Now that the Sixers have completed much of the process, the pressure rests on Brett Brown to deliver the team to the promised land.
The arrival of Jimmy Butler has brought a renewed vigor to the Sixers' season and represents an important step in The Process. The roster is much better than it has ever been under Brown's leadership, and a fan base excited for the young Sixers to compete for a championship is ready to see dividends from their investment.
For Brown, signed through the 2022 season, the pressure may never be greater for him to win and win now.
Brown's time managing a subpar roster made him one of the master tinkerers in the NBA, oftentimes piecing together rotations with players never intended to win games. Now comes another test of his coaching acumen, making these pieces fit.
The concerns regarding the rotation came up in Jimmy Buckets' debut last night. Despite a strong start from Embiid (4 for 5 shooting, 11 points, three threes), Brown kept to his regular rotation, taking him out of the game halfway through the first quarter, seemingly stalling his momentum. And a hot shooting Wilson Chandler didn't see the floor during critical moments of the fourth quarter. Those rotational issues will only get more complex, as it seems general manager Elton Brand isn't finished making moves just yet.
For young teams in the NBA looking to make the leap from exciting lineups to competing rosters, it's not unusual for front offices to bring in a different coach to continue the team's growth. The Golden State Warriors replaced head coach Mark Jackson with Steve Kerr after three seasons in Oakland, even after Jackson took them from 23 wins to 51. Kerr was a major key, however, as the Warriors went on to win three of the next four NBA titles.
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We're seeing this season the value new head coach Mike Budenholzer has added to the Bucks. The Raptors seem to be taking a forward step with Nick Nurse replacing Dwane Casey.
If Brown is unable to deliver significant progress this year for the Sixers, the new-look Sixers front office could look at some point to upgrade the position with a more win-now head coach.
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