The Philadelphia 76ers were leading the Atlantic Division for most of the season. However, Sixers fans like myself had to use the asterisk that the Atlantic was the worst division in the NBA - which is a big reason why they held the lead for so long. But the division did get three teams in the postseason - although the Sixers, Boston Celtics and New York Knicks didn't play like playoff teams in their opening games.

Posted under Uncategorized

After Derrick Rose suffered a season-ending ACL tear during the Chicago Bulls' 103-91 win over the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series on Saturday afternoon, the reaction of NBA fans, media members and fellow players alike consisted largely of shock and sorrow. A bummed-out legion began to wrap its mind around the enormity of the 2011 NBA MVP's injury and what it means for the top-seeded Bulls' title hopes and, potentially, the career arc of one of the league's brightest young superstars. I say "largely" because the reaction also contained stuff like this, from the Twitter account of Jason Petrie, a "senior footwear designer at Nike," according to LinkedIn , and the designer of the popular Nike basketball sneakers worn and endorsed by Miami Heat star LeBron James: "Pooh," of course, is the nickname Rose was given by his grandmother when he was a kid. Rose, of course, wears and endorses adidas shoes; the Bulls point guard recently signed a 13-year endorsement deal with the shoemaker that, with incentives, could pay him more than $200 million. The intimation, of course, is that Rose wouldn't have torn a ligament in his left knee if the shoes on his feet when he landed that jump stop were emblazoned with a swoosh. Of course. [Related: Derrick Rose's knee injury casts pall on Bulls' hopes | Video ] On Sunday morning, Petrie took to Twitter to apologize :

Posted under Uncategorized

(Reuters) - Chicago and Miami opened the National Basketball Association post-season with comfortable wins on Saturday but the Bulls paid a steep price for their victory when Derrick Rose was ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee injury. There were smiles all around in Miami as the Heat, led by 32 points from LeBron James, scorched the New York Knicks 100-67 to take control of their best-of-seven Eastern conference series. But few were smiling in Chicago after watching Rose crumple to the floor in pain late in the Bulls' 103-91 win over the Philadelphia 76ers. ...

Posted under Uncategorized

The Philadelphia 76ers thought they would be the Atlantic Division champions for much of the season. Sixers fans like myself really wanted it, if only so they could avoid the Chicago Bulls or the Miami Heat in the playoffs. But the Sixers are getting the Bulls anyway while the Boston Celtics have another division crown and a prized top four seed - despite not getting home court advantage.

Posted under Uncategorized

The Philadelphia 76ers were pretty bad at various times after the All-Star break. Yet Sixers fans like myself could still take comfort in making the playoffs anyway - and that they weren't the Charlotte Bobcats. In fact, now every single team in NBA history can take comfort in how they weren't the 2011-12 Bobcats - even the 1972-73 Sixers.

Posted under Uncategorized

The Philadelphia 76ers may have secretly wished to finish as the No. 8 Eastern playoff seed instead of the No. 7. Sixers fans like myself certainly advised it, since the top-seeded Chicago Bulls are still a better matchup than the second-seeded Miami Heat. In the end, the Sixers got that secret wish in decisive fashion, as they didn't even try to beat the Detroit Pistons on April 26 while the New York Knicks destroyed the historically awful Charlotte Bobcats.

Posted under Uncategorized

The Philadelphia 76ers are likely to earn the eighth seed in the 2012 playoffs, and fans should probably want it that way. Heading into the final game of the regular season, the 76ers and New York Knicks both sit at 35-30. The 76ers need a win and a New York loss in order to earn the seventh seed in the playoffs. I am all for winning and I want to see the 76ers close out the season with a fifth straight win. However, no one should be upset about the idea of the 76ers finishing with the eighth seed. ...

Posted under Uncategorized

The Philadelphia 76ers didn't have that much to play for against the Milwaukee Bucks on April 25. Yet Sixers fans like myself knew there was something at stake - we just didn't know if it was worth fighting for. The Sixers can still overtake the New York Knicks for the No. 7 seed and avoid facing the No. 1 Chicago Bulls - but facing the Bulls may be preferable to playing the Miami Heat in the playoffs again.

Posted under Uncategorized

Despite a largely rough final two months of the season, the Philadelphia 76ers have played well down the stretch.

Posted under Uncategorized

The Philadelphia 76ers have already clinched a playoff spot but there are still two regular season games remaining. Though they are in a battle with the New York Knicks for the seventh seed, there is some flexibility with how the team plays these two games. I don't expect Doug Collins to rest players for long stretches but I do expect him to juggle his lineup to help the team get ready for the playoffs. As a fan, here are a few things I'll be watching with the 76ers over the final two games.

Posted under Uncategorized