Opposing coaches are not blowing smoke in praising Sixers
There was a time when folks looked at opposing NBA coaches with a crooked eye when they praised the 76ers.
There was a time when folks looked at opposing NBA coaches with a crooked eye when they praised the 76ers.
The coaches would lecture about how good the Sixers are despite their being one the league's worst teams record-wise. They all talked about how Brett Brown was a great coach. Then they talked about how hard the Sixers played. And they usually ended by saying how their teams had better play at a high level to avoid being upset.
You would walk away thinking, "Man, this coaching fraternity must be close-knit. This coach knows his team should have its way with the usually banged-up and less talented Sixers. Yet he wants me to think we are about to cover Game 7 of the NBA Finals."
But the more you hear it, you start to wonder. Because it's becoming obvious that teams battling for playoff spots don't want to play the Sixers right now.
Just ask the Dallas Mavericks. They invaded the Wells Fargo Center on Friday night 3½ games behind the Denver Nuggets for the eighth and final Western Conference playoff spot. At the time, they had 15 games remaining to make up ground.
"Philadelphia has been one of the most fun teams to watch this year for me," Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said before the game. "I love the way they move the ball, I love how hard they play."
He talked about how the Sixers pass the ball more frequently than any other in the league.
"They just move it, drive it, share it . . .," Carlisle said.
He was smack on. The Sixers had nine players with at least two assists in a game that was basically decided by the third quarter. The Sixers recorded 32 assists in a 116-74 rout of the Mavericks. The setback could end up costing Dallas (29-39) a postseason berth.
The Golden State Warriors are the league's best team. They took a 54-14 record into Saturday night's late matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks. The Warriors, however, barely escaped with a 106-104 home victory over the Sixers in a game that wasn't decided until time expired Tuesday night.
"I love the way they play," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. "I think they play a lot like we do, actually, with the ball movement, cutting, and spacing.
"They've had all the injuries over the last couple of years, and Brett [Brown] has kept them together and kept them playing hard and competing every night. It's really impressive."
Now, the Sixers turn their attention to the Boston Celtics. The Atlantic Division rivals will square off for the fourth time this season at 1 p.m. Sunday at the Wells Fargo Center.
On paper this shouldn't be close. The Celtics have the Eastern Conference's second-best record behind the Cleveland Cavaliers at 44-25. The Sixers have the league's fifth-worst record. And Boston won the last 10 meetings.
But things could get interesting.
The Celtics won this season's previous three games by an average of only 4.3 points. They accomplished that behind their all-star point guard, Isaiah Thomas, who averaged 31.3 points in those games.
He'll miss Sunday's game with a bone bruise in his right knee. So the Sixers, who on Saturday afternoon were five-point underdogs, have a chance for their second upset in as many games.
Celtics coach Brad Stevens has praised the Sixers for their effort in the past. He'll do the same Sunday morning before the game.
This time, it won't be viewed as overhyping an opponent.