a slow-to-moderate pace, especially if they force a lot of long grinding possessions defensively where they make teams work against the shot clock all the time.

I do believe this team should push the ball on makes, certainly, but not in a 7-secs or less frenzy of quick shots. If the team can get an easy bucket, go, but if not, pull it back out. This team should be top 5 if not top 3 in Fast break points. Pace is not the big thing that Hollinger's piece makes it out to be.

Like Brown and Skiles, Collins can wear out his welcome. The chances that he stays more than 3 seasons are slim. With that said, the key is to have his heir on staff(like Phil Jackson in Chicago). Someone who can continue the positives that Collins establishes(defense, smart play etc), while reduces any negatives. Given that McKie played for him, that might be a possibility. You might have Snow in the house as well.

[bballin76]

I'm on board with Collins as the intermediate coach needed until we get a championship caliber coach when the team is ready for that next step.

The Sixers need to learn the game. Collins will teach them how to play to win. That's something they desparately need to know.

[ankle420breaker]

I'm ok with interviewing him... at least the interviewing stage of the process is in effect. Now I'm ready to hear the next name on the list. Do I hear a Laimbeer?

[steveb21]

A former all-star Sixers guard returns to coach the team...what's not to like about that? How many people here are old enough to remember Collins as a player in the 70's? I like it for the sentimental value alone...not to mention the guy can actually coach basketball. This would be getting back to 76er roots!

Mind you I still have a feeling Snyder will get his way and we'll have LB. He seems like he's stuck on the success he had in the 90's and can't let that go. Either way it's not a bad situation to be in but I think Collins would be more focused on the long term as opposed to LB.

[dond]

I too would be disappointed with hiring Doug Collins.

My impression of him has always been as a preacher, focusing on the negative.

Picture this ...

You are a C student in school and when you bring home examples of your work, all you hear from your parents is how you could have done better (i.e. "you should have done it this way, you shouldn't have done this, this would have been a better way, etc ...)

Your parents are absolutely correct, BUT it is deflating to your self-esteem and in my opinion, eventually can lead to "giving up" on your part.

That is Collins. He is absolutely correct in his assessments, but deflating and annoying to the players over time. Now, he might get by with that with a talented team, but not with the Sixers.

They need an upbeat, encouraging coach who still strives for improvement but focuses on the good things they do, not the bad things.

My opinion !

[tk76]

The team does not have to find a coach who is a perfect fit for a young, athletic squad- but I don't want another horrible fit.

Part of the abject failure of EJ's tenure was trying to apply a Princeton scheme to the wrong group of players. On the same token, bringing in a coach who prefers a snails pace and working with high BB IQ vets would be a terrible fit.

In fact, Mo probably was the best fit this team had- if only he was a bit tougher on them. But if they chose a guy like JVG,Collins or LB they will be taking a good coach and saddling them with a roster whose strengths are not part of the coaches game plan. Those coaches should be brought in to coach experienced teams ready to make the final jump. Not a Sixers team early in the rebuilding stage. Otherwise you are just begging for short-sighted band-aid moves that make us the next Bobcats.

[ExplosionsInDaSky]

"youngcrev"
They didn't play the Bulls in a playoff series or make it out of the 1st round under Collins.

SO WHAT! He still made the Pistons a better team. Correcting me on historical information regarding the Pistons playoff results under Collins is completely irrelevant to what I am talking about. I know they didn't play the Bulls in the playoffs. They were however considered contenders in the east and atleast a threat to compete which they did do. A couple of seasons ago the Mavericks won 67 games and were ousted by the Warriors in the first round of the playoffs. The Mavericks were considered contenders that year as well. POINTLESS on your part to bring that up. Stay to the topic... which happens to be.... Is Doug Collins a good fit here????????

[ZzAzZ]

I too would be disappointed with hiring Doug Collins.

My impression of him has always been as a preacher, focusing on the negative.

Picture this ...

You are a C student in school and when you bring home examples of your work, all you hear from your parents is how you could have done better (i.e. "you should have done it this way, you shouldn't have done this, this would have been a better way, etc ...)

Your parents are absolutely correct, BUT it is deflating to your self-esteem and in my opinion, eventually can lead to "giving up" on your part.

That is Collins. He is absolutely correct in his assessments, but deflating and annoying to the players over time. Now, he might get by with that with a talented team, but not with the Sixers.

They need an upbeat, encouraging coach who still strives for improvement but focuses on the good things they do, not the bad things.

My opinion !

Which is exactly what we need and haven't had in the past few years. You know who else coaches like that? Phil Jackson, Larry Brown, SVG, Doc Rivers, Avery Johnson and the list goes on. Not bad company to be in if you ask me.

[steveb21]

Add a darkhorse candidate to the list: former Toronto coach Sam Mitchell.

He got a raw deal from the Raptors a couple of years ago. I was hoping he'd get an interview last year but apparently it was Jordan or bust. I think he'd also be a good fit for this team. Maybe not the disciplinarian that AJ, LB or Collins would be but I seem to remember him doing a pretty good job with the team he had.

[Dedicated_76ers_fan]

He coached that miserably flawed Raptors squad to the playoffs, so anything's possible.

[bballin76]

Here's a name:

Mike Woodson.

Even if the LB thing doesn't pan out, a Hawks 1st round exit could make him available to us.

[The Guilty Party]

And now for the big name that I'm sure Snider would LOVE to land... Phil Jackson.

http://sports.espn.go.com/los-angeles/n ... id=5146034

According to Jeannie Buss, she believes Phil will be coaching somewhere next season even if it's not in LA. According to her, there will be a lot of great jobs available this summer which begs the question... which jobs?

Would Phil return to Chicago?? Even if Miami ousted their coach, I can't see Pat Riley hiring Phil Jackson because of ego issues. I guess he could switch over to the Clippers but if he wants to coach and wants to leave the Lakers, I'd give him full power here (Pres, GM, and coach). You can say that the man has been lucky to have the best players in the game but the fact of the matter is that he has won with those players when other coaches weren't able to do so. The finishing touch to him being without a doubt the best NBA coach ever would be for him to take a non-playoff team and then turn into a champion before he retires.