2. Beating the 76ers is now a big deal
Some of the 76ers’ worst losses have been nationally televised, and that is not by coincidence. Of course, with 39 of 82 games on some kind of national TV network, some clunkers in front of the country will occur.
It is one thing for a bad team to be beat in front of just the local yokels, but no one wants to have the whole country see them get the stuffing knocked out of you. Also, bad teams (except of course the Lakers) do not get much primetime TV exposure. For them it is a big deal, and there’s also the human side of it. National TV means the folks back home will be watching, players do not want to look bad in front of them.
Blake Griffin‘s 50-point game in Detroit’s win on NBA TV and an ESPN game vs. Chicago lost on a Zach LaVine last-second shot come immediately to mind of team’s turning it on in the spotlight against Philly.
The national exposure the Sixers have been getting is great for the team but there are drawbacks.