If you ask the experts the Philadelphia 76ers are the odds on favorite this season ... to finish dead last in the poorest division in the NBA. So you have to scratch your head when you hear more than a few Philly basketball fans say they are genuinely excited about the Sixers. Not that anyone is paying them much mind. It's much too early for Philly sports fans to think about pro basketball. The Eagles are in the midst of their Jeckle and Hyde routine and the Flyers have started a revival. The 76ers are easy to overlook with no big name box office draw.
But that's exactly what has some folks excited. The Sixers begin their first season in over a decade without Allen Iverson. That addition by subtraction is enough by Iverson detractors to give the Sixers a peek. The 6' mighty mouse created a love 'em or hate 'em atmosphere around himself. Those who hated 'em had all but turned off Philly NBA basketball.
Also gone are the escalating promises with diminishing returns. Management has given up on the superstar solution. There were no big trades in the off season. Their division rivals have progressed beyond the point where a few tweaks might win in a weak division. The general manager, Billy King, has changed his tune. With fans calling for his head for past transgressions. He is not telling you the Sixers will win today. He has admitted his short comings. He says the Sixers will rebuild. Something we fans have known for some time. They have embarked on a 3 year plan. The change has been welcomed.
The "me first" Iverson is gone. The new AI is an all around team player. It's not just his acrobatic slam dunks that make him exciting to watch. It's the unselfish passing, it's the shutdown defense, it's the rebounding. It's his soft spoken confidence and quiet demeanor that make him such a likable guy. But he's not the only one. It seems that character has become just as important as talent to the Sixers. Fan favorites Kyle Korver, Andre Miller, and Lou Williams are also character guys. The same can be said for this year's rookie class.The new Sixers are ready to bring their hard hats to work.
So the are plenty of reasons for quiet enthusiasm in Philly. People should be willing to watch albeit with lowered expectations. There is a chance to watch a team grow. With all its fits and starts.
There's no place to go but up.
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