Some thoughts and observations left over from the 76ers’ most recent game, a 103-94 loss to the Washington Wizards on Friday at The Center. To best access this content on a mobile device, select the “view in browser” option.
During intermission of Friday’s game between the 76ers and Washington Wizards, there were important halftime talks taking place. One was being given inside the Sixers’ locker room, where Brett Brown and his staff were trying to figure out how to sustain their club’s encouraging start, and preserve its four-point lead.The other noteworthy speech was unfolding not too far from the Sixers’ locker room, in the lobby of the space at The Center where the team has a set of offices. There, Jerry Colangelo, making his third trip to Philadelphia in the less than two months, addressed a group of season ticket holders. While the nature of these two halftime meetings might have been slightly different, the objective of both were – to a certain degree – one in the same. Lay out a vision, and back it up with a plan for implementation. “All I’ve ever done has been involved with start-ups,” Colangelo told the fans gathered before him. He played an integral role in creating the Chicago Bulls and Phoenix Suns from scratch in the late 1960s, and later did the same with Major League Baseball’s Arizona Diamondbacks in the 1990s. “When [the Sixers] opportunity was presented to me, I saw it as another opportunity to help.”When it comes to lending hoops help, Colangelo has established a Hall of Fame track record. During his stint with Phoenix, which coincided with the first 44 years of the franchise, Colangelo – in the capacity of general manager, interim coach, and owner – steered the Suns to all 29 of their playoff berths. The team has not qualified for the post-season since 2010, two years before Colangelo’s eventual departure.Then, there’s the case of the United States Men’s National Basketball Team. Colangelo inherited control of the organization on the heels of the country’s uncharacteristic bronze medal finish in the 2004 Athens Olympics. In each of the two Olympic games that have followed, the U.S. has earned gold medals. Furthermore, on Colangelo’s watch as Managing Director, the United States has suffered just a single loss in 76 formal contests. Before the SIxers and Wizards tipped off on Friday, Colangelo shared in greater detail some of the team-building insights he’s gained over the course of a near five-decade career. He was asked, from a personnel standpoint, what position is most necessary for a team to win on a consistent basis.”That changes,” said Colangelo, a four-time NBA Executive of the Year. “I could build a case for saying if you have a great point guard, because I’ve seen a great point guard, I’m using [Steve] Nash as an example, you can go from 20-some wins to 50-some wins overnight.”Nash, who won consecutive league MVP awards in 2005 and 2006, wasn’t the only elite point guard to play for Phoenix while Colangelo was with the organization. When the Suns surged to the NBA Finals in 1976, All-Star Paul Westphal assumed the position. In the early 1990s, when Phoenix again qualified for the Finals, it boasted another All-Star point guard in Kevin Johnson. Not too long after that, before the reigns were passed along to Nash, Jason Kidd presided over the pointColangelo called the point guard spot “a great place to start” for forming the nucleus of a team. “It takes other people to finish, and of course [the Suns] had some other guys who were ready, but they needed someone who could deliver it,” he said. “A great point guard, the way the rules are, it gave the little guy an opportunity to get his job done.””If you could get a point guard with heighth, take Magic [Johnson]. Magic, at his size, was the best of all worlds, because a small guard or a 6’9″ or 6’10” guard who could handle the ball just as well, there’s a difference.”Colangelo acknowledged the significance of other positions as well, saying, “We always talk about rim protectors, centers, but I like wings, too. I like somebody who can score, power forward. It’s a little bit of everything.”In respect to the roster composition of the club that Colangelo is currently serving, the Sixers feature promising frontcourt depth. Nerlens Noel, now in his second campaign, earned NBA First-Team All-Rookie honors last season. Jahlil Okafor has made a case for NBA Rookie of the Year consideration this season. There is also Joel Embiid, the third overall selection in the 2014 NBA Draft, who is in the process of rehabbing from right foot surgery. “People do concentrate on the three bigs, you hear that all the time,” Colangelo noted. “That will take care of itself to some degree. There are a number of options with bigs, but you need to look at the one [point guard], the two [shooting guard], the three [small forward]. Those are positions that we’re giving a lot of thought to, because we just need to.”Throughout a lifetime in basketball and professional sports, Colangelo has also learned to rely on instincts, and take a holistic approach to evaluating personnel that places value on player intangibles. “When people talk about that, it’s part of the package,” said Colangelo. “You might say the old time guys look at all the intangibles. They didn’t have the luxury of technology and analytics. The solution here is, you take all of it, and you mix it all together, and you’re better prepared to make the right decisions with that kind of a mix.” “I’m big on intangibles,” Colangelo continued. “I always say, ‘If you can make two incisions, one in the forehead and one over the heart, you’ll know exactly what you have,’ and the rest of it is guesswork.” The formula that Colangelo has followed throughout his career has delivered impactful results. As he told the Sixers fans assembled around him at halftime of Friday’s tilt at The Center, he feels these principles, combined with making collaborations with the rest of the team’s brain trust, will ultimately yield a desired outcome. “People want a winner,” Colangelo said. “I understand that. I would only ask that you be a little bit more patient because I believe this thing will turn a lot sooner than some people realize.”
During a near 10-minute question and answer session with reporters on Friday, Jerry Colangelo highlighted the performance of Sixers’ head coach Brett Brown.”I think he’s done a terrific job, I really do,” said Colangelo. “I’ve had chances to see him in action in San Antonio, but more importantly, in U.S.A. Basketball world competition. He coached the Australian team. I’ve seen what he can do.”Since Colangelo came on board as the Sixers’ Chairman of Basketball Operations on December 7th, he and Brown have communicated regularly.”I’ve been involved for two months,” Colangelo said. “I’ve spent a lot of time talking basketball with him, and I’ve watched all of our games. Thank goodness for NBA TV, where you get to see all the games with the iPad. I think very highly of him.”
Leading up to the February 18th NBA trade deadline, Jerry Colangelo spoke frequently with Sixers President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Sam Hinkie, as well as with other members of the organization. He served as a sounding board for various scenarios that surfaced. About the Sixers’ activity at the deadline, Colangelo said, “It was what it was. I didn’t think we had really many options in terms of trade to speak of.” As he did several times throughout his media availability on Friday, Colangelo emphasized the need for the Sixers to take a patient, informed approach to making decisions that will carry substantial long-term implications. “It’s just too early,” said Colangelo. “There are times I’ve been very excited about certain dates, deadlines, drafts, and free agency. We’re moving in that direction.”
