Nocioni misses playing for Bulls

Andres Nocioni already had been to the United Center as a visiting player before Tuesday. He logged 16 minutes during Sacramento's infamous 35-point comeback last December.

Now back in town as a member of the Philadelphia 76ers, Nocioni didn't try to hide his affection for Chicago.

“It's really tough to come to this building,” Nocioni said before the game. “I loved to play for the Bulls, and everybody knows that. I miss it a lot. The teammates, the building, the United Center.

“I miss the city. It's really tough for me to be on another team, but it is what it is. It's business and right now I try to play really hard for the Philadelphia 76ers.”

The Argentina native spent 4½ seasons with the Bulls, before being sent to Sacramento in the deal for Brad Miller and John Salmons in February 2009. Nocioni was traded to Philadelphia during the summer and admitted last year's 25-win season in Sacramento didn't sit well.

“Last year was really tough for me in Sacramento. Really tough,” he said. “This year is much better. I feel more comfortable in Philly.”

Before losing to the Bulls, the 76ers had won eight of 11. Nocioni contributed 4 points in 13 minutes Tuesday.

“Doug Collins is an old-school coach,” he added. “He's the kind of coach who likes to work you tough every day. He's big on us working hard every night. That's what we're doing right now.”

Familiar face in Philly:

Doug Collins might be the Brett Favre of NBA coaches. Every time we think he's done, he shows up on an NBA bench again.

Collins' first head-coaching job was with the Bulls from 1986-89. He waited seven years before taking his second job with Detroit. After two seasons with Michael Jordan and the Wizards ended in 2003, he waited seven more years for his latest opportunity with Philadelphia.

“The reason, I'm a teacher,” Collins said before the game. “I always knew I was going to do it again. My wife and I knew that and my family knew that. There were two cities that I thought about — Chicago and Philadelphia — and it was all family related.”

Collins daughter Kelly lives in the Philadelphia area and son Chris is an assistant coach at Duke.

“I've been sort of a builder,” Collins said. “That's sort of who I've been in my career. I've never been the one left standing at the end with the ring.

“But one thing I've always tried to do is go to a place and when I leave them I hope they've been better from me being there. That's what I'm trying to do in Philadelphia.”

Calm, collected Collins:

Before Tuesday's game, Sixers coach Doug Collins talked about how he has calmed down over the years.

“I think the passion and the competitiveness are the same,” he said. “I don't think I'm any different there. I just think I channel it a lot better. I just realized that the guys feel as bad as I do, why go in and make it worse?

“I take a look at myself and I wish I would have taken the time to enjoy it more when I was a little bit younger. But sometimes when you're young, a little bit more insecure, you think if you're not doing everything somebody else might get a little credit and if so how that affects you.”