Collins: 'I can't wait'
An enthusiastic Doug Collins said he was thrilled to be home and he returns to Philadelphia as the Sixers' 23rd head coach. Collins was the team's No. 1 overall pick in 1973.
Collins: 'I can't wait'
An enthusiastic Doug Collins said he was thrilled to be home and he returns to Philadelphia as the Sixers' 23rd head coach. Collins was the team's No. 1 overall pick in 1973.
"I can’t wait to roll up my sleeves and go to work here," Collins said. "There are some nice young peices in this organization. This team two years in a row was in the playoffs and won 41 games two years ago.
"This is going to be a defensive-minded team, with speed, quickness, high energy. We have some players on the team that I am going to have to revitalize, get their joy in the game back. When I look at the Eastern Conference, everything is so fluid … I feel very strongly the Philadelphia 76ers can be very competitive. I promised Mr. Snider this is a team he will enjoy watch to play, compete, play passionately and give fans their money's worth. Nobody knows the pulse of the city as an athlete like I do. I know if you play hard, play with joy and play as a team these people will support you. I want people to come back, be happy about their team, build it day-by-day. I’m a builder. The bigger the challenge, the more it excites me. I’ve taken on challenges everywhere I’ve been."
Collins has been away from the NBA as a head coach since the 2002-03 season, but has been an analyst with TNT.
He said he knew about 4 years ago that he planned to get back into the league as a coach, but would only consider Philadelphia or Chicago.
"I feel very up to date that I know what’s going on," Collins said. "Trust me, I am in touch with the modern day player. I love to coach, I love to teach and I’m proud to be a 76er again."
Collins stressed defense as the key to the Sixers' turnaround:"Everywhere I've been, we're going to be a high energy, very intense defensive team," he said. "Something we work on every day in practice. Something that becomes our calling card and get us through the tough times."
Collins mentoned trying to get Elton Brand and Thadeus Young back on track.
"Elton is going to be critical and get him playing the way he is capable of playing," Collins said. "He has to get healthy and get him feeling good about himself. There are some pieces, now it’s up to me to put it together. Last year was a perfect storm. Everything that could go wrong did. Guys will be excited to play, go to work and be here with the Sixers."
Asked how much retooling the roster would need, Collins said, "I don't think that much." He also cautioned that there are no shortcuts or quick fixes.
"I’m going to put all ounces of my energy into this position," he said.
Collins declined to announce his staff, but did say that Aaron McKie will remain.
As for the first step, Collins said, "We’re talking about being relevant again. I want the 76ers to be on people’s tongues again. I want the 76ers to be the basketball team that people want to see. This city loves pro basketball. This is one of the signature franchises in the NBA … We have to build something that lasts. Have core guys for 7, 8, 9 years. When you start making quick fixes, it doesn’t last.”
On Jrue Holiday: “The NBA is a point-guard driven league. That’s why I am excited to have a terrific young point guard that we can build around.”
On coaching the current NBA player: "I consider myself a teacher first and foremost. I love to watch guys get better. To me, when you teach guys how to play, you can turn ownership over, guys feel comfortable ... All players want to be coached. The great players want to learn. Players today did not grow up with tough coaches like I did ... You have to be careful when you teach and coach, you have to be careful to do it in a positive way and not make it personal. That I want you to get better. Incredible balance in truth and love. Too much truth is no good, neither is too much love. Best players I have been around always wanted to know the truth.” He also said he expected his young team to practice often.
On whether he has a specific system: "You can’t say I’m going to take this group and play this way. You have to say, what do I have and build the team around that. Every year I’ve coached I’ve had a different system because I’ve never had the same team. Every year have to adjust and play to their personality."
Team president and general manager Ed Stefanski introduced Collins with this: "When we started this process, I mentioned that we wanted to find a coach who is a teacher, a motivator and a manager. They were the three items we were really looking for. When we met Doug and sat in his home for a long time, it became clear what a teacher he was … His knowledge of the game is second to none. He is very detail-oriented. No slippage, accountability, which is dear to my heart. He is like me, we dot the I’s and cross the T’s. From a motivational standpoint, his passion for the game how he will teach these guys and give them the extra they need, he has it in him."
Collins and the 2nd pick are steps in the right direction. But lets be honest here....the only teams that win titles are those with one of the top 5 players in the NBA to build around. The Celtics needed three hall of famers plus Rondo, and still might lose to the Lakers. So lets not kid ourselves, without a top 5 NBA player, the best the Sixers could do with all the right moves is second round of the playoffs.— JonKap- At this point it seems most logical to keep Iguodala and slide him to 3, after drafting Turner of course. After the season you get Dalembert, Kapono and Green off the books, freeing up some $20+ mil to go after someone like Zach Randolph. Somewhere along the line they're gonna need some shooters to stretch the floor. That's my hope anyway, we'll see what direction Collins heads
Comment removed.- I support Collins but Stefanski si still an idiot. Really? Who the heck is "ED STEFANSKI" to interview Doug Collins for over 6 hours? If you don't know what Collins can offer at this point, then why bother?— davekrieg
- These are totally different comments from when Eddie Jordan was announced as the new Head Coach... I didn't like that choice then. I was wondering why Dough Collins didn’t get an interview last year. I've always been a Dough Collins fan and I hope that he can deliver. I want to believe... I want to believe...— DESIXERSFAN
- I dont think I can take watching Willie Greene for another year! Please draft Evan Turner!!!!— prep97
- did anyone see the pics of dougie through the years and in photo #10 of 21 they show an ap file pic of dougie going up against kevin grevey, left handed shooting guard of the then washington 'bullets' and end of the caption reads: "the player on the right is unidentified". it's julius 'errrrvvviiinnng!!!!' (a la the zink) one of the all time 50 greatest nba players ever. it's doctor 'j' !!! just called the city desk to report this. who's the editor down there ? !!!— phillyfansrdumb
- Much will depend on six things: 1. Holiday needs to become an NBA point guard who can pass to teammates in good position to score, much like Andre Miller, with whom the Sixers won 81 regular season games in two seasons. 2. Iguodala needs to be only a small forward, not a guard, needs to focus on his already stellar defense and rebounding. low post scoring, and running the wing on the break. Shoot rarely, if ever, shoot the three. 3. Brand needs to pick it up on defense and rebounding and learn to actually pass the ball off the low post occasionally. 4. Turner needs to be the two guard. 5. Dalembert, at least until he is traded at the deadline, needs to focus on defense and rebounding and passing. 6. Kapono, Young, and Williams need to be instant offense off the bench. Forget about free agents. Sixers have NO cap space.— chuckw
- Yo Citizen 92. The Seventies called and they want you and your worn out "the NBA is dying" nonsense back. And take Eskin with you. How many years have we been listening to that garbage? Welcome back Doug and Let's Go Sixers!— JLH
Evan Turner would fit nicely here. What happens if he goes number one. Washington could trade number one or draft Turner themselves. We don't need Wall. Its not a given that Wall goes first.- Am glad for the choice- but they still need 2-3 horrible years with very high draft picks. They would not have the #2 pick if Jordan had been fired earlier and they won more. They NEED to stink for a few more years. Both Brand and Iggy are not winners and need to go. Keep Sammy D and let his contract expire so they can re-build. This team is a major, major project!!!— rwolffd12
- The NY Post is saying that the Sixers have been shopping the No. 2 pick as a way to get rid of Brand's contract. If this happens, I'm done with this franchise until Stiffanski is fired. I was willing to give him one more chance, but this would be the most moronic move of all time. FIRE STIFFANSKI NOW BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.— VonHayes09
- The NY Post is saying that the Sixers have been shopping the No. 2 pick as a way to get rid of Brand's contract. If this happens, I'm done with this franchise until Stiffanski is fired. I was willing to give him one more chance, but this would be the most moronic move of all time. FIRE STIFFANSKI NOW BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.— VonHayes09
- Does trading Thad or Speights and next years first round get us the twelfth pick from Memphis? Kapono has a player option so he may not be back if he does have a clear role on this team.
- To me, the most important word Coach Collins used is "joy" - he wants his players to play with joy. And I want to feel joy when watching (and reading about) the team.— rruffin
Bob Cooney has been at the Daily News for more than 20 years, working in the sports department for the past 15. This is his third season on the Sixers beat. He has covered just about everything, but mostly college basketball, where he was the La Salle beat writer for six seasons. E-mail Bob at cooneyb@phillynews.com and follow him on Twitter.
