Internet hounds have targeted the Philadelphia 76ers on social media in recent months. The team hasn’t been good for years, so why all the criticism?
If you were to scroll through the Instagram comments section of a post regarding the Philadelphia 76ers on an account with a large following, you would see most of the comments talking about how the team will be as bad this year as it had been during the peak of The Process.
Philadelphia 76ers
Either the commenters don’t realize that the Sixers have made additions to the roster that could make it a legitimate playoff contender, or they are just jealous of the fact that Philly has arguably the best young core in the NBA. No matter the way you look at it, the 76ers seem like the biggest villains in the NBA already, and the team hasn’t turned the corner and started winning yet.
As the team gets ready to reap the rewards from the years of struggling through The Process, the hate will only get louder. There are a few reasons as to why the Sixers have so many haters, so let’s break them down.
Big Talking, No Proof
Like most things that have to do with the Sixers, the new culture of talking big without having much evidence to back it up starts with Joel Embiid. He has a passion for hyping up the franchise and staying loyal to The Process, even when the fans of every other NBA team doubt that it will ever achieve its goal of bringing a title to Philly.
From the hubris shown in Sam Hinkie’s resignation letter to the powerful statements from players in the media regarding expectations for the upcoming season have seen comprehensive hatred from the internet. Recently, ESPN’s Instagram account posted a quote from Markelle Fultz, which said, “we’re going to be in the Playoffs this year”. Included under that post are comments such as “Markelle you’re drunk go home”, “no chance in h***”, and countless laughing emojis.
Furthermore, Joel Embiid’s tweets draw lots of ire from anyone associated with the league, from Lavar Ball to the average fan. He’s tweeted his thoughts on everything from how he wants to welcome Lonzo Ball to the league to how the Philadelphia 76ers playoff hopes are looking. Embiid has announced those controversial opinions just this summer, and a deeper dive into his profile will reveal even more powerful takes.
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Obviously, the internet doesn’t like the confidence from such an unproven team, which is understandable. The franchise has seen almost all of its key players go down with serious injuries, but clearly the doubters do not know what the team can do when healthy. Joel Embiid alone can make the Philadelphia 76ers a borderline playoff team, and as a rookie, he was one of the best defensive big men in the league. Still though, the Sixers’ three brightest prospects have only played a combined 31 games, so opposing fans will want to see the franchise humbled this season.
The Process
Add a healthy Ben Simmons and Markelle Fultz to Embiid, and this team is potentially dangerous. Potentially. The team’s injury record will cause major doubt, but anyone who cares about the NBA should have seen what all three players have done in college and how their games will translate into success at the professional level.
The fact that the franchise and the fans had so openly embraced gaming the system when Sam Hinkie took charge in 2013 angered everyone around the league. The team’s fans stayed smart and patient, shown by their loyalty through some of the NBA’s worst-ever seasons.
During the years of losses, Process doubters became used to seeing the Philadelphia 76ers as both bad and injured, and thus that is how they view the team today. Well, here’s a news flash for those still doubting: injuries heal, and the team has finally acquired the pieces to field a winning team.
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The main anti-Sixers comeback to that statement is that the team’s core has only played 31 games combined. Be that as it may, but time will tell if The Process has worked. Patience is the core of The Process, and it’s clear that most NBA fans on Twitter and Instagram are not patient enough to trust The Process. Let’s just hope that they aren’t the same fans trying to jump on the bandwagon when Philly is a true title contender.