• March 28, 2024

This Is A Sixers Team That Philly Basketball Fans Need To Get Behind

There’s a great quote in the classic movie Major League where announcer Harry Doyle (played by Bob Uecker) talks about the lack of fan interest surrounding the Cleveland Indians by saying, “In case you haven’t noticed, and judging by the attendance you haven’t, the Indians have won a few games and are threatening to climb out of the cellar.”

Every time I go to, or watch a Sixers home game, I think of this quote. Granted, the Sixers aren’t in last place like the Indians were, but they’ve been winning games and catching the eye of many in the national media. Yet, there are still a lot of empty seats in the lower levels of the Wells Fargo Center. It’s something that doesn’t really make sense to me. Philadelphia really is a great basketball town.

There’s been tremendous talent coming out of the area since Wilt Chamberlain was dominating everything in his path at Overbrook High School nearly sixty years ago. The Big 5 is one of the most magical things in all of basketball, and even some of the high school teams are known to be national powers.

So why hasn’t the city gotten behind the pro team yet? They do everything that Philly fans love. They play hard nosed, tenacious defense. They hustle and play with heart. They make the extra pass and do all the little things that winners do. Anyone see Thad Young take FOUR charges the other night? That’s the type of thing Philly fans have been known to embrace.

These guys deserve to play in front of the raucous, enthusiastic crowds that used to come out and watch Allen Iverson and company. This team, while lacking a true superstar, is made up of a bunch of likeable guys who genuinely seem to enjoy playing with one another. They are well coached, and they respect the game and play it the right way. Call them the anti-Eagles, if you will. The bottom line is this team deserves fan support. The new ownership has even slashed ticket prices in hopes of bringing the fans back. So come on, Philly, show ya luv! This Sixers team truly deserves it.

Sixer Tidbits

Remind me to never doubt Rod Thorn again. I was excited when he first got here because he has a reputation around basketball as being a shrewd executive who knows how to build teams with solid trades and good draft picks. But there I was, back in June, shaking my head in disbelief when the team selected USC center Nic Vucevic 16th overall.

I personally thought the Sixers would have been better off drafting a power forward like Kenneth Faried to groom for the four spot since Elton Brand isn’t getting any younger. As usual, I was wrong. Vucevic has been an absolute godsend for this team.

With Spencer Hawes battling an achy back, the young big man has stepped in and provided quality minutes. He gives them an interior presence that, along with Hawes, will be necessary when the Sixers battle teams with dominate bigs like the Knicks and Magic. It’s also important for him to contribute with the season being so short and most of the games running into each other back to back. This pick was huge, and once again, Rod Thorn worked his magic. I should have never doubted him in the first place.

Finally, one thing that needs to stop is the pointless booing of Andre Iguodala. I realize he’s not a superstar, and he’s definitely not a guy who should be taking the last shot of a close game. No one is arguing those points. But the guy goes out there night in and night out and works his butt off (especially defensively) for this team. He’s around every loose ball and does a great job of neutralizing the other team’s number one option. But all anyone ever talks about is how he misses buzzer beaters and doesn’t score enough late in games.

Honestly, it’s not fair. AI2 will give you 15 points on most nights, but people fail to realize he probably saves another 10 the other way with his superior defense. If this team had a true superstar like a Kobe Bryant or Dwight Howard, people would love Andre Iguodala. He’d be able to do his thing without the added pressure of being “The Guy.” I agree, he’s not a #1. But that’s not his fault.

So, instead of booing him when he misses an open jump shot, how about cheering him when he makes a key stop late in the game with the Sixers trying to hold a lead.  Cause honestly, that happens a lot more than people give him credit for. This young man deserves better than what he’s been getting.

John Bucci

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daggolden
daggolden
January 11, 2012 5:27 pm

I think Iguodala gets a bad wrap is because he gets paid like a superstar. Imagine Cliff Lee getting a pass for having a 12-10 record with a era of 4.00. The flyers goalie Brz gets alot of money to stop the puck.He isnt getting a free pass. AI2 gets alot of money to avg 12 points and play good defense. To probably be the 3rd-4th best player on a team without a superstar and be the highest paid the criticism comes with the territory. Im sure on pay day his ego is rejuvenated. lol. Saying all that I am starting to warm up to this team. Love the midnight shift.

philly262
philly262
January 11, 2012 6:00 pm

To reply to daggolden, Iguodala doesn’t get paid like a superstar, most superstars like Kobe, Wade, Lebron, KG, Paul Pierce, Dwight Howard, Chris Paul, and guys like that get paid contracts that start at 15-16 million a season, Iguodala’s contract started at around 11, and is going to end up at 15.7, he’s currently getting paid 13.5. Iguodala also isn’t the highest paid player on the team, he’s the second highest player, Elton Brand is the highest paid player on the team. Iguodala gets the majority of the flack because alot of Sixers fans don’t know the facts about his contract or about how much he’s paid relative to other players in the league.

Erock
Erock
January 11, 2012 6:09 pm

Who cares what any of these guys make and if there earning it….has nothing to do with my life and journey.If there attitude is poor and there not a good representative of the team and the community then i can see soem public backlash. But Iggs is a quality player and person. Get off his jock about his bank account. He locks down scorers.

Ownership and managment decided to pay that to Iggs. Its there $,do what ya want.

jott1972
jott1972
January 11, 2012 9:09 pm

the problem with the current Sixers team is there are no “fan favorites”….there is no Julius Irving, Charles Barkley or Allen Iverson…its loaded with young potential, but fans can’t relate to them…..they are boring to watch, thus, no one cares

daggolden
daggolden
January 11, 2012 10:48 pm

Erock Iggy was Melos bitch tonight. He locked down shit. He a quality person. snif sniff. How the hell do you know. lol

DCar
DCar
January 12, 2012 2:30 am

(DCar – stop the nonsense and grow up. Act like a real adult and stop putting profanity on here) Iguadala is a f^#@ing stiff. Quit it with the man love. He has a horrible shot, is highly inconsistent, doesn’t get to the net enough, is not a leader, & is one of the worst decision makers with the rock, that I’ve ever seen. He runs down the court & heaves up a f^#@ing 3-ball with 17 seconds on the clock, then he’ll hold onto the ball until the clock runs down to 2-3 seconds a pass into double coverage. He is an overpaid, overrated, bum, & he has to go. Cut it out already.

DCar
DCar
January 12, 2012 2:33 am

BTW, when you are getting paid to be the man, & act like you are the man, you don’t get paid to be a lock-down defender only. BTW, he isn’t a lock-down defender. He’s a good defender.