Slouching Towards Disinterest

The Sixers lost last night to the soon-to-be Brooklyn, but currently New Jersey Nets, 95-89 last night, the latest sign that this team is going nowhere. The Sixers are in 8th in the conference, two games up on the Milwaukee Bucks with seven to play, tied with the seventh place Knicks (losing on tie-breaker), and 3.5 behind the Celtics for the division, which is all but gone. Liberty Ballers sums up my feelings about this team:

Doug Collins said it earlier this week; we'll know who the Sixers truly are after the brutal 3-game stretch against theNets, Raptors, and Nets again. Like the Sixers have been doing for the past decade, they took the first two pretty easily and when everyone expected them to do the same for the final game, they lose at home to the team with the second worst defense in the league (for the second time this year). Yep, Doug Collins' quote was spot on. This is exactly who they are.

Evan Turner and Jrue Holiday had pretty nice games, which is certainly what I'm most concerned about with this current roster as the season stands. How many games the Sixers win for the rest of the year? I'm pretty sure I care more about the newest plot twist on Gossip Girl. The only thing I'm worried about is the development of these two guys. The offseason is where it really matters at this point.

All-star frontcourt Kris Humphries and Jordan Williams combined for 31 points and 18 rebounds, Collins decided to pull Turner (9-15 at the time) for Louis Williams (3-8 at said point) in the final two minutes (and yes, Lou did get abused on the defensive end immediately), Jodie Meeks played 23 minutes shooting 0-5 from the floor, and the Sixers continue to do exactly what they always do.

I will outright say that I would like to see them miss the playoffs, rather than finish 8th. Take a shot on the lottery, and hope that ownership is so embarrassed that major roster changes happen. The only two guys I'd totally keep are Turner and Iguodala, maybe Holiday, but I'd be open to trading one of them for a lot. The rest? I'm open to anything you can come up with to change the dynamic.

As I said, there are seven left, and three more wins will insure a winning season. They MAY get there. They play two with Indiana, one with Orlando (next), and one with the Milwaukee Bucks themselves in the second to last game. Cleveland, Detroit, and the final game ever against the New Jersey Nets in New Jersey are also on the schedule. The Bucks trail Indiana tonight, and play them again, as well as the Sixers and Celtics yet. They do get the Nets, Raptors, and Wizards though. They have split with the Sixers, so this final game will decide tie-breaker.

I'm focused on the off-season personally, whether they get in or not. I'd love to see playoff games, but not if that's a catalyst to keep things as-is. We need change at this point, to win anything in the near future.