There is a lot of uncertainty and questions regarding what the Sixers need to start from the ground up, but tonight, it is all about The Answer. No, not the answer to what the Sixers need, but a look back to the past and celebrating the career of Allen Iverson.
It all comes full circle Saturday night at the Wells Fargo Center, where Philadelphia hosts the Washington Wizards. At halftime, the team will honor and retire the number of their greatest player this century, Allen Iverson.
In a sense, the game represents what the NBA has become. On the same court in one night, Philadelphia will send out a squad, according to Stan Van Gundy, with no interest in winning. Why? They want the number one pick.
How valuable is the first overall pick? Well, the last time the Sixers had it they used it to select Allen Iverson. It goes without saying what an honor it is to have your number retired by one of the league’s more accomplished franchises, so it could mean everything to a franchise.
The Sixers are looking for their next Allen Iverson. That is what this game is about, that is what the league has become to be about, and that is what the organization is out to do.
So if you find yourself struggling to deal with all the losing, just think of what could be on the other side, the next Allen Iverson.
Simultaneously, the team will honor their past, while building towards the future. Frankly, the present time with all the losing is just the time in the middle of the two.
Injuries: The usual suspects appear on this list again as Brandon Davies (finger) and both Nerlen Noels and Jason Richardson (ACL surgery) will not play. Nene is out for Washington.
Starting Lineups:
Washington:
PG- John Wall
SG- Bradley Beal
SF- Trevor Ariza
PF- Trevor Booker
C- Marcin Gortat
Philadelphia:
PG- Michael Carter-Williams
SG- Tony Wrotten
SF- James Anderson
PF- Thaddeus Young
C- Arnett Moultrie
Prediction: The house goes nuts for Iverson. Oh, and the Sixers lose 120-95
