Philadelphia 76ers head coach Brett Brown should be crowned the 2017-18 NBA coach of the year, and have his named etched on the Red Auerbach Trophy.
There is a case for several coaches, including Quin Snyder (Utah Jazz), Terry Stotts (Portland Trail Blazers), Brad Stevens (Boston Celtics), and the obvious contenders Mike D’Antoni (Houston Rockets), Steve Kerr (Golden State Warriors), and Greg Popovich (San Antonio Spurs). All would be deserving winners.
However, Brown inherited a team in rebuild mode in 2013-14 and this year (2017-18), the 76ers will make their first playoff appearance since 2011-12.
In his first year with the then youngest team in the NBA, the 76ers tied the league’s record for losses, with 26 straight. Philadelphia would go on to win just 19 games, and finish with the second worst record. They would back that up with an 18-win season (third-worst overall record).
Philadelphia’s record wouldn’t improve the following season, delivering the franchises second worst record (nine wins in the 1972-73 season). The writing was on the wall early when the team lost 18 straight and in doing so, broke their own record of consecutive losses, and presently hold that record of 28 games (Philadelphia lost the last ten games of the previous season).
A year on, Brown’s role as a coach, mentor, leader, would see a significant improvement and the positive change that all within Philadelphia, and NBA head office, were waiting for. Despite finishing second last in the Eastern conference at the end of the 2016-17 season, the 76ers had won 18 more games than the year before.
This would be Joel Embiid’s rook year, after missing the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons due to injury. Ben Simmons would miss this year due to injury.
Welcome 2017-18. Markelle Faultz was selected as the first overall draft and would join a roster including Embiid, Simmons, Robert Covington, T.J McConnell, J.J. Reddick, and Dario Saric.
At the time of writing this article, I am watching the 76ers play the LeBron James led Cleveland Cavaliers. Philadelphia won by two points, in a game where both James and Simmons recorded triple doubles. Embiid didn’t play due to injury.
The win against Cleveland moved the 76ers up to third in the East, and just eight games behind the leader in the Eastern conference, the Toronto Raptors.
With Dallas, Atlanta, and Milwaukee remaining as their final three games of the regular season, Philadelphia should finish with a 50 plus season, their first since 2000-01. The 2000-01 season was also the year Larry Brown was crowned at coach of the year.
Brown has led the 76ers through a transformation and for the first time since 2011-12, Philadelphia will play in the NBA playoffs.
Brett Brown accepted a job many wouldn’t have. He was coach, mentor, educator, and performed many more roles. He lost more games than he won. Yet, the ‘process’ has delivered positive results. It should also deliver Brown with the Red Auerbach Trophy.
Cam Larkin
Roar Guru
A very tight year, that's for sure!
Swampy
Guest
I would think Dwayne Casey would be a front runner. No real major change in personnel and the team will win 59 or 60. They've changed their style and are the top team in the East. Can't really put it down to much else but the coach.
Jerry
Guest
Brad Stevens for me, the way he's managed to get the team to peform with the loss of Hayward minutes into the season and keeping them relatively consistent without Irving is pretty incredible.