The Philadelphia 76ers are expected to take quite a tumble and be on the bottom of the league standings next year. The team that once showed such promise and defeated the Bulls (albeit without Derrick Rose), has since been gutted (Iguodala gone, Jrue Holiday gone, Bynum a no show & now gone) and now they have a brand new head coach with no head coaching experience. It would seem like they’re in tank mode with the Boston Celtics but coach Brett Brown assures Evan Turner that isn’t the case. Read more after the jump.
From Tom Moore of PhillyBurbs.com (via HoopsHype):
During an interview at his Evan Turner Basketball ProCamp on Saturday at New Hope-Solebury High School, Turner said he doesn’t subscribe to that point of view. And, based on his Friday night telephone conversation with new coach Brett Brown, Brown doesn’t, either.
“I told him, ‘Everybody wants to be in tank mode and thinks we’re going to lose. I intend on trying to win as much as possible because losing’s too easy,’ ” Turner said. “He said, ‘Well, they got the wrong coach if we’re going to go out and lose on purpose. We want to compete and get better.’ ”
No one ever admits to tanking but I know the players never want to lose on purpose. It’s completely up to the front office and the coaches and it’s definitely possible to make it happen whether the players want it to or not. It’s no secret that the 76ers won’t be able to compete this year as the Nets, Knicks, Pacers and Bulls have all gotten better and the Miami Heat is still a formidable force. Teams usually have to hit rock bottom before they can get really good again and the Sixers seem well on that path.
