After holding a 21-11 first-quarter lead, the Sixers were beaten by the Timberwolves, 83-74, and except for a late rally, looked like an NBA wannabe rather than the defending Eastern Conference champions.

It was not all that surprising, given the preceding tumultuous four weeks of teaching and building by coach Larry Brown, then tearing down and starting over by Brown and the organization. These Sixers have coexisted for five days now, and as Brown is quick to point out, that is not nearly enough time to produce a winner.

"Our execution is not there," Brown said. "We've got guys, I'm explaining things every time-out, and obviously we haven't handled it well right now."