A couple bad calls, a collection of worse substitutions and finally one boneheaded play kept the dream alive tonight. By all rights, the Sixers should've won this game. They looked like the well-rested team playing for seeding, not the haggard group coming off a humiliating home loss the night before. Somehow, some way, though, they pulled out the loss and I found myself in the unique position of begging for a key blunder.
My favorite unit of the night, by far, came with 2:10 left in the game. The Sixers desperately needed a stop, so Jordan brought Jason Smith into the game and left Kapono on the floor.
From my point of view, this game came down to the officiating. Dwyane Wade got the superstar treatment throughout, Jrue got called for a horrible charge late in the game. If I actually wanted the Sixers to win, I would've been irate. I typically don't blame games on the refs, and there were plenty of opportunities for the Sixers to win this one anyway, but I'll make an exception this time simply because I'm not blaming them, I'm sort of thanking them.
I've been hoping for losses for a while now, but tonight was the first game where the switch in my head just never flipped. Typically, when they're in a tight game, and they're playing well, I want them to pull it out when it gets to crunch time. Logically, I know I shouldn't feel that way, but I always do. Tonight, there was none of that. This was probably the hardest I've ever rooted for a loss in my life and I have to say, I despise the feeling. Hopefully the next four games will be it. Hopefully I won't be put in this situation again. It sort of kills your soul as a sports fan.
The joke of the night is 4 shots for Jrue in 27 minutes and 16 shots for Speights, Willie and Meeks combined in 31 total minutes. Run some plays for the kid, he was 3/4 from the floor.
Player of The Game: Sam, whether you were rooting for a win (19 points, 16 boards, 4 blocks) or the loss (the basket interference to stop the tying hoop from going down), Sam is your man.
Team Record: 26-52 (yes, they've lost twice as many as they've won)
Up Next: vs. MIL on Friday night
Lottery Update: Huge wins for GSW and DET tonight. The Sixers are now only 1 game behind Detroit for the 6th-worst record and 2 games behind Sacto, GSW and Washington who are all tied for the 3rd-worst record. Hope is still alive.
I share your pain. It hurt to hope my team would fail in the end and lose the game, but it could be critical. While the basketball gods could shine on us and give us a top three pick, from any position, the lower the better. All I hope for is a competitive game that they lose in the end. Hopefully a decent coach can teach them to win those games next year.
"Why are you making me watch this if you are rooting for the other team?" - My Girlfriend.
"I have to make SURE they lose" - Me
I still got caught up in the competition and uttered out a couple cheers from the home team, then logic kicked in. I could of never of imagined myself doing this, but its what its become.
It’s really the first time it’s happened while I was watching and they were close.
You learn something new everyday.
This started about 2-3 weeks ago for me, rooting for the other team especially late in the game. It's a bizarre feeling.
Brian, my thoughts exactly. I do not understand how the refs call a touch foul on Jrue and on the other end, he gets floored, and no foul!
Can someone explain to me the foul on the defender when the offensive player leans into the defensive player? I don't get it.
Are fans wearing brown bags yet or is that too harsh?
In jersey that gets you lunch with the team president
Didn't he call the fan an asshole or something?
He bad mouthed him in the press yes - but they did have a lunch together according to reports...
I think the nets are likely to become as much fun as the mavs in the next couple years - i mean i think 12 mil to Coach K was just made up nonsense - but still - David Stern probably had apoplexy
Did anyone see how Wade reacted to the charge he was called for on Smith?!?
There are a hand full of players in this league who get away with murder on the court. Unfortunately none of them are 76ers.
If you have espn insider read one of the most recent 'player x' posts for the nba guy - he specifically talks about refs and how tehy are biased - interesting point made that the LONGER they are in the league the more likely they are to make those kind of silly calls...and younger refs usually always defer if there's a conflict on the call
They didn't even call a charge, I don't think, they just didn't call the block. Ball went out of bounds.
I'm still pissed about that call on Jrue, that was a sick play and in no way a foul.
I am still fuming also. Upset also that the coach did not defend Jrue after the game (not that I am surprised). No way was that a charge. Either blocking or a flop.