The Daily Philadelphian

By FRANK WARD
DailyPhiladelphian.com Editor

Defense wins championships.

The cliche’ rings true and will for years to come. You can score at will but eventually you must stop someone.

Doug Collins said as much when meeting with the Philly media on Monday. The Sixers new coach said during his news conference and on WIP Radio with Howard Eskin and Ike Reese that he looks at the number 45 often. Usually, when a team shoots 45 percent, they win. However, last year, the number was 55 for the Sixers.

They were 7-1 when shooting better than 55 percent. You can figure out how awful the record was when shooting under 55 percent.

“That speaks to a lack of defense,” Collins said.

Andre Iguodala is seen dunking against Kobe and the Lakers. Phil Jackson is more impressed by Iggy's defense and that's the part of his game Phil Collins wants to see more of from his small forward.

He knows he faces an uphill battle, but the key to him is getting Andre Iguodala to focus on the defensive end. That’s where he sees his closest thing to a star excelling.

“Phil Jackson told me nobody guards Kobe Bryant tougher than Andre Iguodala,” Collins said. “That’s what we need. If he can make the NBA’s all-defense team as a three, we’ll be in great shape to run more.”

The coach’s plans include playing Iggy at the three and Thaddeus Young at the four. He points to the 40 games the team has won with players in those spots.

In addition to defense, Collins knows getting Elton Brand on board is crucial, and he thinks the Duke product can regain his all-star form. He plans on talking to Elton and building on the relationship he’s forged with his new power forward since his Duke days. Collins compares it to when he took over Detroit and had to get Joe Dumars, well past his prime, back to his old self.

“Joe Dumars was on the back end of his career when I went to Detroit and I know playing on a losing team affected him,” Collins said. “I had to tell him how much I needed him and how important he was. Dumars lost 20 pounds that offseason and made the all-star team that year. That’s what I need to get through to Elton Brand. He has someone on his side.”