Philadelphia 76ers Locker Room Not All Fun Games

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Dec 5, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers head coach Brett Brown reacts during the second quarter against the Denver Nuggets at Wells Fargo Center. The Denver Nuggets won 106-98. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

Are Colangelo Goals With Or Without Brown?

Brett Brown has been all but abandoned by his front office over the Noel situation. Now that the situation has perculated into a media frenzy, Colangelo is stepping in very modestlyl.

Colangelo says Brown's speaking that Noel will be out of rotation was because he just started experimenting with Embiid/Okafor, not punitive
— Derek Bodner (@DerekBodnerNBA) December 19, 2016

This is not the statement of a front office backing the head coach. In fact, it feels more like a fire Colangelo started, and now is hoping will burn the support out under his very popular head coach.

The Toronto experience tells a bold tale of Bryan Colangelo assuming the reigns of a team coached by a very popular and knowledgeable Sam Mitchell. In quick work, Colangelo replaced Mitchell with a coach of his choosing, Jay Triano. The Raptors would falter for the remainder of Colangelo’s tenure.

This feels like a very political situation. Artificial in the making, but deadly in the eventual outcome. At risk is the career of center Nerlens Noel, playing time at center for the Philadelphia 76ers, and the coaching perpetuity of Brett Brown.

Next: Joel Embiid’s Crowd-Hurdling: Scary or Exciting?

Things have certainly changed with the Philadelphia 76ers. The moves of Sam Hinkie are no longer up for public debate. Instead, the team is ablaze with controversy, frustration, and what will likely lead to remorse. It’s no longer fun and games in the Philadelphia 76ers locker room. Where there is smoke, there is fire. And the smog from the Toronto Raptors has settled in over Philadelphia.