Due to the constant turnover in players in 2016-17, Brett Brown was Juggler-of-the-year, as he had to juggle his lineup several hundreds of times for the Philadelphia 76ers.
Due to injuries, six players did not finish the season for the Philadelphia 76ers (Ben Simmons, Jerryd Bayless, Joel Embiid, Jahlil Okafor, Sergio Rodriguez, Robert Covington). Embiid was under minute restrictions for all of his 31 games. Nerlens Noel missed six weeks after a knee operation and was later traded for Justin Anderson and draft picks. Gerald Henderson played the entire year with a sore hip, which required surgery after the season. Jerami Grant was traded for Ersan Ilyasova who was later traded for draft picks. Hollis Thompson was let go in January. Dario Saric was placed under minute restrictions for his last six games and was rested for the final game.
Of the 15 players who made the team in October, only 5 survived until the last game in April, one of which was crippled and two of which spent time with the Delaware 87ers during the season. The miracle is that the Sixers won 28 games despite the chaos.
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On Dec. 30, Brett Brown was able to put together a starting lineup of Embiid, Covington, Ilyasova, TJ McConnell and Nik Stauskas. The team won eight of Embiid’s last ten games. But it was not to be. Embiid missed the rest of the season due to a knee injury and other players followed with injuries. Although the team had the desire and determination to win, they no longer had enough talent to compete.
But through it all Brett Brown kept the team together and playing hard despite the difficult circumstances until the merciful end. Since you cannot win Coach of the Year when your team only wins 28 games, I propose that the NBA should create a new award: Juggler of the Year. This would go to the coach who, despite severe hardships, can continually adjust his lineup and keep his team motivated at the same time.
Trivia question: Who has played the most games for the 76ers under Coach Brett Brown? Answer below.
Brett Brown in 2017-18
This year, Brett Brown should have a set starting lineup going into training camp. ESPN listed all five Sixer starters in their top 100 list: Embiid (32), Covington (55), Simmons (84), Markelle Fultz (86), JJ Redick (87). Embiid, Simmons and Fultz are superstars in the making. If the Sixers stay relatively healthy, Brett will only need to tweak this talented lineup from time to time to take advantage of matchups. Tweaking lineups is what Brett Brown does best.
Is the NBA Coach of the Year in the making for Brett Brown this year?
Next: 5 theories on Joel Embiid's health
Trivia answer: Hollis Thompson, 256 games.