Article Written by Michael Doctorovitz
Originally Published on October 25, 2023
Do you know what no Philadelphia sports fans knows right now? When the first home Sixers game is. There are multiple reasons for that. You could look at the Harden situation and say “Oh well they’re too caught up in the drama right now but they’ll get back into it,” and you’d be wrong.
The real reason nobody knows when the home opener might be is because nobody cares about them. Simple as that. The organization that has felt like the most unstable, poorly run franchise for years has seemed to finally lose its fanbase.
After years of tanking, fans still bought in, trusting the process that it would all be worth it in the end. In the end however, nothing has changed. In 2012, the Philadelphia 76ers lost in the Eastern Conference Semifinals in seven games to the Boston Celtics and the Celtics then lost to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals. Fast forward to 2023 and the exact same thing happened. Almost as if time is a flat circle and the fans have lost patience.
The Philadelphia 76ers have not made the Eastern Conference Finals since 2001. I was 6 months old, Allen Iverson was the MVP of the league, the average price for a house was $211,900 and Jalen Hurts was about to turn three years old.
Years of losing and heartache and patience and the only thing the Sixers fans have been rewarded with is being stuck in the exact same position as they were in 2012. Oh, and an MVP trophy.
The problem with the Sixers organization doesn't start with the head coach or the general manager. In a way, it starts with Joel Embiid. Embiid has been great, a fan favorite who embraced the city and was the light of hope for everyone but he has his flaws. Embiid has failed the Sixers just as much as the Sixers have failed him. He has a bit of a loser attitude that is contagious with his teammates. Sixers are down by 10 in the fourth? Embiid is pouting and jogging up and down the floor because he quit. Down by 15 at halftime? Game is basically over.
As I said, the Sixers have also failed Embiid just as much as he has failed them and the organization is certainly not innocent in all of this. For those who continue to stan Embiid and hope they never trade him, it is time to face reality and realize he is not the answer.
Michael Doctorvitz,
Columnist,
The Locker Room with Billy Schweim
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