He was a scout.

Stefanski was scouting because his usual scout, Tony DiLeo, is now his head coach.

What began in October as a steady operation - contract-extended head coach in Maurice Cheeks, filled roster with Elton Brand, high expectations off last year's playoff season - became makeshift in December with Cheeks' firing, then Brand's dislocated right shoulder, then a 13-20 start.

But when the Sixers - and Stefanski - returned from their six-game road trip with a 1-5 record, Stefanski took a few minutes to answer questions about this question-filled season.

Have you been happy with DiLeo's efforts as head coach?

"I'm very happy with Tony," Stefanski said. "I gave him the option before this happened, 'Do you want to go down there and coach or not?' And he wanted to do it. But still, the bottom line is we're about wins. We're not satisfied losing all those road games, although I thought we played better. I think the emphasis on pushing the ball has been there most of the games and our half-court execution has been better with Tony."

Since that road trip, the Sixers have defeated the Houston Rockets, Milwaukee Bucks and Charlotte Bobcats. Although modest, that three-game streak carries with it the weight of expectations, the hope that, maybe, improved basketball will set up shop in the Wachovia Center.

What are your expectations for the rest of this season?

"The one thing is that I'm really happy . . . no, I shouldn't say really . . . I'm happy with the group of guys because their effort has been there," Stefanski said.

"I'm really anxious, and I don't know when that date is going to be, but I can't wait to see Elton come back and just fit in with our style. And Elton will complement it. One thing I've always said is that Elton is a smart player. He will know how to fit into our style of play. What happened early in the season? I don't know why it didn't work early."

Brand dislocated his shoulder on Dec. 17 during DiLeo's second game as head coach. Until then, through 24 games, the Sixers' play had been confusing: one minute bursting up court for an Andre Iguodala dunk, the next walking down the floor toward a stagnant, unwatchable, half-court play.

Stefanski, though, and DiLeo say re-incorporating Brand - which could happen within the next 10 days - will be a much smoother transition the second time.

Since Brand's injury, Iguodala's numbers have increased. Iguodala, who signed an $80 million contract in the off-season, clanged his way through the first quarter of the season: Through 17 games, he averaged 13.0 points per game; for the last 19 games, he has averaged 19.6.

"We did pay Andre a lot of money," Stefanski said. "But his numbers up to that point warranted that kind of money. We wanted his future as a Sixer, and we didn't want to go into a free-agent year with him.

"Even when Elton was with us earlier this year, Andre was saying he was feeling more and more comfortable."

And so the Sixers, whose season has already had more turns than a mountain road, face another.