Sixers on cusp of another dismal milestone
Updated with news that Nerlens Noel has been cleared to play.
OKLAHOMA CITY - The 76ers are on the cusp of another dismal yet tank-friendly milestone.
An expected loss Friday night to the Oklahoma City Thunder would make them the only team in NBA history to start 0-9 in back-to-back seasons.
The Sixers opened last season with 17 straight losses. This season, the Sixers dropped their first eight games and remain the league's last winless team.
In the process, they joined the Washington Wizards (2011-12, 2012-13) and Memphis Grizzlies (2001-02, 2002-03) as the only teams to go winless through eight games in back-to-back seasons.
It can be argued that losses count as wins for a Sixers squad sacrificing victories for the third straight season to secure a top lottery pick. But these types of milestones can take an emotional toll on players and coaches while coping with the realities of another dismal season.
The Sixers will publicly state, as they did the last two seasons, that this is a close-knit group and that everyone has been positive. But the reality is that players often begin to lose faith in one another and in their coaches and start to lose motivation as losses mount.
The Sixers have lost 18 straight dating to March of last season. They will tie the third-longest losing streak in franchise history with a loss Friday. They dropped 19 straight games from March 21 to Nov. 10, 1972.
Since he took over the job before the 2013-14 season, coach Brett Brown has endured three of the four longest losing streaks in franchise history while the team continues to field a roster that is below NBA standards.
They tied an NBA record with 26 straight losses from Jan. 31, 2014 to March 27, 2014. Then they opened last season with 17 straight losses from Oct. 29 to Dec. 1.
Brown was asked Wednesday after a loss to the Toronto Raptors if it's hard to stay positive, motivated, and not let the losses affect him.
"It's very hard," Brown said. "But that's my job. I feel like if I don't coach myself well each time I step out here and . . . each time I see those 20-year-olds in the gym, things become vulnerable. So I've got my purpose. I understand my role and I've got to do my job."
Brown's focus remains on developing players and identifying keepers. "I remind myself of that daily," he said.
But that doesn't make the mounting losses hurt any less. At least for now, the players believe that playing better in the third quarter, when they've been outscored by 47 points, and making shots will lead to that elusive victory.
"If we hit shots here and there and make easy ones, I mean, I think we are in the game," point guard T.J. McConnell said. "On defense, we just have to pay attention to detail and just play hard and that's that."
Injuries
Nerlens Noel (sore right wrist) was listed as probable for the game, and was cleared to go after Friday morning's practice. Richaun Holmes (right hamstring) is questionable and Robert Covington (right knee) is out. Thunder star Kevin Durant (hamstring) is out.
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