Do you trust the process?

[andrei]

I've been reading about the Sixers recently. With them setting all kinds of records the last few seasons, I see a lot of criticism being directed at GM Sam Hinkie, perhaps rightly so.

What is the general feeling in the US? Do people trust the process or think its a joke? Probably a lot depends on Embiid but curious to read some opinions here.

One thing i definitly like about Hinkie and his staff(including coach Brown) is that these guys are very resilient. Facing some tough pressure every day yet staying the cource - thats really tough in anny business...

[NanashiWake]

It's a tough thing to do with all the talent on other teams in the NBA. That being said, you can't just rebuild forever. Eventually you have to bring in the right veteran presence to take these youngsters to the next level. How long have the 76ers been rebuilding through the draft now? Even though they've had some winning season since, I feel they've been relying on their younger 1st rounders to carry them since 08-09 season.

[KW]

The process is only good if you draft well. IMO the Sixers have drafted terribly but the 2016 draft is going to be the ultimate test. They have two top 5 picks and at least one other first rounder coming. That will make or break them. Still they are overdoing the tank- at least field a roster with an NBA caliber players... this is coming from a fan of the Charlotte Hornets. I feel bad for Sixers fans. They don't appear to have a mildly competitive roster for another 3 years.

[GreenBear]

Their record is actually pretty deceiving. They're not good, but they're a lot better than the media like ESPN give them credit for. They're competitive nearly every game and they've had leads in the 4th quarter of many of their recent games. They just don't know how to finish games because of their youth.

Okafor is legit good. He straight-up embarrassed ROY favorite Towns in their matchup this past week. Covington is pretty good. He was injured for most of the season so far, but he's back now and the 76ers look okay.

I'm no fan of how their GM fills their roster with so many undrafted FAs, but they have so many firsts the next couple years (in addition to Embiid and Saric) that they're going to get good pretty fast.

[NuggOlesk]

They potentially have 2016 1st pick, 4th pick, 18th pick and 24th pick. BUT they may have 4th pick, 21st pick and 26th pick. SO lot of luck is needed.

[Rob]

I think it is the right way to fo IF you draft well. However, i think drafting Embiid and Jahs kind of set them back a year in drafting. They needed a guard and they drafted 2 bigs while Noel is still on the team. If they get Simmons and a guard, they will look like a real team. I think Simmons is the real deal but one problem with simmons is he might be a 4 and not a 3 which will contribute to their logjam so idk. I like their approach atleast, drafting the Bpa regardless of position.

[NuggOlesk]

They will be bullshit for years to come, until they change the management or change the bullshit tank slogan "trust the process" They are a sorry ass name in the NBA, people talk about West and East, the draft, these things are ok, compared with letting 76ers do this shit, that gives a bad name to NBA. NBA wants to be the best league in the world, but 76ers isn't a world class team, they are a 2nd rate D League team.

[Beercloud]

For me its all about wins and losses. You win....your king - you loss.....you suck and should be treat as so.
As far as tanking, you have people spending their good hard earned money for you to put the best product on the floor, field or race track as you can. If your not winning you should be fired no matter what your so called strategy is.

Tanking gonna bring you titles? Let's think about that for a minute.
In my personal experience, winning is a habit as is losing. Without going into too much depth and being long winded let's look at football as an example. The Patriots have end of round draft picks year after year. It doesn't matter. Belichek has built a winning culture there. He practically grabs players off the street and plugs em in. Does he just grab the guy who can run the fastest, lift the most weight or throw the farthest? Or can he see a winner in the players eyes sitting across from him? Hmmmm.

Now look at teams like Jacksonville, Miami or Cleveland and a few other teams for example. They regularly get high round picks and have wheeled and dealed their way into oblivion year after year. Are these organizations just bad drafters. Can't really call Belichek a good drafter can you? Hell if he was that good wouldn't he have drafted Brady with their first pick instead of leaving him on the board for 6 rounds? He's made winning a habit and every player on that team doens't think he's gonna win.......he knows it.

In basketball the Warriors have a back up coach thats never head coached in the bigs before. He's only coached 1 summer league season. They're 18-0 and now hold an NBA record. Pretty much the same team they had 2 seasons ago. The difference is now they know they're gonna win. They've tasted it. And it tastes good.

When you tank, your doing the best you can to develop a losing habit. Which can create a losing mindset. Which can create a losing culture. Not a good culture to build in my opinion. Now that's my story and I'm sticking to it.


Disclaimer: I'm a Packer Backer and have no felling either way towards the Patriots. Go Pack Go

Edit Note: As I post this the Patriots lose in OT. lol Whoops

[NuggOlesk]

With losing mindset and without veteran guys to lead young men, we have a 0-18 team, with their star young man doing "cool" stuff:
Jahlil Okafor Pulled Over For Driving 108 MPH On Ben Franklin Bridge

[Beercloud]

Jahlil Okafor Pulled Over For Driving 108 MPH On Ben Franklin Bridge

lol. Looks like they need to put him in a race car not on the court eh.

[StOfTheStep]

I still like what they're doing. Before Hinkie, they were mired in the mediocrity of the NBA with Igoudala, MCW, and Holliday as their go to players though they were role players at best. Just sneaking into the playoffs every year without having any chance while ruining the draft status was not cutting it any more. Like most things here in Philadelphia, the popular mindset is "What have you done for me now?", while they don't really have any long term picture (see Philadelphia Phillies plummet and Chip Kelly's third year disaster, after two 10-6 seasons). Sure, it's fun for a season or two, but couple that with 5-10 years of bottom dwelling and you're gonna sink your franchise. At least Hinkie has a long term picture and is blowing up a failed system, worse comes to worse none of the prospects pan out, though with all of the lottery tickets they have now, it's hard to imagine they're all gonna be duds. Question is, when they finally come back into relevance, will Hinkie have the foresight to evolve the roster, bringing in new younger talent in exchange for ready now players blending the roster with experience and youth (if he's still here by then, that is...)?

[NuggOlesk]

I still like what they're doing. Before Hinkie, they were mired in the mediocrity of the NBA with Igoudala, MCW, and Holliday as their go to players though they were role players at best. Just sneaking into the playoffs every year without having any chance while ruining the draft status was not cutting it any more. Like most things here in Philadelphia, the popular mindset is "What have you done for me now?", while they don't really have any long term picture (see Philadelphia Phillies plummet and Chip Kelly's third year disaster, after two 10-6 seasons). Sure, it's fun for a season or two, but couple that with 5-10 years of bottom dwelling and you're gonna sink your franchise. At least Hinkie has a long term picture and is blowing up a failed system, worse comes to worse none of the prospects pan out, though with all of the lottery tickets they have now, it's hard to imagine they're all gonna be duds. Question is, when they finally come back into relevance, will Hinkie have the foresight to evolve the roster, bringing in new younger talent in exchange for ready now players blending the roster with experience and youth (if he's still here by then, that is...)?

You are their fan, I understand that, always have to trust them, but ouside in, this team shows week GMing.

But also one question, do you go to the games, do you buy their fan stuff? These fans are bringing 76ers money, and I see a 10 year rebuilding a knife in the back for these fans who give money to them day after day, waiting for the team to start winning.
And you have to give a sign you want to win, that brings in veterans who are helping with that.
Right now they gave away MCW for a draft pick, that may not be their anyway (LAL one).
And I am quite sure they will trade Noel away for a pick or something, making the rebuild even longer.
Okafor will be a Free Agent and leaves before 76ers "think they are ready"!

[andrei]

I like Hinkie as a leader. Whether he leads the team in the right direction is a different discussion and there are some good comments here.

I think the team should be much improved next year if Embiid is ready to go. They will mobilise all their assets and show what they can do. They won’t make it to the playoffs but it will be enough to start attracting some solid veteran FAs. With so much CAP space they will be able to get some good players to work with the youngsters. So looks like they are 2 seasons (including this year) away from being a solid team.

Not sure if its about winning or losing at the moment though. They are not building a losing culture, but a culture of patiently preparing for the future. Sometimes you have to sacrifice the Now for the Future. I can personally relate to that. Agree, however, that a veteran or two would be useful – not to play but to mentor.

Doug is spot on when he says that they are better than what they look – they are leading plenty of games and it’s a great experience for the yoursters. They just can’t close the games yet but it will come in time. Yesterday I watched MIN at LAC and it was quite clear how inexperienced the Wolves are at the end of the game despite their impressive talent – this will come in time though.

[emplep7]

The Sixers are taking a huge hit on money since nobody goes to the games and nobody buys merchandise (since we don't know who will be on the team next year). Hinkie is a smart man and one of the better GMs in the league. That Stauskas trade was pure brilliance (even if Nik blows). MCW is nothing special (his 9.6 ppg are really great...) and he got him and Noel, plus Saric for Jrue Holiday. Tell me you wouldn't make that trade in a heartbeat.

If Embiid wasn't hurt then nobody would be bashing him, but he nailed it on Okafor. Saric has the potential to be a stud and he has a ton of picks coming up plus endless CAP flexibility. Noel will probably be traded, but unless you watch their games night in and night out then you don't understand the liability he is on the offensive end. He's a good hustle player, but if you can get another potential Top 5 pick for him, I would take it in a heart beat. Okafor is a true center anyway and if Embiid comes back healthy I like that pairing much better.

I would rather be 0-82 this season then the Lakers or Knicks or any middling team that has a bleak future. The outsiders have an outsiders view. I could give two shits about Okafor speeding and punching some Boston fan (I actually like him more for doing that..no offense Rizzo). He's 20 years old. Imagine how you would be at 20 and everyone telling you your whole life that you're a God, I know I was an asshole at 20 and nobody ever told me anything close to that. If Embiid comes back half of how good scouts projected him then that's a win. Add these upcoming picks and the CAP and this is a team who is going to be dangerous for several seasons, but they have to hit on some more draft picks and desperately need a PG.

In the NBA its all a crap shoot, but I'm fine with the Sixers. Its going to be a rough 2 years still, but Brett Brown is a good coach and Hinkie will get it done.

[StOfTheStep]

You are their fan, I understand that, always have to trust them, but ouside in, this team shows week GMing.

But also one question, do you go to the games, do you buy their fan stuff? These fans are bringing 76ers money, and I see a 10 year rebuilding a knife in the back for these fans who give money to them day after day, waiting for the team to start winning.
And you have to give a sign you want to win, that brings in veterans who are helping with that.
Right now they gave away MCW for a draft pick, that may not be their anyway (LAL one).
And I am quite sure they will trade Noel away for a pick or something, making the rebuild even longer.
Okafor will be a Free Agent and leaves before 76ers "think they are ready"!

Admittedly I don't attend as many games and spend that much money on merchandise as I would like, but unfortunately I don't have enough money or time to even do that anyway, even if they were a good team. Anyone that still goes to games knows what they're getting at this point and are patient and knowledgeable enough to wait out these slow times while realizing the potential. Either way, even when they were meddling with the old regime, they were getting about the same attendance as they are getting now, while begging people to come to playoff games with everyone knowing they'd get slaughtered as the 8 seed. It's easy to see how bad they are now, especially coupled with how mediocre they have been in the past, but I still believe they're on to something special here. I just hope Hinkie and Brett Brown survive to see it through.

[NuggOlesk]

The Sixers are taking a huge hit on money since nobody goes to the games and nobody buys merchandise (since we don't know who will be on the team next year). Hinkie is a smart man and one of the better GMs in the league. That Stauskas trade was pure brilliance (even if Nik blows). MCW is nothing special (his 9.6 ppg are really great...) and he got him and Noel, plus Saric for Jrue Holiday. Tell me you wouldn't make that trade in a heartbeat.

If Embiid wasn't hurt then nobody would be bashing him, but he nailed it on Okafor. Saric has the potential to be a stud and he has a ton of picks coming up plus endless CAP flexibility. Noel will probably be traded, but unless you watch their games night in and night out then you don't understand the liability he is on the offensive end. He's a good hustle player, but if you can get another potential Top 5 pick for him, I would take it in a heart beat. Okafor is a true center anyway and if Embiid comes back healthy I like that pairing much better.

I would rather be 0-82 this season then the Lakers or Knicks or any middling team that has a bleak future. The outsiders have an outsiders view. I could give two shits about Okafor speeding and punching some Boston fan (I actually like him more for doing that..no offense Rizzo). He's 20 years old. Imagine how you would be at 20 and everyone telling you your whole life that you're a God, I know I was an asshole at 20 and nobody ever told me anything close to that. If Embiid comes back half of how good scouts projected him then that's a win. Add these upcoming picks and the CAP and this is a team who is going to be dangerous for several seasons, but they have to hit on some more draft picks and desperately need a PG.

In the NBA its all a crap shoot, but I'm fine with the Sixers. Its going to be a rough 2 years still, but Brett Brown is a good coach and Hinkie will get it done.

Total bull.
And a lot of "if if if" , more than Iverson said practise.
The excuse is a shitty GM excuse.
I can't make a medicore team good, only way I knoe how to rebuild is being shit for 10 years. OMG, one of the worst logic ever heard about NBA rebuilding.

I don't know, ask GSW, they where bad, drafted a shitty player, where bad, but not shitty, got 7. pick Curry, where bad, drafted again shitty player, played ok, only got 11. pick Kley, now they did 't tank to get 3rd young player, they traded away pick for shitty player, and then they gave a lot of shit and some assets to gey Igoudala, and now they are here, Champions and started season 18-0.

And a lot of teams have gone a similar road, and got realy good, PHI is just dumb and a bad taste, being a sorry ass DLeague team.

[Chilikonkarne]

Interesting to see some respect to the work done in Philadelphia. I think it's just embarrassing for the franchise.

Bringing bunch of D-League players around potential future good players is a lack of respect to the fan base.
They are condemned to lose. They could hire minimum veteran who could at elast bring experience and few wins.

Plus their rebuilding window is too long and when they will start to win again, it will be already time to throw some big contracts.

[StOfTheStep]

Interesting to see some respect to the work done in Philadelphia. I think it's just embarrassing for the franchise.

Bringing bunch of D-League players around potential future good players is a lack of respect to the fan base.
They are condemned to lose. They could hire minimum veteran who could at elast bring experience and few wins.

Plus their rebuilding window is too long and when they will start to win again, it will be already time to throw some big contracts.

With potentially Saric and 3 1sts incoming next season, despite winning or losing, the Sixers will most likely be the only team worth watching in Philadelphia. Trust me. At this point, I will take it and I'm sure that's what the management is banking on right now.

[Chilikonkarne]

Dario Saric didn’t prove anything yet and wouldn’t be the first European not able to adjust to NBA style.
And regarding the draft picks, far are the times where only NBA ready players were drafted. Nowadays a junior or senior NCAA player is treated like rotten meat
Anyways wish them the best but not so optimistic

[emplep7]

The Sixers are taking a huge hit on money since nobody goes to the games and nobody buys merchandise (since we don't know who will be on the team next year). Hinkie is a smart man and one of the better GMs in the league. That Stauskas trade was pure brilliance (even if Nik blows). MCW is nothing special (his 9.6 ppg are really great...) and he got him and Noel, plus Saric for Jrue Holiday. Tell me you wouldn't make that trade in a heartbeat.

If Embiid wasn't hurt then nobody would be bashing him, but he nailed it on Okafor. Saric has the potential to be a stud and he has a ton of picks coming up plus endless CAP flexibility. Noel will probably be traded, but unless you watch their games night in and night out then you don't understand the liability he is on the offensive end. He's a good hustle player, but if you can get another potential Top 5 pick for him, I would take it in a heart beat. Okafor is a true center anyway and if Embiid comes back healthy I like that pairing much better.

I would rather be 0-82 this season then the Lakers or Knicks or any middling team that has a bleak future. The outsiders have an outsiders view. I could give two shits about Okafor speeding and punching some Boston fan (I actually like him more for doing that..no offense Rizzo). He's 20 years old. Imagine how you would be at 20 and everyone telling you your whole life that you're a God, I know I was an asshole at 20 and nobody ever told me anything close to that. If Embiid comes back half of how good scouts projected him then that's a win. Add these upcoming picks and the CAP and this is a team who is going to be dangerous for several seasons, but they have to hit on some more draft picks and desperately need a PG.

In the NBA its all a crap shoot, but I'm fine with the Sixers. Its going to be a rough 2 years still, but Brett Brown is a good coach and Hinkie will get it done.

Total bull.
And a lot of "if if if" , more than Iverson said practise.
The excuse is a shitty GM excuse.
I can't make a medicore team good, only way I knoe how to rebuild is being shit for 10 years. OMG, one of the worst logic ever heard about NBA rebuilding.

I don't know, ask GSW, they where bad, drafted a shitty player, where bad, but not shitty, got 7. pick Curry, where bad, drafted again shitty player, played ok, only got 11. pick Kley, now they did 't tank to get 3rd young player, they traded away pick for shitty player, and then they gave a lot of shit and some assets to gey Igoudala, and now they are here, Champions and started season 18-0.

And a lot of teams have gone a similar road, and got really good, PHI is just dumb and a bad taste, being a sorry ass DLeague team.

How do you compare the Warriors to anyone? Do you really think that is the norm? If so the NBA would have all Elite teams. The NBA draft is a complete crap shoot, if people knew Curry would be doing what he was doing, he would have went number 1 overall. Its all about "ifs", just like it is for every sport...ever. For what he is working with and the salary cap situation we were in when he took over, Hinkie has done a great job of collecting assets and putting us in a good financial situation.

MCW can't make it on the Bucks right now, but you're making him out to be the next John Wall with the way you talk about him. If you haven't been a fan then you have no room to talk. We have been through MEDIOCRE teams for decades for all of our franchises and it hasn't produced much of anything. Iverson was a star and in this league you need a star to win (Detroit is the only team to show you don't...that's called an anomaly), the only way to get a star is through the draft and the best chance of doing that is with a high pick. I'm not sure how that logic doesn't make sense. If you would rather root for a Knicks, Bucks, Magic, Blazers, or Kings team that will get destroyed for years by the top teams in the NBA, then go for it, but the disparity in the NBA is too great anymore. Its not like the 70s and 80s when there were a lot of really good teams.

If Embiid wasn't re-injured and was in a rotation with Okafor and Noel, nobody would be saying these things because they would have won some games now, but wins don't really matter for this plan and as long as the Philadelphia fan base is on board, that's all that matters. The national media has you reading into a speeding ticket because they love to troll you, especially about Philadelphia because people who lack knowledge and are outsiders eat it up. Does this losing really take away from the Sixers teams of great...you're insane if you think it does. Does it make them look like a joke right now...absolutely. But if in 3-5 years we are dominating the other NBA teams, then it was all worth it.