Sixers Play Kings in Game With Tanking Implications

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For better or worse, professional basketball still exists for the city
of Philadelphia for another three weeks or so. The Sixers aren't really
chasing a playoff spot or a lottery slot, so there's not a ton left to
root for, but it'll at least be fun to watch Jrue Holiday and Thaddeus
Young (and Evan Turner one in every four games or so) continue to grow
together as a foundation for the team's future, and interesting from a
cosmic perspective to see if Spencer Hawes, Dorell Wright and Damien
Wilkins can continue their unexpected streak of playing like highly
competent NBA rotation players. And, of course, seeing how the Sixers
can follow up their legendary choke job in Denver a couple nights ago
will be pretty fun too.


Besides, the Sixers' game tonight in Sacramento does have potential
implications for draft positioning. If the Ballers can steal an L in
Sactown—currently on an emotional high due to mayor Kevin Johnson
landing a deal for a new arena, which could conceivably hold the Kings
in California's capital long-term—then the Kings will, remarkably, be
just one game behind the Sixers in the standings. As undignified as
having a lesser record than the Kings would be, they're one of the many
teams with a chance of hurdling the Sixers over the ever-shrinking
remainder of the season, and every bump in draft ordering counts.


9:00 tip from Sleep Train Arena (yes, that is actually the name of
the Kings' home building). Will this be the lowest-watched game of the
entire NBA season? Eh, the Bobcats and Pistons have to play each other
at some point, probably. 

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