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As Pat Croce stood at a podium in the CoreStates Center to introduce new 76ers coach and general manager Larry Brown on May 5, a big smile lit up Croce's face—the kind of grin that says you're having a perfect day. Not only was the 76ers' owner and president giddy about beating out several other teams for Brown's services, but he was also still on a high from the events of that morning, when he had driven his BMW 540 to the airport Marriott to pick up Brown. As Croce entered the hotel, the doorman gave him a high five. Moments later, the shoeshine guy slapped his hand and congratulated him. Then, as Croce and Brown drove to the press conference during morning rush hour, a cacophony of horns and hollering trailed the two the entire way. Yes, on that May morning Croce knew the folks of Philadelphia were, for the first time in recent memory, beginning to believe in the 76ers. "It was like we had won an NBA championship," says the 42-year-old owner. "That just goes to show you what effect Larry has on people. He'll turn this thing around faster than people think." Give Croce credit for assuming responsibility for last season's disastrous 22-60 record. "It was totally my fault," he says. "I was in my first year, and in my inexperience I hired an inexperienced G.M. [Brad Greenberg], who then hired an inexperienced coach [Johnny Davis]. I went out and hired Larry because we needed experience and someone who can make individuals play as a team. Things will be different this year. We now have talent at all levels of the organization." No doubt about it, the 76ers are loaded. Their starting lineup includes two players who were No. 1 overall draft picks (Derrick Coleman in 1990 and Allen Iverson in '96), a No. 3 (Jerry Stackhouse in '95) and a No. 4 (Jim Jackson in '92). The hiring of Brown—a master builder who in 25 years of coaching has been an expert at turning around bad teams—is a good first step in getting this chronically underachieving franchise to reach its potential. The Sixers' sixth head coach in seven seasons, Brown is a disciplinarian who stresses fundamentals and a team-oriented approach to winning. Says Brown, "I'll demand that guys play better, play hard, try to guard people and take the right shots." Getting Iverson to take the right shots will be no easy task. The Georgetown point guard brought his playground style to the NBA last season and walked away with rookie of the year honors after leading all first-year players in scoring. But his shoot-always, pass-never approach did not sit well with his teammates, especially Stackhouse, his backcourt mate. Their cool relationship on and off the court prevented Iverson and Stackhouse from establishing any synchroneity last season, and between them they committed more than eight turnovers a game. Over the summer Iverson made headlines when he was arrested in Virginia; he pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor gun charge (a marijuana possession charge was withdrawn). Nevertheless, Iverson was in Philly for much of the off-season to work out. In fact, every player on the roster was back in town by mid-September for mandatory workouts—even Coleman, the power forward whom Brown calls "one of the top five talents in the game." Despite missing 25 games last season with such catastrophic injuries as a cut finger and a bruised calf, Coleman put together another good statistical season. He had said he wanted out of Philadelphia at the end of last year but now appears—dare we say?—content to play for Brown. The Sixers' biggest weakness in '96-97 was their failure to generate interior offense. Helping Coleman in the pivot this season will be 26-year-old center Eric Montross, who was acquired in a blockbuster June deal with the Nets. Though not a big scorer, he'll provide a much-needed physical presence down low. Also acquired in the Montross trade were Jackson and rookie forward Tim Thomas. Brown will insert Jackson into Stackhouse's 2-guard position and move Stackhouse to small forward, a spot that should open up with the expected trade of tweener Clarence Weatherspoon. Jackson put up the worst scoring numbers of his five-year career last season, but don't be surprised if he bounces back in a big way, as he is entering the final year of his contract. Thomas, a young talent (20) who needs to bulk up, should provide the Sixers with energy off the bench. "This franchise will not rest until we're winning," says Croce. "And I won't be satisfied until I have a ring on my finger." Sixers fans will settle for simple competence. With Brown running things, they'll get at least that much.
—Lars Anderson
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