What's the plan?
The latest 76ers news from Philly.com.
What's the plan?
Two weeks ago, 76ers President and General Manager Ed Stefanski fired the coach he'd just hired, Eddie Jordan. At the press conference, Stefanski sat alone and that seemed an omen for his fate, too. It didn't seem too distant in the future that Stefanski would be the subject of another press conference, this one announcing Comcast-Spectacor's decision to "go in a different direction" with their team leadership.
But that hasn't happened. What also hasn't happened is a public declaration that Stefanski's job is safe. As of right now, his job isn't guaranteed. And yet this year's coaching search is playing out with remarkably similar candidates (minus Eddie Jordan) as last year's coaching search.
Here's what we have so far: Doug Collins, contacted. Avery Johnson, contacted. On the list: Dwane Casey (still coaching with the Dallas Mavericks), Tom Thibodeau (still coaching with the Boston Celtics), and Mike Budenholzer (still coaching with the San Antonio Spurs). Also reportedly being discussed: Jeff Van Gundy, Mike Fratello, and former Toronto Raptors coach Sam Mitchell.
If you look back to this search a year ago, almost all of those names overlap. Two weeks ago, when Stefanski spoke about this search, it seemed like they were going to be going over all kinds of names and potential candidates, coming up with new guys on the upswing of their careers, making a list of young, sharp coaches who would be up for this challenge, and then uncovering a guy perfectly suited for this team and this organization.
A coach that would mesh with the team's plan and the culture of the 76ers. Right?
But of course that's impossible, because here's the bigger problem: there doesn't seem to be a plan or a culture. Right now, that's the more pressing hole than the coaching vacancy. Because if Stefanski stays (and that's an issue in itself), and hires any one of the aforementioned guys, most of whom are surely very strong candidates, you still have a situation where the team itself is filled with some guys who fit one style and other guys who fit another. And none of them seem particularly thrilled to be a part of this organization right now.
So what's the plan? Maybe Stefanski didn't owe fans an explanation two years ago. Maybe he could just say he was "working hard to make the right decision" and that would have been all he owed them. Maybe last season he had the leverage to keep quiet and make any coaching decision he wanted. Not anymore. If Stefanski is going to stay, then he has to prove he has a game plan to remake this team. Because right now, if you look at the above collection of coaching names, it appears as if the Sixers are going to recycle everyone else's coaching lists, hire a coach who has no more affiliation to this roster and this organization than a tourist.
And, right about now, very few fans want Stefanski to be making this decision. Because there isn't a plan. Or if there is, the Sixers have done a great job of making random decisions that don't point towards the existence of a plan.
It doesn't seem the Sixers' fan base is asking for an instant fix. They're frustrated because there appears to be no direction. You can't get on board if the boat is tossing and turning and won't hold steady -- when that happens, you just want to get out of its way. So make it clear which way this ship is going. Make it known exactly what the plan is so there's a reason to pay attention and understand the direction of the franchise, even if that means the direction is down for at least one more season. Fans could live with that, if that was the plan.
This franchise needs some innovative, outside-the-box thinking. Of course Ed Snider, Peter Luukko, and Ed Stefanski could woo Doug Collins, or Dwane Casey, or Tom Thibodeau. And of course the Sixers could get from 27 wins to 35-40 wins. And guess what? The Wachovia Center would still be half-full. And there would still be no greatness in the team's future; just hanging around waiting for lightning to strike.
What's the plan? What's the team's culture? Is Stefanski in or out? If he's in, if he's staying, then he must have outlined a pretty nice plan of attack. One that, if shared, might help fans get over their current frustration with his previous decisions, one that might allow them to support the next decision.
If he's out, get it done, and give the reigns to someone with fresh thinking, someone who can see this franchise, and this roster, with clear vision.
Because it isn't a pretty picture.
--Kate
To me it seems "the plan" is usually determined by what coach is in place. There didn't seem to be " a plan" when the eagles hired andy reid, or " a plan" when the phillies hired charlie manuel" was hired. Reid instituted his plan, and charlie managed the assembled talent using his plan. I imagine the plan includes finding the right coach to utilize and optimize this teams talents, to instill respect and committment from his players, and to get the sixers back into the playoffs. It can be done, just look at this years playoff teams and you can see some that were in worse shape than the sixers 3 years ago. It seems plans in the NBA are shaped by the rigid system of player movement, salary cap and luck in the draft, than by some 10 year visionary plan.— mmonahan- To me it seems "the plan" is usually determined by what coach is in place. There didn't seem to be " a plan" when the eagles hired andy reid, or " a plan" when the phillies hired charlie manuel" was hired. Reid instituted his plan, and charlie managed the assembled talent using his plan. I imagine the plan includes finding the right coach to utilize and optimize this teams talents, to instill respect and committment from his players, and to get the sixers back into the playoffs. It can be done, just look at this years playoff teams and you can see some that were in worse shape than the sixers 3 years ago. It seems plans in the NBA are shaped by the rigid system of player movement, salary cap and luck in the draft, than by some 10 year visionary plan.— mmonahan
- Kate...to get back to a great Sixer team two things must happen; get a great center and a great point guard. Then, instill the need to play D each and every play and look to measurables like turnovers, fast break points, etc., to improve on. Get good quality/team players. Easy, right?— psuwelsh
- For the most part, an interesting series of postings here, well thought out. I do believe the GM needs to put a plan in place for the personnel he has put together and bring in the appropriate coach to execute that plan. Yes, ultimately, a superstar is vital for championships, but not necessarily to get to the conference championship series. To give Stefanski his due (which is not easy) he did have a plan, but lacked the right personnel and the right coach. He realized that the running style of the Sixers which garnered 81 victories in two seasons and two first-round playoff exits was unsuited for the playoffs where half-court offense and solid defense predominate. He thus brought in Elton Brand to post up and traded for Kapono for the three point shot to open up the lanes and drafted Holiday, a defensive minded point guard. His mistakes: traded Reggie Evans, a bruiser inside to get Kapono, having unwisely traded Kyle Korver for nothing. Signed a seriously injured Brand rather than look for a different half court presence. Allowed Andre Miller to walk, the one point guard who could run both the break and the half-court offense and could teach Holiday. Signed Iverson, who was pretty much finished. AND brought in Jordan to run the half-court offense he envisioned. Over time, Jordan might have been marginally successful (see Wizards after his poor first season) but the personnel was unable or unwilling to learn his system, which was too dramatic a break from the Cheeks-Dileo regimes. In addition, the team lacked the personnel to play sound perimeter and interior defense and Jordan showed little interest in that end of the court. If Stefanski stays, he needs to continue looking at half-court offense and much better team defense and bring in the personnel and, most importantly, the right coach. Fast break, "showtime" basketball is fun to watch, but unless you are the Lakers back in the day, defense and half-court offense (with some running) are the way to go.— chuckw
- Chuck, I think you implicitly called for Stefanski's firing. That sure was a lot of bad decisions or decisions that didn't work in very a short time period. Therefore add Fire Eddie to Mikey's plan.— miket47
- miket47: does appear that way, doesn't it? Would love to see the Sixers steal Joe Dumars from the Pistons, an organization in even greater disarray at the moment than the Sixers.— chuckw
- Kate: Do you think Eddie Jordan would give you one last interview? I need a good laugh and would like to see him once again defend his rotation or tell us how his new smile and $6 mil will be used. Better yet he can give his opinion of Iggy and the rest of this bumblin bunch.— bigtuna
- Salmons is an unselfish player. He wouldn't fit in with this team. Besides, Stefanski is too much of a genius to try a solid player who makes his team better. Look at the garbage he insists on keeping and trading for. I thought he'd be a good GM. I was wrong.— Ballgame
- Serious problem. Mr. Snyder needs to do the following; get rid of Stefanski and hire Larry Brown as GM. Let Larry hire a coach hopefully Doug Collins who knows Philly. Trade Brand and Dalambert for whatever we can get and re-sign Iguadala to a long term contract so we can build something around him. This is not to say he is that great but watching Andre Miller evry night and knowing he is laughing at us sucks!!— hrlevine
- Serious problem. Mr. Snyder needs to do the following; get rid of Stefanski and hire Larry Brown as GM. Let Larry hire a coach hopefully Doug Collins who knows Philly. Trade Brand and Dalambert for whatever we can get and re-sign Iguadala to a long term contract so we can build something around him. This is not to say he is that great but watching Andre Miller evry night and knowing he is laughing at us sucks!!— hrlevine
- Since following philadelphia b ball since the mid 50's the teams have won 3 titles and been competitors for the title only when they had elite players...Paul Arizin and Neil Johnston along with Gola in'56, then Wilt came along winning a title with the '67 gang and staying in contention about every year he was playing here. Then came Doc and when paired with Malone a title arrived. So no matter what the "plan" in the NBA if you don't have two of the elite players, you don't have a chance for a title. A Fitz Dixon can't go out and buy another Doctor in this modern NBA. So no matter what the discussion, nothing's going to change much without the Sixers landing another Moses to part the seas and lead us to the promised land.— retzlaff
- I think that Luukko and Snider are too busy basking in the glow of the Flyers' playoff run, which is why the 76ers need new leadership. Joe Dumars would be a solid choice, but do Snider and Luukko even know who he is?— 76erfn
- Bring Larry Brown back - as the point guard. Larry knows the system.— Boru
- Go with Buldenholzer. Other than reverting to Larry Brown, he has the best coaching pedigree we're going to get. The sooner we can get him in here the better. He has been huge in running the Spurs offense for their last ~12 dominant years and is said to have a great, calm demeanor. Let him work with the young guys (Holliday, Williams, Young, and whoever we can get this year) and do what he can to incorporate Brand (obviously he knows how to get the most out of a 4, he's been there for the formation of one of the best in the history of the game). These guys have been cheated for the last year (at least) with a complete lack of discipline and cohesive offensive planning. This is the first step.— greenbuff
- BRAVO KATE! The fact that there is no plan, only random acts, means we need new leadership. Are you listening Mr. Snider?— Shenkman3
John Mitchell is in his second year covering the 76ers for the Inquirer after joining the paper in November 2011. He covered the Washington Wizards for the Washington Times from 1998 to 2008. He's also worked at the Philadelphia Tribune, the Wilmington News Journal, Courier-Post, Trenton Times and Elmira Star-Gazette.Born and raised in West Philadelphia - not too far from Will Smith - he graduated from Overbrook High School the same year the 76ers won their last championship. He's a proud graduate of Howard University and the proud father of two sons, Jared and Jordan.
ABOUT MARC NARDUCCI
Marc Narducci has served in a variety of roles with the Inquirer since beginning in 1983. He has covered the 76ers as a backup and a beat writer. In addition, Narducci has covered everything from the Super Bowl to the World Series and a lot in between. Narducci also has a true passion for South Jersey scholastic sports, which he has covered for many years.
