At 17-23, four games ahead of last year's pace, there's little doubt that despite the 3-13 start, this year's Sixers team is an improved model over last year's 27-win crew. Attribute it to improved play from Jrue and Elton, the steadier coaching hand of Doug Collins, or the contributions of star rookie Evan Turner (cough), but it would appear for the time being that our boys are legitimate contenders for (if not in) the post-season, and not lottery hopefuls done playing meaningful basketball in February or March.
As such, tonight will be an excellent opportunity for the Liberty Ballers to prove just how much they've grown--facing the Magic in Orlando, a team that spanked them mercilessly in their four meetings last year (all losses, by an average of over 16 points). The Sixers won the first battle in Orlando this year, but that was against a Magic team missing half its roster due to trade flux. This game, with the Magic at full-power and seething after a close loss to the Celtics last night, will not be so easy.
The key to the game, as is usually the case when dealing with Orlando, is what to do about Dwight Howard. The East's best center has feasted on the Sixers the last few years, and even in December's loss, he still went off for 26 and 20 against Philly. With Spencer Hawes getting limited minutes these days with his bad back, it's going to be what could generously be described as a patchwork effort in guarding D-12 in the paint, with Hawes, Brand, Speights and company likely to swarm Howard and try to either force him to kick the ball out or failing that, send him to the line, where he's a 59% shooter. Don't be surprised if Collins even dusts off Tony Battie to throw a couple fouls at Superman.
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Simply by hanging tough in this road game against an Eastern contender that has been a particular thorn in the Sixers' side of late, the Sixers can continue to build on the confidence they've earned with their recent pair of close home wins against the Bucks and Bobcats. "After all of those games going against us early, we're learning how towin," Collins said. "It's huge growth for our team." Personally, I was never much of a believer in the "learning how to win" theory of NBA team development, but watching this team this year...well, here's hoping it's actually legitimate growth, and not just fluky happenstance.
7:00 tip from the glorious new Amway Center. Among the new faces for the Magic since we last met are beleaguered former all-star Gilbert Arenas, one-time Most Improved Player (in his first go-round with Orlando) Hedo Turkoglu, and two-time Slam Dunk Contest champ Jason Richardson. Should make for a more entertaining game than in years past, if nothing else.