PHILADELPHIA— Jimmy Fallon, sportscasters throughout the country and op-ed columnists can stop making them the butt of jokes and wisecracks now.
The Philadelphia 76ers will only share a piece of the record book, rather than having it all to themselves.
By scoring 70 first-half points on their way to a 123-98 blowout of the totally disinterested Detroit Pistons here last night, the Sixers avoided the ignominy of owning professional sports’ all-time losing streak. Never will a team be so willing and grateful to only own a piece of rock bottom: 26 games … but finally no longer counting.
At 9:48 P.M. civic pride was officially restored to a town still reeling from the Eagles stunning decision to jettison star receiver DeSean Jackson. While the P.A. system blared that old favorite from better days gone by “Clap your hands, everybody for Philadelphia 76ers,’’ and the message board flashed “Sixers Win’’ in bold bright letters, the players gathered at center court, almost unsure what to do.
After all, when you’ve gone 59 days between victories, it has to seem strange to celebrate rather than commiserate when the buzzer goes off.
PHILADELPHIA—Did you hear the one about Allen Iverson extolling the virtues of “practice” on a recent trip to SMU?
That was 13 years ago, a season in which Iverson, Larry Brown and the Philadelphia 76ers would go on to the NBA Finals before losing to Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant and the powerhouse Los Angeles Lakers in five games. Much has transpired over those 13 years, most recently Iverson’s retirement, coming nearly four years since he last played.
The nomadic Brown then left for San Antonio. Through the years and all the teams that would follow – the Clippers, Pacers, Sixers, Pistons, Knicks and Bobcats – he seemed inclined to stay in the NBA for good.
PHILADELPHIA — Evan Turner is in the top 20 in the NBA in scoring – No. 20, to be exact – and still feels unloved.
PHILADELPHIA –They came to bury Andrew Bynum when the man who was supposed to be the 2013 Philadelphia 76ers’ savior—if only he could’ve played– came back to town last night.
PHILADELPHIA—When they wake up and pinch themselves this morning – to the surprise of everyone but themselves – Brett Brown, Michael Carter-Williams and the rest of the Philadelphia 76ers will discover no, this was not a dream.
So for all you cynics and prophets of doom proclaiming them the worst team in the league and saying this season will be an exercise in futility, for at least one night.
When Ray Allen gave longtime Spurs assistant Brown a cruel reminder how devastating he can be by sinking four treys – the last from beyond midcourt at the buzzer – in a two-minute span, to put the Heat up 94-85 after three, it looked like Miami was home free.
