One word, embarrassing. The Sixers set out to tie the NBA record of 26 consecutive losses if they lose to the Rockets on Thursday night. The Rockets are 48-22, the Sixers are 15-56. Chances of trying the record are extremely high and then they are looking to break the record on Saturday against the Pistons. Being from Philadelphia, this is hard to stomach.
One thing that ownership doesn’t consider with a tank season to get a high draft pick is that they will lose a certain fan base. I’m certainly not a die-hard basketball fan but I enjoy watching the game and if I had to choose a team, it would be my home town. At this point of time, I want to be as far away as possible from being a Sixers fan because being associated with them is being a loser. An NBA record loser. Losing 10 games in a row is humiliating. Losing 25 is next level.
Seeing your team lose 25 straight games is painful and nauseating. The “brilliant” idea that by tanking this season to get Andrew Wiggins was certainly questioned with his miniscule performance in the biggest game of his young career. What about Duke losing to Mercer and how that questions Jabari Parker’s leadership? I still think these guys will be dynamite NBA players but it displays the uncertainly involved with athletes that are so young.
I can’t imagine that the franchise considered losing 25 straight basketball games. Sure you want to tank but you aren’t trying to NBA record tank. To be considered one of the worst teams in NBA history is not something a franchise wants to be known for. Cleveland held the esteemed honor before what is almost certain to be passed to the Sixers. That’s abysmal. I hope the turnaround is lightning fast next year or else a lot of people are going to be scratching their heads.
My stance on the players tanking versus the franchise tanking are different. If the players stopped trying, I’d be upset. The franchise is making a business decision, which is more understandable.
That said, the last 25 games have been terrible. They went from respectably bad with Hawes and Turner to literally only having two NBA-caliber players in Thad Young and MCW. None of the others should even be in the league at this point, yet we have 10 of them. You can’t even watch games because every one is a blow out.
Based on what you wrote, I’m more of a Sixer fan than you are, and this is brutal. But it’s been shown time and time again this is kind of what you have to do. We could stay around a .500 team for 10 years straight, or you “tank”, get a franchise player with a low pick (not named Evan Turner), and with a little luck, you’re relevant again.
Problem is, this draft isn’t as great as everyone expected. I don’t think Parker, Wiggins, Embiid, or Randal are “superstar” material. I hope I’m completely wrong for the sake of the Sixers. But as a fan, anything is better than what they’re doing now.
Tony Parker didn’t even play last night.
I wholeheartedly agree that finishing in the 8th playoff spot and getting a middling draft pick serves no purpose. My problem is that they are sinking to the bottom of the bottom. What are they going to say next year? Another rebuilding year while the players have to gel. Then the next year? Well now they’ve made the playoffs as the 8 seed. And next year? These players aren’t playing like we expected them to. You get the idea.
I certainly don’t know the answer of how to create a championship basketball team, but this team is the worst in NBA history.