The Sixers Won't Stay Kinda Bad!

Every time you want to throw dirt on the Sixers, the team packages together a few good games Iverson, coupled with their usual good effort, to sort of stay afloat and be relevant. True- until Philadelphia figures out how to play some defense and rebound a little, they are still a .500 team. But they have come roaring out of the break. Since mid-February, good wins abound: San Antonio (!!!), Cleveland, Milwaukee, Chicago- and last night in Houston. The only losses were in Dallas and the second night of a back-to-back in Chicago. They’ve been pretty good lately- no way around it.

The East is an odd conference. Outside of Detroit and Miami, everyone else is playing for third or fourth- a chance to win a first round play-off series and win a game or two against the Heat or Pistons. You know, feel good about themselves- talk about how they “exceeded expectations”.

As a result of their recent play, the Sixers are back in that secondary mix. They have poked their heads over break-even. They probably are going to make the play-offs at the very least. And they are only two games behind the Nets for the division- and solidly in the mix to finish anywhere from third to, well, ninth- behind the big two. So they have a chance to exceed expectations- unless you thought pre-season the Sixers culd win a division title and play-off round.

The game last night in Houston is a good example of why the Sixers, despite having glaring defensive, bench and size issues, have as good a chance as anyone to get a home court advantage round and win a first round series. Houston probably is good enough to protect its court most nights against decent eastern representatives. The Rockets were cruising along, with a ten-point lead in the second half, against a team that cannot normally force enough stops to forge late comebacks.

But the Sixers offer AI and effort most nights- and that normally is enough a handful of times a year to produce minor upsets of games I turn off after three quarters. They got another one last night- and still seem on target to get the 44 wins I thought they should get.