Brett Brown retains his optimism and sense of humour despite the 76ers' dismal losing streak

The Philadelphia 76ers have been on a roll, and by ‘roll’ I’m referring strictly to a downhill slide. The team’s 21st straight loss is a record high for the franchise, and it seems likely that they will tie, or break, Cleveland’s NBA record 26-game losing streak.

In their previous game on the 17th of March against the Indiana Pacers, when they trailed 88-85, it almost seemed that they were in danger of jeopardizing the streak. But eventually they proved to be of the exceptionally determined kind, and extended the streak to 21.

Brett Brown: The unperturbed warrior

Coach Brett Brown on the other hand is the optimistic type. His post-game quotes and tweets are highly reflective of a man who is as cool as a cucumber when it comes justifying his team’s prolonged disappointing performance.

After the loss to the Pacers he stated, “This program is fine, and Brett Brown is fine.”

That’s not it though. Brown is a man of exception talent when it comes to excuses, and he has a fairly good sense of humour too when it is a matter of justifying his team’s historic performance.

These are some of his quotes which might reaffirm your doubts about Brett’s amazing capability to look failure straight in the eye and declare, ‘I guess it’s not too bad’:

- “It could have been more palatable if you had sprinkled those 15 wins a little differently and didn’t get on a streak. We still don’t have the worst record, but the streak has caught people’s attention and that is fair enough.

- After loss No. 13 on March 1, which ended 122-103 in favour of the Wizards, Brown was asked if he wondered whether the 76ers would win another game. Brown replied, “All the time.”

- After loss No.21 on March 17, which ended 99-90 in favour of the Pacers: “I always feel that when we step out on the court, we have a chance to win the game just because of the nature of the NBA. It is what it is. Good teams have bad days, too.”

- On March 12th, via his Twitter handle: “Want to scream at some of my playahs, but I can’t remembah theyah names. Not sure I evah lenned them”

- After loss No. 5 on February 7, which ended 112-98 in favour of the Lakers: “It appears we play better on the road. Everybody wants to do better in our city, in front of our fans.”

- After loss No.20 on March 15, which ended 103-77 in favour of the Grizzlies: “This is not slit-your-wrist time … Any win we have right now would be considered an upset.”

- “I feel like, if we can buy some time, we’ll play with enough energy where we can go steal a win. I think that there is a win in the group – maybe a few.”

- After loss No.9 on February 18, which ended 114-85 in favour of the Cavaliers: “You have six NBA players and then you have a bunch of guys who are fighting for spots and want to be seen and need opportunity.”

- After loss No. 18 on March 12, which ended 115-98 in favour of the Kings: “Inch by inch, the game got away from us.”

- “This program is fine, and Brett Brown is fine.”

To say “this program is fine” after such a disastrous run takes a lot of courage and mettle. I hear deranged Manchester United fans vying for David Moyes’ blood, but there is much the Scott has to learn from the Sixers coach.

Is Brett Brown really “fine”?

The Sixers were expecting quite a different season with the new coach, but things clearly seem to have gone awry for the team. The coach will clearly take much more than his four-year contract to get his coaching record above .500.