Sixers Players Deserve As Much Credit As Doug Collins Does
By Spike Eskin
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Tom McGinnis has been through it all in his 15 years of calling games on the radio for the Philadelphia 76ers. From a trip to the Finals with Allen Iverson in 2001, to a trip to the basement with Eddie Jordan in 2009. This season however, has been special, McGinnis said, "it's what basketball is all about."
McGinnis spoke to 94 WIP's Angelo Cataldi and The Morning Team on Wednesday to talk about the 18-7 Sixers, who take on the San Antoinio Spurs tonight at the Wells Fargo Center. Though much of the credit has gone to coach Doug Collins for the team's success, McGinnis says that you can't forget the players who have bought into Collins' system. "This is one of the greatest team sports there is, and these guys know that," he said. "It's also the makeup of the players. You can be selling whatever you want to sell, but if somebody's not buying it, it's not happening. When front offices talk about 'character guys,' that's what you've got here. When you talk about loyalty, trust, and togetherness, this team has that."
Listen to the interview with Tom McGinnis:
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McGinnis says a large part of the team's success this year is due to the players' commitment to getting better during the lockout. Players were not allowed to communicate with coaches during the work stoppage, so they were on their own to improve and stay in shape. "Think about what they did in the off-season, spending all that time together and that stuff. You can't manufacture continuity and chemistry, and oh by the way, they have skill. So it's going to be an interesting couple of months coming up."
The months ahead will decide the Sixers' playoff position, and just how far they will go in those playoffs is anyone's guess. A lot depends on their first round opponent, McGinnis says. "What if we get Indiana? That might happen. They're going to be a tough out. Nothing is guaranteed." What's the ceiling for this team? "You would like to think you could burst through and get through the first round," McGinnis said. "But I would think the sky is the limit. If somebody said to me, 'well you guys could compete for the Eastern Conference Championship.' Well I wouldn't refute that. But I'll tell you what, the way things are going right now, these guys have an attitude that they can beat anybody, well then let's let them tell us how it's gonna go."
