In the coming weeks, the Sixers will have a vexing task ahead of them: finding a reason to care about their 21 remaining games. Their loss last night to the Celtics was the fifth of five straight, which I unfortunately took the train home for. The 75 percent-off appetizers during happy hour at The Palm helped numb the otherwise painful trip for me. But for a Sixers team that was preparing to make a playoff run in mid-February, they’re going to need a little more than $3.50 kobe beef sliders to keep their spirits up. In case you’re reading this Sammy Dalembert (I know you are) here are five things you and your teammates have to be positive about for the remainder of this year’s miss of an effort.
1. The Iverson situation is finally settled once and for all. At least for the season. And while the waters are only getting muddier for the Answer — his wife filed for divorce this week — the team can at least play distraction-free for a few weeks.
2. The defense has shown spurts of competence in past two weeks, despite the team’s shortcomings. They forced 17 turnovers last night against the Celtics and, two more than they usually force and two more than Boston averages every game.
3. At least their coach isn’t yelling at them. He remained calm throughout the game (there were no signs off this Eddie Jordan) and commended the Sixers balanced play in their losing effort. At a post-game press conference, he noted that his team kept pace with the playoff-bound Celtics, a feat they haven’t been able to accomplish in recent losses. He probably didn’t share a similar sentiment with his players in the locker room, but for a coach who has received some skepticism from the media in recent weeks, you gotta imagine some sugar coating here and there.
4. With each loss, a more promising draft choice seems imminent. This is not to suggest that they’re throwing games away like their opponent last night was once recently caught doing. It’s a little too early for that kind of behavior. Plus, the Nets aren’t making any progress any time soon. That said, a little headway in the draft lottery is always a nice consolation prize, bittersweet as it may taste. Alas, names like DeMarcus Cousins and John Wall will likely remain off any realistic Sixers wish lists, but names like Xavier Henry and Derrick Favors might soon start sneaking onto the radar.
5. Louie Williams is developing into a dynamic scorer on a team that has struggled to shoot the ball since their glory days in the late 90s early 2000s. He was the high scorer in the past two games and has improved in nearly every relevant statistical category from last season. If Iverson’s career is, in fact, done Lou Williams will continue to improve in his role as a starter.
Sure, there is cause for concern in Philly. The Sixers do not have playoff team written anywhere on their youthful roster. The rapidly decreasing attendance is probably less-than-encouraging, as well. But there are some positives Andre Iguodala and company have going for them. Looking ahead, keep an eye out for an athletic Sixers team to slowly sneak back into the foreground of Philly fanhood, while the men of Citizen’s Bank Park keep the locals from breaking stuff. City officials (yes the same ones who are attempting to charge a $.02 per ounce tax on all soft drinks) thank you.
No comments:
Post a Comment