Collins a Perfect Fit for the Lowly 76ers

First let me start by saying Doug Collins will be missed at the TNT announcer’s table during NBA games.

That said, the Philadelphia 76ers have made a strong, safe choice for their new head coach. The 58-year old Collins is kind of like what John Madden used to be — a fine coach trapped in the press box.

Madden enjoys that, of course, and never got back into football coaching for a reason. Collins could have gone the same route but he found a perfect landing spot.

No, a better spot wouldn’t have been Chicago. Although the prospect of the Bulls hiring Lawrence Frank really doesn’t do anything for me.

Collins spent some great years in Philadelphia as a player after being the No. 1 overall pick in the 1973 draft. That in itself makes hiring Collins a respectable choice. There’s nothing wrong with bringing back a guy with an affinity for the organization and fan base.

There’s also nothing wrong with bringing in a guy with a 332-287 record while coaching three different teams.

As Philadelphia Daily News columnist John Smallwood points out, in each of those stops Collins improved his team’s record by at least 10 games in his first season. Another feather in the cap of Philly fans.

Also, consider that just the other night the 76ers scored the second overall pick in the draft. That means…Evan Turner, right? Seems like the correct, safe choice.

The same kind of choice Collins was. Playing it safe doesn’t always work out. Then again, sometimes it’s exactly what an organization needs.

Philly fans have a lot to think about right now between the Flyers potentially reaching the Stanley Cup finals and a long summer of tracking the Phillies in front of them. But come the fall it seems they’ll be awfully happy with the direction of their basketball franchise.

Kind of a strange thought.