Larry Brown Trashes Analytics Again: 'Everybody Thinks I'm Too Old'
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Larry Brown is certainly not shy to express his hatred for analytics.
And on Friday, the former Philadelphia 76ers head coach was at it again.
"I know everybody has a plan," Brown told Angelo Cataldi and the 94WIP Morning Show. "Angelo, I'm not into this analytics stuff. I think the pendulum is turning. My high school coach taught me about analytics -- you take a good shot, you try to get a rebound, you try to take care of the ball, you don't throw the ball away, you don't foul as much as other people. I looked at that all the time. I was doing analytics when I was a baby, but you can't cut anybody inside.
Listen: Larry Brown on the 94WIP Morning Show
"If you did analytics on Allen [Iverson] -- he went 13 for 40 in games and won the game for us," Brown continued. "Now, an analytics guy would think you had a terrible game. To me, we had every offensive rebound, three or four guys had to guard him. And you couldn't value George Lynch or Eric Snow, Tyrone Hill or Theo Ratliff -- if you have to put those guys on analytics they wouldn't even be in the league. But they had a huge heart and a huge effect on our game, and they played the way we needed them to play with Allen. For baseball, maybe football, that's good. But everybody thinks I'm too old and don't understand, so I'm just gonna do what I do."
Brown, 75, has worked with new Sixers chairman of basketball operations, Jerry Colangelo. Brown says Colangelo, 76, will help the Sixers.
"I'm sure he'll help," Brown said. "He's a very, very bright guy. Basketball has been his life everywhere he's been. He's had a terrific impact. He changed the whole USA process -- USA basketball -- which really needed to be done. We used to just pick all-star teams and not practice and expect to win. He changed that whole program in terms of picking the best team, giving it an opportunity to practice and prepare. He's a good man, he really is."
Brown has been a vocal critic of the 76ers' process since it began in May of 2013 under general manager Sam Hinkie. However, even Brown admits the Sixers have found some young talent.
"You do have some really good pieces," Brown said. "[Nerlens] Noel, and [Jahlil] Okafor, and I hope Joel [Embiid] gets healthy. [LSU freshman] Ben Simmons is the real deal. The kid [Kris] Dunn at Providence is great. There's a kid [Brandon] Ingram at Duke.
"Philly's got some pieces," he continued. "I was happy that they brought in Elton Brand. I think one of the things people forget about -- you might have a lot of great young kids and you might have a great coach, but it's people in the locker room that teach kids how to be pros. They hold them responsible. They teach them how to grow up and accept coaching and value the minutes they get."
