Sixers Return Home To Face The Indiana Pacers
By Spike Eskin and Matt Leon
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – If the Sixers recent play is any indication, things could get ugly tonight at the Wells Fargo Center against the Indiana Pacers. To be clear, that's ugly for the Sixers.
The Sixers (31-29) managed to give up 113 points in their loss to Orlando Monday night, while the Magic played without Dwight Howard, Glen Davis, and Hedo Turkoglu, in the most recent chapter of the Sixers second half collapse. Doug Collins mentioned that the Magic were hitting all of their shots, but it should be noted that the Magic shot plenty of them while wide open. The Sixers also lost the rebound battle 46-30, while the Magic were missing three of their four leading rebounders.
The signature defense that led the Sixers to many first half wins, has disappeared. The effort has followed the defense right out the door. If there was a question whether this team has quit, it appears as if the question should be "why," not "if."
The Pacers (39-22) come in having won nine of their last ten games.
If the tone of this sounds negative, it's because it reflects the team's play.
If there's a bright side, it's that the Sixers are still two games ahead of the Bucks for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. With just six games to play, the Sixers would most likely need to win only a game or two to secure the final playoff spot. If it comes down to their next to last game, April 25th in Milwaukee, it's hard to believe the Sixers would pull that one out.
Some reasons for optimism after tonight's game would be as welcome as they'd be surprising.
Matt Leon previewed the game with phillyburb.com's Sixers beat writer Tom Moore:
Podcast
The game can be heard live on 94WIP at 7pm.
