Poof!
Just like Magic, the Sixers disappeared.
And just as 29 years ago, they did it when it appeared things had lined up to give them an easy win.
Maybe that’s the problem. Reading their comments before last night’s pivotal Game 6, you get the distinct impression the Sixers fully expected to breeze to victory since the Magic were going to be without star center Dwight Howard, courtesy of the elbow he threw at Sam Dalembert.
Only nobody told the Magic.
Back in 1990 it was Magic Johnson, subbing for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, dropping 42 points on the Sixers and leading the Lakers to an NBA title.
Last night it was another Magic-al night, unless you happen to be a Sixers fan.
It didn’t have the drama of the NBA Finals in ’90, in fact for the Sixers it didn’t have much of anything. They never showed up.
The Magic came out firing 3’s, while the Sixers fired blanks.
This team now faces a crossroads. Do they write off this season as an aberration and await the return of a healthy Elton Brand? Or do they come to the conclusion that this group isn’t good enough and begin to make major changes?
Andre Iguodala? Was he there last night? Andre Miller was one of the few who was, but there’s a question about whether he really wants to be here.
Drexel Hill native Ed Stefanski has lots of questions facing him. Some won’t be answered right away. But one likely will, and it’s a big one.
Stefanski needs to determine whether he wants to bring Tony DiLeo back as his coach, or go with a bigger name. Before last night DiLeo was looking more and more like a guy who helped his undermanned team over-perform in this series, stealing a couple of games against a better team.
But last night’s disgraceful fiasco, one in which his team was expected to win but was never in it, along with some unusually blunt comments after the game from veteran Theo Ratliffe about DeLeo not getting in anyone’s face while the game got out of control, changes things.
The winter sports season has ended. It will be a long off-season for Sixers and Flyers fans.
Bring on the Mets.
Just like Magic, the Sixers disappeared.
And just as 29 years ago, they did it when it appeared things had lined up to give them an easy win.
Maybe that’s the problem. Reading their comments before last night’s pivotal Game 6, you get the distinct impression the Sixers fully expected to breeze to victory since the Magic were going to be without star center Dwight Howard, courtesy of the elbow he threw at Sam Dalembert.
Only nobody told the Magic.
Back in 1990 it was Magic Johnson, subbing for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, dropping 42 points on the Sixers and leading the Lakers to an NBA title.
Last night it was another Magic-al night, unless you happen to be a Sixers fan.
It didn’t have the drama of the NBA Finals in ’90, in fact for the Sixers it didn’t have much of anything. They never showed up.
The Magic came out firing 3’s, while the Sixers fired blanks.
This team now faces a crossroads. Do they write off this season as an aberration and await the return of a healthy Elton Brand? Or do they come to the conclusion that this group isn’t good enough and begin to make major changes?
Andre Iguodala? Was he there last night? Andre Miller was one of the few who was, but there’s a question about whether he really wants to be here.
Drexel Hill native Ed Stefanski has lots of questions facing him. Some won’t be answered right away. But one likely will, and it’s a big one.
Stefanski needs to determine whether he wants to bring Tony DiLeo back as his coach, or go with a bigger name. Before last night DiLeo was looking more and more like a guy who helped his undermanned team over-perform in this series, stealing a couple of games against a better team.
But last night’s disgraceful fiasco, one in which his team was expected to win but was never in it, along with some unusually blunt comments after the game from veteran Theo Ratliffe about DeLeo not getting in anyone’s face while the game got out of control, changes things.
The winter sports season has ended. It will be a long off-season for Sixers and Flyers fans.
Bring on the Mets.
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