BLOG: Finally, Something To Cheer For
By Kyle Scott
I work with a ticket company called Tiq IQ. From time to time they will send me graphics to help promote upcoming games.
Today's graphic? Ticket prices for the Sixers' playoff push.
Let that sink in for a minute. Let it percolate, if you will.
When the Sixers started the season 3-13, almost none of us believed they would have any shot of being competitive this year. It looked like the classic rebuilding year: new coach, young talent.
But suddenly basketball is making a comeback in this town. The Sixers are now 33-31 and on the cusp of what is actually considered a "big game" against the Celtics. If you strip out the awful start - which was clearly a product of the team adjusting to Doug Collins' style - and give the Sixers a conservative 8-8 record, they would be 38-26 and in fifth place in the conference. Just like Villanova is no longer the 16-1 team that started the season, the Sixers are no longer the team they were in November. They're actually a true contender.
A contender for what?
I thought you'd never ask ... They are not going to the Finals, let's get that wild idea out of our heads. But, if they continue to play the way they have, they could win a round (maybe two) in the playoffs. That is an excellent step in the right direction.
I, for one, have taken issue with the team, since they have not been a true contender for almost 30 years (save for a few seasons with Allen Iverson). That's why the building is empty most nights. It's not because people don't like basketball or the Sixers, it's because an entire generation of fans have grown up in an NBA vacuum. If the city's college basketball landscape is any indication, we are a people that love hoops. Finally, there maybe something to cheer for again.
Much like we were starved for postseason baseball in 2007, we will be content with meaningful Sixers spring playoff games.
They won't beat the Heat. But if the Sixers draw a first round matchup with LeBron and Co., the entire country will become fans. Suddenly, Sixers games will mean something.
And that's all we can really ask for, right?
This article reflects the opinion of Kyle Scott. Kyle Scott is the founder and editor of CrossingBroad.com, one of Philly's top sports blogs, known for its sarcastic and irreverent take on the Phillies, Flyers, Sixers, and Eagles.
