The unofficial second half of the season will kick off for the Philadelphia Seventy-Sixers on Wednesday night as they take on the Wizards in their first game back from the All-Star Break.
The Sixers have understandably been under the Philly sports fan’s radar, with the Phillies in spring training, the Flyers playing so well, and the Eagle’s being the Eagles. But for those that want to jump on the Sixers bandwagon, now might be the time, because the Sixers are primed for a second half push.
Going into the All-Star Break, the Sixers were one of the hottest teams in the league. They finished 7-3 in their last 10 games, tied for the third best record in the East during that span. The only teams with a better record during the last 10 games in the East were Miami and Chicago, both of which are elite teams.
The hot play vaulted them all the way to 8th place in ESPN’s John Hollinger’s “Power Rankings”, the only team in the top 14 with a losing record.
A main reason for the turnaround this season has been the play of Elton Brand, who has shown shades of being the player the Sixers thought he was when they gave him the “Philly Max”. Brand is averaging 15 points and 9 rebounds, but has turned in big games recently. He pulled down 17 rebounds in the teams win over the Spurs, dropped 33 points in a playoff style win over the New York Knicks, and recorded a double-double in the team’s win over the Rockets to go into the All-Star Break on a positive note.
The good news for Sixers fans is that with 26 games to go, the Sixers are in excellent shape to make a second half run. Of the team’s 26 games left, they only face 11 teams that have a winning record. It gets even better, 6 of those games 11 games are at home, where the Sixers have won 8 of there last 10.
The Sixers also have the benefit of getting their last 4 games at home, including a matchup with the Knicks, who they are currently
trailing by 2 games for the 6th seed in the East. In addition, of the Sixers last 10 games, only 3 of the teams have a winning record, meaning that if the Sixers can stay in contention (which they should be able to do), they could carry momentum into the post season.
Sixers Coach Doug Collins dropped some pretty staggering numbers about his team recently, telling reporters that he is proud of his team for playing winning ball over there last 40 games, going 24-16. This is after they suffered through an 8-34 stretch dating back into the end of last season.
There is no doubt the Sixers are starting to turn things around, and are now winning games because of it. However, in a top heavy Eastern Conference, it remains to be seen if they can get past even the first round of the playoffs. A likely first round matchup with either the Heat or Bulls awaits.
But after a dismal few years of basketball in this city, it looks like exciting times might be ahead for Sixer’s fans.
Anyone notice that since Collins started benching the “White Guys”
(Nocioni,SPongalia and Kapano) the Sixers have been playing better ball…
But on a serious note, it’s great to see the Team and Franchise playing good and exciting ball. COllins has done a great job and should be in the running for Coach of the Year and they young talent on this Team is finally playing together and with a focus… I hope they don’t make any trades
to split this group up and bring in new players only to mess up the rhythm and rotation that they finally have going..
I do believe morving forward, that they can updgrade the #4/#5 Spot, get a Pure Shooting Guard and a Tough-guy who Rebounds and brings a nastiness to the front-line… Go SIxers …
Imagine where we would be if we had actually drafted a LEGIT overall 2nd pick in the draft.
Birdo – you mean if turner had played better during the first half of his rookie season? What is a ‘legit overal 2nd pick’? A lot of 2nd picks have stunk it up. Do you mean one that ends of working out to be a great player during the first half of his first season? Hindsight’s 20/20. I don’t think we could have improved any more than we have this year, even if we had drafted someone who was a stud right away.
True. Maybe it’s just that I WANTED a stud but outside of John Wall and Griffen (who technically shouldn’t be considered a “rookie”) — there are no real rookie “studs”. Cousins maybe? But he’s just a handful.
Bird, yeah, and if Collins can do this with the team, think what he can do with Turner given a little time – he’s an infant in terms of an NBA career.
I think Turner, given time, Can be the next Eric Snow…
Paulman, can you be serious at least half the time?
And lose what little credibility I have left Schill… C’Mon Man….
What you’re all failing to understand is this “surge” adds another year or 2 of irrelevance to this team down the road.
Elton Brand isn’t getting any younger. Iggy isn’t getting any better. Lou isn’t getting any better.
It would have been better for the future of the franchise if they were still strugling so they could dump Iggy. It’d be great if some idiot somewhere would take Brand off of their hands.
They can’t compete with the Heat, Celts, or Magic. Next year when the Knicks sign CP3 or Williams, that’ll be another team they’re behind.
This team has been begging to be blown up for years, but it never happens.
To Mugs,
“Surge” adds another year of 2 of Irrelevance..
Now you are sounding like GW Bush, and former Defense Secrertary Don Rumsfield..Are you a Republican…
@ paulman. Im over here laughing to death over the Eric Snow comment! EPIC!