With the addition of Ish Smith (via trade for two 2nd round draft picks) and Elton Brand, it’s clear that Sam Hinkie’s “process” has been rudely interrupted by Adam Silver via Jerry Colangelo and Mike D’Antoni.  For a “process” faithful like myself Silver’s interference is an annoying development as one could argue that the 2015-16 season was Hinkie’s finest tanking draft positioning work to date.  The 76ers had never been a safer bet to finally secure the No. 1 overall draft pick than they were pre-Silver/Colangelo.

Colangelo and of course Mike D’Antoni have screwed up “the process” by adding the solid point guard (Smith) and veteran leadership (Brand) that the 2015-16 roster has desperately needed. The result has been 3 wins in their last 9 games and a sense of hope (albeit false hope) for everyone involved with the franchise.  However, if Colangelo and D’Antoni are dead-set on continuing to make the mistake of improving the Sixers in short-term, then their next move should be to help Brett Brown fix one of the worst defenses in the Association.

That will be easier said than done.

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Minnesota Timberwolves

99

Final Recap | Box Score

109

Philadelphia 76ers

	Nerlens Noel, PF 31 MIN | 5-6 FG | 0-0 3FG | 0-0 FT | 9 REB | 1 AST | 0 STL | 3 BLK | 3 TO | 10 PTS | -3 +/-A near double-double for #4 who appears to have more energy and more passion since he returned to the first-five. On the defensive end he was a huge factor with 3 blocks and forcing a number of altered shots.
	Jerami Grant, SF 22 MIN | 1-3 FG | 0-1 3FG | 0-0 FT | 2 REB | 3 AST | 0 STL | 2 BLK | 3 TO | 2 PTS | 0 +/-Foul trouble limited Grant’s ability to contribute last night, but when Grant was on the floor he did a nice job of guarding Wiggins.
	Jahlil Okafor, C 21 MIN | 5-8 FG | 0-0 3FG | 0-1 FT | 3 REB | 2 AST | 2 STL | 1 BLK | 2 TO | 10 PTS | -2 +/-Obviously I would like to see Jah grab more boards, but I have to give hime credit for putting the Sixers on his back in the early 3rd Q with 6 straight points that helped propel this team to a win.
	Ish Smith, PG 30 MIN | 9-16 FG | 0-0 3FG | 3-3 FT | 4 REB | 11 AST | 3 STL | 0 BLK | 4 TO | 21 PTS | 0 +/-21 pts. and 11 dimes against only 4 TOs…Now that’s a floor general. Ish simply took over this game during clutch time and scored 6 straight points for the 76ers. The Sixers are now 3-3 since Smith joined the squad on 12/26/15 which means I have a love-hate relationship with the new PG. I love Ish’s game and the way the team plays with him in the lineup, but I hate the fact that his play will likely blow the Sixers’ chances of landing the No.1 pick at Draft16.
	Nik Stauskas, SG 29 MIN | 2-6 FG | 1-2 3FG | 0-1 FT | 4 REB | 3 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 5 PTS | +6 +/-You had to know there was no way “Sauce Castillo” could string together back-to-back solid games. Stauskas wasn’t awful last night, but the Sixers need more from the SG spot. Somewhere Kendall Marshall’s dad is saying, “I told you so…”

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Back in October I wrote a post detailing that in the first month or so of the 2015-16 NBA season Philadunkia nation would have to exercise a significant amount of patience with this 76ers team and “the process”. In that post, I theorized that because of injuries, learning to play together and an unfriendly opening month of the schedule that the Sixers would struggle mightily out of the gate and cause us to nearly lose our minds.

The opening month of the season went as I predicted as the Sixers played energetic and entertaining basketball (for the most part), but posted a 1-18 record.  The problems I listed back in October were a big part of the slow start to the season. However a slew of unexpected issues also came to the surface in November and December and now those issues have turned the Sixers (1-30) into a pathetic, unwatchable team on another 12 game losing streak (FYI…average margin of defeat in last ten defeats is 18 pts.).

After the jump I’ll look take a look at the unexpected issues that have pulled the 2015-16 Sixers down to a depressing depth.

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This edition of “Fo’ with the Foes” – Philadunkia’s advanced scouting series which with the help of an accomplished journalist from around the NBA beat or blog world, previews key upcoming 76ers games – features tonight’s opponent, the Atlanta Hawks who are in an awful slump right now having lost 3 in a row and 6 of their last 10. To be honest, I like the 76ers chances of stealing a win tonight.

(I can’t believe I just typed that line.)

After the jump, I’ll look a Fo’ key items for tonight’s game. Additionally, we’ll get a little more insight into this Atlanta team the Sixers face tonight from our colleague Brad Rowland at Peach Tree Hoops, as Brad will answer Fo’ questions on his Hawks squad from us here at Philadunkia.

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The 76ers record stands at 1-24.  They have dropped 7 straight games.  The last four loses have been by an average of 23 points.  Brett Brown’s roster does not boast  an NBA starting caliber point guard or shooting guard and features two dynamic bigs that may not be able to play together. They lead the NBA in turnovers (17.4 per game). Lastly, the Sixers have been awful on defense, ranking at the bottom of the League in points allowed (102.8 ppg.– 23rd).  In short, the 76ers are an absolute mess on the court.

Still, despite all the losing, makeshift lineups and embarrassing statistics, I have been impressed that this roster and coaching staff have stuck together in the locker room and that even during the lowest point of “the process” there appears to be no internal drama on this team.  Which is why this past weekend’s rumors regarding former Lakers/Knicks/Suns head coach Mike D’Antoni possibly joining the 76ers staff are raising significant issues in my basketball mind.

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Even for those of us who completely “trust the process”, there is no denying that the 76ers last 2+ seasons have been painful to live through (Last night’s 51-point loss to the Spurs was possibly the most painful moment.). Every individual no matter how mentally and physically tough, has a specific threshold for tolerating pain and once that point is exceeded, you will plead for mercy. Well, apparently a 1-20 record, a host of off-the-court issues from prized rookie Jahlil Okafor and allegedly a push from NBA commissioner Adam Silver have forced the 76ers’ ownership group to finally cry “mercy”.

Thus, on Monday, the Sixers announced that Jerry Colangelo — a Hall of Famer and the man responsible for resurrecting USA Basketball — will join the franchise as a special advisor and chairman of basketball operations.

After the jump, are three different takes I have assembled from my NBA contacts on the most recent move by Josh Harris & Company in “the process” .

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Los Angeles Lakers

91

FinalRecap | Box Score

103

Philadelphia 76ers

	Robert Covington, SF 34 MIN | 8-16 FG | 5-11 3FG | 2-4 FT | 5 REB | 4 AST | 0 STL | 2 BLK | 3 TO | 23 PTS | +18 +/-Cov continues to play at a very high level (21 ppg. over his last 3 contests) and last night he was simply on fire. His 9 points in the 3rd quarter helped the 76ers grab the lead in this game. Then in the 4th Q Cov drained a huge 3-ball that pushed the Sixers to close out a game for once.
	Jerami Grant, SF 31 MIN | 6-7 FG | 0-1 3FG | 2-2 FT | 7 REB | 4 AST | 1 STL | 4 BLK | 0 TO | 14 PTS | +7 +/-I’m not sure what got into Grant coming out of the locker room after half time, but Brett Brown may want to bottle it up for future use. Grant scored 8 points in the 2nd half, but to me it seemed like he simply took over the game with his athletecism and energy.
	Jahlil Okafor, C 30 MIN | 6-14 FG | 0-0 3FG | 0-1 FT | 5 REB | 2 AST | 0 STL | 1 BLK | 2 TO | 12 PTS | +13 +/-A solid night for Jah, especially considering this was his first home game since all of the off-the-court issues came to light. However it have become obvious to me that right now the rookie struggles when matched up against true centers such as Hibbert and D12.
	Isaiah Canaan, PG 30 MIN | 4-9 FG | 4-7 3FG | 0-0 FT | 3 REB | 5 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 12 PTS | +13 +/-Canaan is a shoot first player and tonight because his shot was “on”, so mentality that worked for the Brown and the Sixers for three quarters. However, if you watched the 4th Q closely, you probably noticed that after a few ill-advised plays by Canaan, Brown replaced him with McConnell for clutch time.
	JaKarr Sampson, SG 19 MIN | 0-5 FG | 0-0 3FG | 2-4 FT | 7 REB | 1 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 3 TO | 2 PTS | +10 +/-Between Stauskas and Sampson, it’s like nobody wants top grab the starting SG job and own it.

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This special, Moses Malone Tribute Night edition of “Fo’ with the Foes” – Philadunkia’s advanced scouting series, which with the help of an accomplished journalist from around the NBA beat or blog world, previews key upcoming 76ers games – features tonight’s opponent, the Los Angeles Lakers who own a record of 2-16, have lost six straight games, but feature D’Angelo Russell, former 76ers Louis Williams and Swaggy P as well as the soon-to-be-retired Kobe Bryant.

After the jump, I’ll look at Fo’ key items for tonight’s game. Additionally, we’ll get a little more insight into this Los Angeles team the Sixers face tonight from our colleague Darius Soriano at forumblueandgold.com, as Darius will answer Fo’ questions on his Lakers squad from us here at Philadunkia.

Dallas Mavericks

92

FinalRecap | Box Score

86

Philadelphia 76ers

	Nerlens Noel, PF 38 MIN | 5-12 FG | 0-0 3FG | 2-4 FT | 12 REB | 1 AST | 2 STL | 1 BLK | 5 TO | 12 PTS | -4 +/-A very nice double-double by #4 was tainted by the turnovers Noel was responsible for at the worst times. Additionally, he scored only 2 points in the back-and-forth 4th quarter when the Sixers needed him most. As the leader of this team he has to produce in the clutch.
	Jerami Grant, SF 29 MIN | 5-10 FG | 0-1 3FG | 3-5 FT | 3 REB | 0 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 3 TO | 13 PTS | -21 +/-I thought Grant had an very nice game last night. He was extremely aggressive on offense. His hustle and energy was at a high level. Grant also scored 4 big 4th Q points. His cold shooting in the early 3rd Q was a factor in this game and that’s the lone knock on his play lst night.
	Jahlil Okafor, C 33 MIN | 8-15 FG | 0-0 3FG | 3-3 FT | 11 REB | 1 AST | 1 STL | 2 BLK | 4 TO | 19 PTS | -13 +/-I understand how inefficient the 7-6’s offense can be when Jah is in the game and I just don’t care. When the Sixers find a REAL perimeter knock down shooter to compliment his inside game, this offense will be difficult to defend.
	T.J. McConnell, PG 34 MIN | 6-9 FG | 1-3 3FG | 0-0 FT | 7 REB | 6 AST | 2 STL | 1 BLK | 4 TO | 13 PTS | +5 +/-After two straight sub-par efforts (by his own high standards), TJ scored a career high 13 points and was a big help on the glass as well. I loved that he was jawing at Dirk for the acting job the Geramn legend did during a very questionable foul call in the late 4th Q.
	Nik Stauskas, SG 16 MIN | 0-4 FG | 0-2 3FG | 0-0 FT | 2 REB | 1 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 0 PTS | -14 +/-I have no words for how disappointed I am in Suace Castillo’s shooting so far this season. Hopefully last night is the rock bottom moment.

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Chicago Bulls

111

FinalRecap | Box Score

88

Philadelphia 76ers

	Richaun Holmes, PF 28 MIN | 4-9 FG | 0-3 3FG | 3-5 FT | 3 REB | 1 AST | 0 STL | 2 BLK | 1 TO | 11 PTS | +5 +/-Another rookie enters the first-five for the 76ers and posts a respectable performance. With his hops and quick second jump, I’d like to have seen Holmes grab a few more boards, but his energy and hustle are amazing. He is falling in love with his jumper a little too much for my tastes.
	Jerami Grant, SF 29 MIN | 4-12 FG | 0-2 3FG | 3-4 FT | 3 REB | 1 AST | 1 STL | 3 BLK | 1 TO | 11 PTS | -26 +/-Grant was very aggresssive going to the rack last night and I hope he continues to play that way this season. Grant scored 6 points in the 1st Q and I thought he was headed for a big night, but like a number of the Sixers, he went ice cold.
	Jahlil Okafor, C 31 MIN | 9-25 FG | 0-0 3FG | 3-8 FT | 15 REB | 1 AST | 0 STL | 2 BLK | 1 TO | 21 PTS | -22 +/- A 2-10 start to the game di not prevent Jah for putting up a monster night (7-14 in 2nd half). Honestly, Jah got some great looks at the hoop because of his low post moves, he just couldn’t get the ball to roll in. There was a stretch in the 1st Q were on 3 consecutive trips Jah could not get lay-ins to fall. His 8 defensive rebounds in Noel’s absence were huge.
	T.J. McConnell, PG 29 MIN | 3-8 FG | 0-2 3FG | 0-0 FT | 5 REB | 8 AST | 0 STL | 2 BLK | 2 TO | 6 PTS | -18 +/- I know that TJ’s job in this lineup is to find open shooters and not turn the ball over, but with the Noel and Cov out last night, I’d like to have seen TJ look to score a bit more in the 1st half. Still an 8/2 assist to turnover ration is amazing and if Stauskas could shoot at all last night, TJ has double digit assists.  I thought he battled former MVP Derrick Rose to a draw last night.
	Nik Stauskas, SG 33 MIN | 2-13 FG | 1-7 3FG | 0-0 FT | 5 REB | 2 AST | 3 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 5 PTS | -23 +/-Stauskas was 1-7 from deep last night and miss fired on a host of wide open looks. He is now hit 9 for 37 on 3-balls acorss his last 4 games. “Jesus,” Stauskas commeneted post game when informed of his recent shooting stats. My thoughts on his struggles during the game last night were significantly more volatile.

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