The Philadelphia 76ers are just fine flying under the radar
Even after some drastic improvements, the Philadelphia 76ers still aren’t getting the respect they deserve outside of the City of Brotherly Love.
After chalking up 75 wins in four combined campaigns, the Philadelphia 76ers currently sit in sixth place in the Eastern Conference with almost half that wins total (35-28) in only 63 games.
But despite this welcomed addition to the wins column, the NBA has yet to warm up to the Sixers success story. Considering the Sixers are two years removed from one of the worst single seasons in NBA history, the prospect of hosting a first-round playoff series should be big news.
But it hasn’t been.
Instead, the Sixers prosperous 2018 has largely flown under the radar nationally. Here are some reasons why the Sixers have yet to receive their moment in the spotlight.
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LeBron James
LeBron James, at 33 years old, still arguably holds the title of the best basketball player on the planet. Understandably, the Akron, Ohio native has an unrivaled allure attached to his name.
Because James and his Cleveland Cavaliers are in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff race, most media attention will naturally deflect his way. The Sixers, along with other high-profile squads like the Boston Celtics and Toronto Raptors, seem to lose air-time at the expense of James.
Perhaps the most telling proof comes in the recent James-to-Philly rumors. It seemed as if when the billboards, smiles, and hugs attached James’ name to Philadelphia, the Sixers inched slightly into the national spotlight. But with the trade deadline past and free agency still months away, that speculation is just that, speculation.
Bottom line: as goes James, so goes the national spotlight, and as of now, James is a Cavalier and not a Sixer.
Jealousy
The Sixers have built a contender in a very unconventional way; as the team’s success has originated in previously unforeseen amounts of losing. This phenomenon, labeled “tanking,” is an act the NBA vehemently denies to award significance to.
For example, NBA commissioner Adam Silver recently fined Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban $600,000 for his tanking comments while on former Sixer Julius Erving’s podcast. According to an article by TNT’s David Aldridge, “Silver sent a memo to all 30 teams last week detailing the league’s position” on the issue.
The fervor and denial in Silver’s response is further proof that the NBA wants no part of tanking. Even though there’s no way to statistically prove a psychological mindset such as tanking exists, Philly has become the NBA’s poster child for the new phenomenon.
It’s fair to wonder if the rest of the association looks at Philly enviously. The Sixers turned their organization around in an unconventional way, making the traditional rebuilds of superstar-less, middling teams look possibly archaic.
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Not to mention, the pervading phrase of the operation formed the nickname of Philly’s superstar center. Thus, on a nightly basis, the NBA is reminded of “the Process” Philadelphia underwent to win games in the form of a towering, outspoken talent in Joel Embiid.
Therefore, Philly exists as an easy target for other organizations to shun, as if diminishing Philly’s success is simultaneously curing the poison that is “tanking” to the association’s integrity.
The Eastern Conference Standings
As mentioned, the Sixers hold the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference. Without context, a sixth seed usually doesn’t garner much attention in the media.
One of the most outspoken voices on this topic is The Herd host Colin Cowherd. Earlier this season, Cowherd denounced the Sixers improvement, saying at that time, “Philadelphia is a seventh seed in the East. Yippie.”
What Cowherd fails to notice is that the Sixers, while in the bottom portion of the playoff picture, are only two games out of the three seed. In addition, Philadelphia defeated all seven other playoff teams at least once this season.
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If just a few of the Sixers many blown leads reversed, it’s quite possible Philly could be in the upper-echelon of the East.
However, if the media prints the nightly standings without context, it’s clear to see how the sixth-seeded Sixers could be flying under the radar.
Same Issue, Different Year
For the fourth time in five years, one of the Sixers first-round draft picks will hardly see the floor in his rookie season. Nerlens Noel, Embiid, Ben Simmons and now Markelle Fultz all fell victim to the injury bug at their career’s outset.
To the outsider, seeing Philadelphia persist with a problem that dates back to the 2013-2014 season must seem repetitive.
Perhaps this leads the national media to believe that Philadelphia truly won’t turn the corner until these medical mysteries leave the locker room.
Plus, this past offseason, many believed Fultz was the final puzzle piece to complete the Sixers roster. With such a talent-stuffed frontcourt, a natural scorer in the backcourt like Fultz seemed a rightful and promising addition.
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Because Fultz’s development is behind schedule, it could be perceived that the additions of J.J. Redick, Ersan Ilyasova, and Marco Belinelli didn’t complete the Sixers roster. Instead, the media could see these veteran shooters as “band-aids” for the hole left by Fultz’s absence.
But no matter the reason, the Sixers flying under the radar isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Philadelphia is a city of underdogs and the Sixers fitting that bill seems righteous.
Next: If the Philadelphia 76ers want home court, they must win in the road
Only for now at least, as the real noise will be made this April.