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.”

This is what Sixers fans have to look forward to in the future.

You can find more stuff like this at a web site dedicated to the next Sixer star by banging it here.

The man who coached Michael Jordan to his first playoff appearance would be a huge improvement over the drudge that’s been at the helm of the Sixers sinking ship the last two years. Toni DiLeo did just enough to get the team to the playoffs, while Eddie Jordan did his best Doug Moe imitation.

Doug Collins twice coached Michael Jordan during his career. We're not sure what players he is excited to coach in Philly.

The man who is among the best color commentators on national NBA broadcasts for some reason wants the Sixers job. Word is, he wanted it last year but the Sixers never called.

While we would like the Sixers to at least talk with former Hawks coach Mike Woodson, we can’t argue with hiring Collins. The man has a winning record (.536) in eight seasons with the Bulls, Pistons and Wizards.

In fairness, it should be higher, but he did his friend Jordan a favor and tried to coach the Wizards where he had successive 37-45 seasons thanks to a bare cupboard left unstocked by Jordan. Oh, and he was stuck coaching Jordan himself during the post-twilight of a storied NBA career.

Ironically, Collins was replaced by Eddie Jordan.

Collins will bring discipline and defense to a team lacking both. He will command respect in the locker room and he will earn it. Maybe he really is what the Sixers need — if they can get some players and can the dogs.

Stephen A. Smith today urged Collins not to take the job, saying he’s too good for the Sixers right now. Smith could very well be right. You can’t polish a turd no matter how hard you try. As long as Stefanski maintains the status quo, the team still lacks the players necessary to compete.

But, hey, if Collins wants to come here, bring him in. At least we can fight for a playoff spot next year. And, who knows, maybe Samuel Dalembert, Andre Iguodala and Elton Brand will actually reach their potential.

Reports indicate that the Sixers are set to grant second interviews to Avery Johnson, Doug Collins and Sam Mitchell. Of that group, only Johnson intrigues us. Collins is a guy who has never really accomplished much as a coach. Johnson at least got his team to an NBA Finals. Yet, his resume isn’t impressive when he had a bench of all-stars and a series of early round playoff exits.

Can Johnson really get the most out of his players?

When in the Sixers coaching search will the name Mike Woodson appear? Woodson, fired by the Atlanta Hawks after an embarrassing sweep at the hands of the Orlando Magic, is available and could be the right guy for the Sixers.

Not since Spudd Webb and Dominique Williams roamed the court have the Hawks been relevant. They have been in the last few years in part because of Woodson.

Woodson has been through the Sixers situation before with the Hawks. He went from 16 wins in 2004-05 to 53 wins this past year. His teams got better each year. Of course, the team signed Joe Johnson, a free agent this year, and traded for Mike Bibby in the process.

Bringing in Woodson may be the right move, especially when the Sixers have young guys and are rebuilding a one proud franchise. Add to that the fact that he was an assistant under Larry brown before. Nobody knows rebuilding like Brown and if the team can get a younger version of him, they need to do it.

Stefanski better be on the phone with Woodson’s agent yesterday. He’s been through this situation before, which is more than you can say for the other coaching candidates.

Phil Jasner and Bob Cooney are reporting that Stefanski is set to grant second interviews to Doug Collins, Avery Johnson and possibly Sam Mitchell as the team moves forward in its pursuit of a successor for legendary coach Eddie Jordan.

The fiery Avery Johnson is on the short list of candidates expected to get a second interview from the Sixers.

The story says the powers that be made the decision on the second round of interviews before watching the Flyers spank the Canadians on Sunday night.

The fact that Stefanski is going to conduct a second round of interviews strongly suggests his job is safe, even if Lukko and Snider won’t say it. Why would you waste the time of serious candidates if the person making the decision is not part of the process.

The team is not going to let one guy hire a coach, and then stick the next GM with said coach. Especially not when you’re still paying Eddie Jordan for the next two years.

The coaching hire will be Stefanski’s decision. He better get it right this time, or he will surely be shown the door by this time next year.

Sixers chairman Ed Snider can deny the Larry Brown rumors all he wants, but does anyone really believe him?

You can’t. Not when the Suxers are the laughingstock of the Philly sports community. Not when Larry Brown is the only man who might be able to take us from the brink of NBA purgatory. And, certainly not when Brown has a history of leaving cities after just a few years.

Denials usually mean one thing — there’s truth to be found.

If Snider really is not considering pursuing Brown to return as President, GM and coach of this godforsaken franchise, then shame on him. LB would be the ideal man to get the team on the right track while grooming his successor in the process. More on the second part of that plan in a bit.

The Sixers have to put the full court press on Larry Brown.

First, Brown sounds like he’d jump at the opportunity to return to the City of Brotherly Love. A city, mind you, that his wife and children have never left.

The Daily News’ Phil Jasner quotes Brown as saying, “I’ve said I’m not coaching anywhere but Charlotte. Now am I going to go home and talk to my wife and kids? I’ll be 70 years old . . . two young kids . . . Am I going to go talk to them? And find out what I need to do? And am I going to talk to Michael? Yeah . . . absolutely. But I’m not coaching anywhere but for Michael Jordan . . . if he wants me . . . and if I can work it out with my family.”

Anyone with an ounce of literary skills can make plenty of inferences here. The most obvious is that Brown is going to leave the Bobcats to be closer to his family. The Sixers have to be the leader in the clubhouse. Snider has remained very close with Brown. It’s a marriage that has worked and can work again.

The report also mentions Brown wanting Mike Woodson as coach if he doesn’t resign with Atlanta. Hogwash. Brown is a coach and will coach the Sixers if he comes here. The question is, at his age and with his propensity for leaving teams after three or four years, what will his exit strategy be?

How about Eric Snow as the coach in waiting. Think of him to Brown as Avery Johnson was to Don Nelson in Dallas. Snow was a hard nosed player who made a living by being a coach on the floor. He had the respect of Allen Iverson and LeBron James.

Snow will make an excellent coach someday if given the chance. Put him and Aaron McKie on the coaching staff and you have a bright future with two gys who know how to win. Brown can mold them into solid, if not great, head coaches.

Irregardless of Snow — which admittedly is a personal pipe dream at this point — the Sixers are dopes if the don’t fire Ed Stefanski yesterday and replace him with Larry Brown.

Mr. Snider: Time’s yours.

The publication printed the following excerpt from a league scout:

“They are having dunk contests before games; they are running plays sloppily or not all the way through; and they aren’t listening to Eddie Jordan. They have quit. They know Eddie is gone and they think they don’t have to listen anymore. The thing is, they are making themselves look like assholes. These guys think that just because Eddie is gone they will be back (next year). But nobody wants guys who give up when things go bad. Eddie’s offense was a bad fit for this roster – they have to find a way to play more up-tempo – but these guys are embarrassing themselves. And everyone around the league knows it.”

Elton Brand warming up for a recent game.

While we’d love to say that this information is nothing new and meaningless, the fact is it does have an impact on the team’s future. When trying to build a championship team — or even a halfway respectable one — you don’t want players who quit on your team. The fact that the Sixers have quit and not even tried to hide it, is bad.

First, you’re going to need a coach wiling to come in and deal with these malcontents. Good luck finding a proven winner who wants to deal with this disaster.

Second, to improve the team, you need to move the trash to another team. Well, the value of each player just dropped that much further. The team should have moved Iguodala when it had the chance.

But, I guess that’s the next GM’s problem since Ed Stefanski will likely be car pooling to the unemployment office with Eddie Jordan this summer.

Maybe now the Crazy Eddies will get the delusional thoughts out of their heads. If Ed Stefanski and Eddie Jordan don’t realize that this Sixers team is not headed to the playoffs after tonight’s pathetic, apathetic 105-78 ass-whooping at the hands of the Miami Heat, then both should be sent to Loser’s Anonymous tomorrow.

The Heat aren’t even a good team and are clinging to the eighth seed in the East. A pitiful Eastern Conference at that, All-Star victories aside.

The Sixers need to move at least one of these clowns.

Before the All-Star break, the 76ers had rattled off a five game win streak prior to losing to the Toronto Raptors last week. All that did was allow Crazy Eddie Inc. to put out propaganda indicating the Sixers would be throwing block parties at the Wachovia Center this spring.

These guys couldn’t sell a bottle of water on the beach in the summer, let alone ice to the Eskimos or playoff tickets to Sixers fans.

If tonight’s embarrassment isn’t enough to convince Stefanski to shake up the team and start the process of tearing what he has apart, then nothing will.

For Stefanski’s job and all of Sixersville, the team better pull the trigger on a deal for Amar’e Stoudemire. Otherwise, Crazy Eddie has two days left until we really rip him apart.

Oh, and while our opinion may not count much, we have a feeling Ed Snider’s does. Snider doesn’t stand for continuing to do the same thing when a team consistently treats fans to the art of pitiful performances.

Amare Stoudemire isn't headed to the Cavs just yet.

Hold on buying that plane ticket to Cleveland for Amare Stoudemire. According to ESPN.com, the deal to the Cavs is far from finished.

Several other teams are still in the running according to the site. Since Phoenix is infatuated with Andre Iguodala, we” infer that the Sixers are still very much alive.

While Philly isn’t Stoudemire’s first choice since he wants to join a winner, he’s not completely opposed to the idea. When asked about that possibility recently, he said he’d help make the Sixers winners. He must know that’s not a hard thing to do in the pathetic Eastern Conference.

If the Sixers can get McGrady’s expiring contract, they better do the deal. To make it work, they may have to include Samuel Dalembert as well. While we love what Sammy has done for his Haiti homeland, the Sixers should ship him out of town the first chance they get, especially for an expiring contract like McGrady’s.

A year ago, Iguodala was the leader ofvtge youth movement for the Sixers. However, he has regressed a lot under Eddie Jordan and lost his confidence. Late in the second quarter against the Bucks on Wednesday, Iggy had taken just one shot. One shot in a half from your supposed future superstar? Child, please!

While Iggy’s assists and rebounding numbers have increased, and his poitns have only slipped 1.4 per game this year, the fact is his defense has slipped. He also has yet to prove he’s the no doubt about it clutch shooter at the end if a game. The Sixers can’t continue to build around a guy who hasn’t gained the confidence to be The Man this far into his career. I’d the do, get ready for another decade of borderline playoff seasons.

For the right deal, it’s time to ship AI2 out if town.

Meanwhile, Dalembert has a lot of talent but us as consistent as Eddie Jordan is as setting rotations. With another year on his Billy King bloated contract left, it’s time to clear his contract from the books.

Dealing one or both for expiring contracts is the only way to go. Clear cap space for next summer. Landing DWade or King James in Philly isn’t going to happen. Throwing enough cash to land a Chris Bosh? Maybe. And, yes we still have Elton Brand. But it’d be easier to unload him next summer if he finishes this year strong.

The bottom line is the Sixers need to blow this up and start over by trading the young guys they have. Who k iwa, maybe we can get a GM who can do what Danny Ainge did to turn around Boston. Get rid of young guys for older veterans who can play.

McGrady may or may not be that guy. But you’d have cap flexibility to make moves next summer through free agency or other trades.