How's it going 76er fans? After taking the summer (and then some) off, the countdown has returned. By finally getting some work related ducks in a row, I actually have an hour to myself to write something about America's worst professional basketball team. So let get going.
1. TANK 2.0
As an ardent Sixer support and Hinkie fanboy, I have supported the rebuild from the beginning. I especially appreciate the honest manner in which it has been presented to the fanbase. BUT, this might be too much of a "good" thing, and I have a few concerns.
Last season there was a lot of hand wringing over the 76ers roster, their lack of salary, and their overall goal of being terrible, which I felt was mostly just media types giving #hottakes for #hottakes sake. This team was certainly bad, but they were fairly competitive (except that Clipper game, holy smokes was that a disaster), they could win on any night their opponent didn't give them full respect, and they seemed to fully embrace the freedoms granted to them by not GAF. Namely, playing guys who fell through the NBA cracks and seeing if they couldn't find a few useful pieces along the way. Some of these guys looked pretty good last year, some of these guys were Daniel Orton.
The problems with this season so far, is that there are no veteran players. No guys like Thad Young and Spencer Hawes to provide a steady hand as the young guys found their way. The team out their now has 1 NBA starter and 3 (at best) backups. How can you tell if the young guys are any good when every possession relies heavily on guys who won't be in the league in a year.
The Sixers are, like it or not (I do not), tarnishing the 76er brand name. They are also kind of cheapening any future successes, by putting the tank stigma on it. I fought these concepts last season, but by the team going about tanking so deliberately, and with results this bad, these concepts are undeniable.
I am still on board with the plan, but I just wish we would have added a pair on veterans over the offseason to help prevent all out disasters like Dallas, to sheppard over the new guys, to provide a baseline of performance the new guys could count on so that their performance could be better judged, and to just maybe inspire a teammate to greatness. Kevin Durant played for a few real bad teams before emerging as an all-time great, but on those bad team Durant learned the way to be great… from Kevin Ollie. Durant credits Ollie with teaching him how the NBA works and the work required to be a success. Who on this team is our Kevin Ollie? If we had one, perhaps we could come out of this year with a few extra success stories, or better yet maybe we could have someone already good like MCW reach his full potential. But by not adding any veterans, and perhaps risking an extra 4 wins, we have hurt the franchise's image and perhaps hurt the young assets we already have.
2. Make it 1-10, kid
I can feel it, tonight is the night. I had to change plans and miss the game in person, so it is a LOCK the the Sixers beat the Celtics tonight. For anybody who didn't read any of the 11 posts I did last season, I will take this opportunity to let you know that I hate the Celtics. I hate KG, Paul Pierce, Doc, Rondo, Smart,Len Bias, Brad Stevens, Bill Simmons for being a fanboy, I hate Dennis Johnson, McHale, Parrish, Russell, I really hate Danny Ainge, and Hondo, and Red, and I especially HATE LARRY BIRD!
On a side note, my least favorite player in the league is Evan Turner, so tonight will be a fulcrum where two white-hot passionate hatreds intersect. ET will be back in Philly with the Celtics. There is no way my boys can let me down. I feel a big Nerlens coming out party, and a Sixers win.
3. Enough HATE, how about some LOVE
Joel Embiid, the King of Kings, Emperor of 2 Continents, Twitter Icon, Dancing Machine, Sex Symbol, Fashion Authority, and Future NBA MVP.
I will keep this short, but I really like Joel Embiid. If he is really good at basketball, and can stay healthy, then his charisma will turn him into a Shaq level megastar.
Also in an attempt to get me overly excited my brother now refers to the 2014 draft as Baby Olajuwon, Euro Durant, and New Iggy. I am moving on, as my nose has started to bleed from over excitement again.
4. Sixers Power Rankings
Top 5: (only on-court greatness to be considered to prevent Embiid from taking all 5 spots)
- MCW- The reigning ROTY is back, and thank goodness. He is our only real difference maker at this point. It is a real positive sign that he has been productive so far this season, because if he can succeed with this supporting cast, he can succeed under any circumstances.
- Tony Wroten- The place holder in MCW's absence, Wroten is having a career year thus far, and hopefully he can maintain his high level of play.
- KJ McDaniels- Athletic freak and now Sixer fanboy obsession. Obviously, I like KJ McDaniels.
- Nerlens Noel- A victim of high expectations, it sometimes feels like Nerlens is not living up to the hype, but he seems just fine to me. He hasn't even played 10 pro games yet and is getting write-ups as a top 5 ROTY contender, he is doing quite nicely.
- Joel Embiid- I said on court, and it appears this happened on the court:
5. Promotion
I hung out on Whizwitradio this afternoon to talk Sixers, give it a listen.
6. SIXERS!!!!!
We only end the countdown one way! Enjoy tonight's big win!
Thanks everybody, be back soon!
