The Philadelphia 76ers face one of the hottest teams in the NBA, the Golden State Warriors. But regardless of outcome, can team find solace in their recent run of good luck? Can Philadelphia 76ers fans find hope finally?
Once upon a time, there was an NBA team with the leagues youngest roster, multiple injuries, no defined point guard, a rookie center and the center from the previous season trying his luck at the power forward spot. Yes, this team did not find much to cheer about as it fell to a 1-30 record to begin the season.
Fortunately, things do change. The team became healthier, and the return of healthy players helped to lessen the load on the undermanned roster. The team began to become familiar with one another and themselves, recognizing the new roles each would be playing going forward. Finally, the team sought the services of one of their own, and with the return of Ish Smith to the roster, the team has begun to win some games at an ever increasing pace.
With the current roster emerging on a number of positions with players who are beginning to realize their own potential, the rapid improvement for this Philadelphia 76ers team is quite impressive. Written off at the beginning of the season, the experience of playing together and sharing the struggles as a team is forging a true bond of friendship and trust. It’s that trust, that belief in one another, that gives rise to spectacular plays like the alley oop:
"HOLD ME BACK ALAA ABDELNABY!!" - @marczumoff calling Nerlens Noel's one-handed alley-oop slam. 😂🙌https://t.co/NHwTo3zZFG
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) January 19, 2016
Jakarr Sampson was happy to comment on the elation of the team finally finding success:
"“We’ve got a different Vibe. We’ve got our swag back. We are walking around like we are the big kids on the block. I love it. We are clicking now, especially with Ish being back. We know how Ish and Nerlens [Noel] play together. They are clicking. Nerlens is taking his game to a whole ‘nother level. We are competing. We are fighting. No easy buckets to the rim. We are competing now.”- JaKarr Sampson"
The most optimistic point of this positive turn is that its happening with a weakened roster. Both Jahlil Okafor and JaKarr Sampson missed the past two games with the flu. That didn’t stop the Sixers, as they defeated the Phoenix Suns 113-103 to sweep the series this year, but fell to the Detroit Pistons 110-97 in the second game in two nights.
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Even Brett Brown, who has been caught in the carnage of this team time and time again as he’s welcomed and mentored young prospects, only to lose them prematurely as the team accumulated more assets, is rather optimistic:
"“Even if I didn’t, I wouldn’t tell you,” says Brown. “But I’m telling you that yes, I do. And I’m saying that with great conviction. I feel that when you start looking at some of the assets that we have available to us, whether it’s future draft picks, whether it’s (Dario) Saric, whether it’s the development of some of our young guys that we’ve drafted.”"
It’s simply not enough to build a good roster on paper, or to proclaim it will get better someday. The true test is translating that talent into on-court production. It’s not something that happens overnight, as it requires teamwork, trust, anticipation, and practice… lots of practice. In recent weeks, it’s beginning to show up on the court. So much so that routinely critical former player Charles Barkley now is so optimistic that he projects the Philadelphia 76ers as a playoff team next year. Even the teams biggest skeptics are becoming positive.
ALSO ON SIXER SENSE: If You Build It, Philadelphia 76ers Will Come
So yes, Philadelphia 76ers fans hope in this recent burst of competent basketball play. This is simply the first step to a process that keeps pointing skyward. After years of nothing but pessimistic outlooks, your turn in the sun is long overdue. Step into the light. You’ve earned it.