* Tonight on League Pass: 76ers vs. Bulls (8 p.m. ET)
Trust the process, huh? It’s more than just a catch phrase being thrown around the NBA these days. It’s more than just a nickname claimed by Philadelphia 76ers big man Joel Embiid, who is at the center of the process in Philadelphia these days alongside rookie sensation Ben Simmons.
In Chicago, where the red-hit Chicago Bulls have won five straight and the Sixers visit tonight (8 ET, League Pass), trust the process is a blueprint the Bulls are trying to copy and accelerate right now. Sure, they are without a talent like Embiid or Simmons currently, but as K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune details, they are still trusting the process::
Not that the Bulls own No. 1 overall picks like the 76ers did when they began their well-publicized rebuild under former executive Sam Hinkie. And not that the 76ers, with a 14-14 mark heading into Monday’s matchup, have fully turned the corner.
But it seems fitting that Fred Hoiberg had a one-hour phone conversation this summer with Brett Brown. The 76ers coach drew widespread raves for his ability to keep the 76ers on point and playing hard during 19-, 18-, 10- and 28-victory seasons.
And now Hoiberg is drawing similar respect, with everyone from Celtics coach Brad Stevens to Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue to Jazz coach Quin Snyder praising his and his staff’s ability to keep the Bulls playing hard in the first season of a full rebuild.
“He talked a lot about positivity and making sure you stay on your guys and hold them accountable with everything you try to do,” Hoiberg said of his talk with Brown. “The coaching profession is a grind and it’s very competitive. But at the end of the day it’s great to have people you can talk to who have gone through similar situations.
“Brett’s done an amazing job. I’m happy for him this year. And I think they’re going to continue to get better, especially now that they’re healthy.”
