Competing and Losing Is the Best of Both Worlds for Philadelphia 76ers
By Mike Gibson
@papreps
Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Something happened to the Philadelphia 76ers on the way to tanking to what was predicted to be a league-worst record: This young team has found a way to compete and stay close to some good teams.
The Sixers still lose most of the time, but they play hard, are well-coached by Brett Brown and have had some surprising results. Losing to LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday night, 97-84, on the road was not a surprise but occasionally the Sixers—a team that plays almost entirely first- and second-year players—rise up and do something special, like playing the team with the best record in the NBA, the Atlanta Hawks, to last minute before falling, 91-85, on Saturday night.
For the Sixers right now, that is the best of both worlds. While the goal should be to win every night, in reality the Sixers competing hard and losing close increases their percentage of getting the No. 1 draft choice of this year’s crop and that appears to be Jahlil Okafor of Duke. While Okafor already does not seem to be a fit for the Sixers—they already have two first-round big men picks in Nerlens Noel and Joel Embiid—drafting to the Sixers is all about acquiring assets at this point.
This year, on the other hand, is all about competing and the Sixers have developed that mindset both against the Hawks and now the Cavaliers. They cut the lead to 69-65 at the end of the third quarter before the Cavaliers pulled away. In doing so, they have stamped themselves as tough and that’s a lesson they will teach to the new arrivals next year, who presumably will bring considerable more talent to the table.
Until then, talent is the only thing the Sixers lack and if they keep losing close, that increases their chances of striking it rich in the draft again.
Mike Gibson is a writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @papreps , “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
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