This has been a very confusing season for fans of the Philadelphia 76ers.
All logic pointed to the Sixers tanking this season. Their team did not appear very good. Their new executives seemed interested in starting over from scratch. The teams #TogetherWeBuild campaign shows their commitment to a new look team.
But they aren't tanking. They're not even losing. Like, at all. And they're playing good teams. And it is super exciting! And I don't have it in me to cheer against them. I'm excited and there are three things that I will be excited about if they win every game for the rest of the season or if they go 3-79. These things will keep my blood flowing no matter what.
The Rookie - So now you're thinking: "Well, duh! He's great!" But no one was so sure about Michael Carter-Williams just a week ago. My man is killing it! And he has the perfect Philly demeanor. He sinks his shot and runs back to defense with an ear to ear grin. Then you ask him about it and he's so chill! "Yeah, it's pretty cool. We're just having some fun out there." Like he's playing with some buddies down at the playground! I will agree, 3 games is a small sample set. He could start against Golden State and fall flat on his smiling face! But he's looking really good and getting really good results and playing against really good defenses. Instead of playing third banana behind Andrew Wiggins and Nerlens Noel in a few seasons, I see "The Hyphen" being the backbone of this team for years to come!
The Coach - I will admit. I expected less out of this guy than his first round pick. Brett Brown was brought in after MCW was even drafted. The team was built for him and built to lose and handed to him on an aluminum-dollar-store platter. If I was Sam Hinkie, I wouldn't try and get a good coach. I would get some interim set up guy who can keep the team above water until it becomes a dynasty. Then we bring in the big guns. Thanks Brett! Get your gift basket on the way out!
But NO! This guy is the real deal! Much like Carter-Williams, he gets this city. His press conferences really show that he embraces what Philly is about. He acknowledges he hasn't been here long and hasn't had to deal with the struggles, but he has put his whole heart into the team now. The Sixers are not without flaws and weaknesses. Far from it! But they adapt like no team I've ever seen. They attack their own shortcomings and then turn their forces on their opponents. That's coming from the game plan, which is coming from the coach. I have no reason to think he will be the greatest coach of all time. But I have no reason to think he WON'T be!
The Future - "The Future!? They're ruining their future by winning all these games!" I know man. I get it. They should purposely tank all these games in order to secure great picks. I mean that would be fool proof right! Wiggins here we come!
Except that, in the history of the NBA Draft Lottery, the team with the worst record only got the first pick 4 out of 28 times. Even teams in the bottom two only get the pick 8 out of 28. Of course the odds are better, but it's no guarantee. Players like Julius Randle, Jabari Parker and Marcus Smart are no schlubs, but there's a reason Wiggins is on the cover of every sports magazine and not them.
I am of the opinion that, if this season continues on its current pace, we should attack free agency. We will have what every free agent is looking for. A destination team with players in place they can help facilitate, and, more importantly than that, cap space. I'm not saying Lebron and Dwayne Wade will be clamoring to come to sunny Philadelphia, but we can add to our rookie of the year and potentially great center with some solid talent.
Of course, the Sixers could lose to Golden State, and they could lose every game after that. But they have been damn exciting so far. Whether it's Spencer Hawes running Brett Brown's game plan or "The Hyphen" running the world! I want them to be as successful as they can be, and if that means being a 25 win team, so be it. But if it means they are a 10 win team, so be that too. No matter what happens, I'm excited about these things. I might be less excited when the next loss comes around. But for now, I'm on cloud nine. Or should I say, cloud Sixers!
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