All Sixers can do is learn and move forward

WHEN YOU look at the 76ers in the future - and really, that's the only sane way to look at them - wouldn't the vision be clear if it included a young big man who is one of the best in the league and a star point guard who can do just about everything? Sprinkle around that a terrific three-point shooter, a proven scorer and a rookie center with above-average defensive skills and thoughts of playoffs and 50-win seasons begin to materialize.

Careful what you wish for.

The Sacramento Kings entered the Wells Fargo Center Wednesday with all of the above. But they were winners just once in the previous nine games and questions about their coach's future swirled.

While Kings coach George Karl was busy deflecting questions about the turmoil seemingly surrounding his then-21-31 team before the game, Sixers coach Brett Brown couldn't wait to talk about what happened with him and his players after Monday's overtime loss to the Clippers, in which they blew a 19-point lead.

Monday was another in a series of learning lessons for Brown's young team, one in which it blew a defensive assignment in letting J.J. Redick tie the game with 10 seconds to go on a three, then failed to properly execute a chance to win the game on the ensuing possession, when Jahlil Okafor missed a last-second shot.

Similar pitfalls arose Wednesday in a 114-110 loss to the Kings, in which the Sixers squandered a 17-point lead and were outscored in the final quarter, 39-23.

Heads droop, but only momentarily. Live, learn and move on. That is the Sixers' way, and they have totally embraced it.

"I feel like we're all in it together," said Nik Stauskas, who played with DeMarcus Cousins, Rajon Rondo, Marco Belinelli and Rudy Gay in Sacramento last season for three different head coaches. "Almost everybody on this team is new in this league, all in our first, second or third years and trying to figure it out together.

"The thing about coach Brown is that he's been a (head) coach in this league for just over two seasons now, so we're all trying to figure it out at the same time. When we make mistakes, we're upset with ourselves but we learn from it and move on from it together.

"Even though we're on a pace to lose more games than we did last season with the Kings, I just feel like the mood and overall level of happiness is a lot higher here just because no one really expects us to win games because of the lack of experience we have. We took the pressure off ourselves and we just go out there and compete as hard as we can. I think that's the one thing that everyone will say about us who plays us. No matter what the score is, we don't quit. We always play hard. That's the main difference I see here than in Sacramento when I was there."

While the losses stay with coaches a lot longer than they do with players, Brown quickly finds the remedy to cure that losing feeling. On Tuesday, he watched film with Okafor of the last regulation possession that ended with a bad shot against the Clippers. He went over that defensive lapse that allowed the tying basket. And when he did, he was met with bright eyes and absorbing minds. Time, of course, will tell what is consumed, corrected and learned. But for now, coach and players are getting it.

"I had a chance to be with my son's (AAU basketball) team (Tuesday) and the kids are there and you have a chance to feel the city cares about basketball," Brown aid. "The city loves basketball. Passionate fans. Jahlil's shot, we looked at it and we talked with Jah. That was a play we've run for (the Spurs' Tim Duncan) before and to be able to put him in situations . . . I wish he was closer (to the basket), at an elbow. I wish he drove DeAndre (Jordan). But nobody has remorse. I'm glad he had the ball. We missed a switch with Redick. We beat the Detroit Pistons with the same concept to go win a championship (with San Antonio). We just missed one of the last switches when you know they are going for a three-point shot.

"It's a learning experience for Jerami (Grant). We went through it with Nerlens (Noel) in New York with Melo (Carmelo Anthony) trying to get close, and you can't let him rise up. (In the closing seconds against Golden State), Steph Curry finds Draymond (Green) who finds Harrison Barnes (for a game-winning three) . . . These situations are fantastic. All these things for our young guys is fantastic and it's going to help grow us.

"(For the fans) it's not good enough to play with the Golden State Warriors to the end, or the LA Clippers to the end or the Chicago Bulls to the end, legitimate NBA teams or deep playoff teams. That's not good enough. You've got to win. So you're reviewed, and I think it's just a great situation for my young team and for me to help them get through some of that stuff."

Okafor responded against Sacramento with 26 points and 10 rebounds (as Noel sat out with a sore knee). Okafor thoroughly outplayed Kings rookie center Willie Cauley-Stein, though he did fail to get out on a Cousins jumper late in the game that gave the Kings a lead they wouldn't relinquish. Grant was outstanding at the defensive end, blocking four shots. Stauskas went for 16 points against his former team.

But the Sixers head to the All-Star break again looking for answers and in desperate need of some mental and physical recharging. They'll be eager to start it back up in nine days, excited to see each other, motivated to get better over the final 29 games.

As for Sacramento?

Well, if you're a player, you'd probably rather be in Philadelphia, believe it or not.

On Twitter: @BobCooney76

Blog: philly.com/Sixersblog