I can’t truly describe the ridiculous inner-struggle I have been facing recently regarding when to finally post about the early-season NBA Atlantic Division leading 76ers. I didn’t know if it was fitting to write about the team’s “fight-to-the-death” passion and intensity during their loss to the Knicks in Madison Square Garden. I didn’t know if it was fitting to write about the team’s extremely impressive win over the Atlanta Hawks to Friday’s ago. And I didn’t know if it was fitting to write about the team after a pretty solid two and a quarters in Miami until my new mancrush’s, Nicola Vucevic, third quarter injury. But now, after a back-to-back wins of Detroit and Charlotte, the Sixers are impressively 14-6 through their first 20 games and almost first third of this short season.
Now, you can definitely make the argument that the 76ers haven’t beaten anyone all that impressive besides the Idiana Pacers and Atlanta Hawks during their first 20 games. But, with a 11.7 points per game differential ( 1st in the league) the Sixers have shown that they are significantly better than the lesser teams in the League. The argument of “look who they’ve played” also counters the team’s astounding rankings in the Top 5 of the League in almost every defensive category. However, team defense rarely ever weakens throughout the course of a season and usually only gets better. Both they’re defense and winning margin are very good signs for the future as the team starts to play a very rough (to put it likely schedule).
Over the next two weeks, the Sixers play the Magic, Bulls, Heat, Lakers, Spurs and Clippers at home. Now, I’m the first person to make fun of people who go through a teams schedule over a time-span and predict “sure-fire” wins, but it never hurts to at least try to analyze up-coming games. With that being said, is it really THAT unlikely to think that the Sixers could beat the Magic, Lakers, Spurs and Clippers? All four of those teams have some form of major flaw that a young and pretty well-coached team can exploit. The Spurts and Lakers are SOOOOOOOOO slow. In fact, many people are joking calling this 2011-2012 roster as the “Slow-time” Lakers. Next, the Magic struggle when they can’t hit outside shots. Fortunately, the Sixers rank 1st in the League in Opponent’s 3-Point FG percentage. Finally, the Clippers being lead by a pretty poor coach into a road arena that will most likely be packed to see “lob-city” doesn’t really bode well for a team that’s still trying to find its true identity. Ladies and gentleman, if the 76ers win at least four out of their next six home games, it will be very safe to say that this club will be very well on their way to an Atlantic Division title (Their first since 2001) along with home-court-advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
I’m saying you need to be overly confident in the 76ers chances at making some noise in the playoffs this season, but I’m definitely saying you need to start getting excited about where this team is headed. Their only real weak-spots are interior defense and poor shot selection and coaching down the stretch. If they can overcome some of those difficulties, there’s going to be some exciting basketball being played in the Wells Fargo Center come March and April.
And remember….
Clap your hands…. Everybody! Stomp your feet…. Get up and Cheer! The Sixers… of Philadelphia… TEAM OF THE YEAR!
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