Unfortunately for Sixers, Attitude Not Enough
Well, so, yeah — we knew that the Heat was a better team. They have more talent. Regardless of whether you like the way they assembled that talent, they have more of it.
The final numbers show that the Sixers don’t have a big time, go-to scorer, and that they don’t have enough of an inside presence.
But this is not about the numbers, because the numbers are daunting. The Sixers still have another chance against Miami, but don’t hold your breath; the Sixers have reached the end of the line.
But this isn’t about that. This is about learning what it takes. And what it takes is not logical. What it takes is a willingness to throw away what is obvious and work towards what is possible.
It is about having the heart of a champion, even if you’re not going to win a championship.
It’s about Spencer Hawes throwing his body around and energizing everybody in the first quarter. It’s about Jrue Holiday’s fearless, spinning dribble drive on Dwyane Wade in the third quarter. It’s about the Heat coming roaring out of the gate to start the second half, and the Sixers figuratively getting up off the mat, wiping the blood from their lip and throwing a haymaker right back at Miami.
It’s about the Old Lion, Elton Brand, who battled inside for every rebound, leading this young team, draining fall-away jumpers, showing the way. Brand is a real profile in persistence. He’s not great anymore and he makes too much money and he isn’t explosive, but you want him on your team.
It’s about swarming to the ball. It’s about outworking the Heat. It’s about scratching and clawing for the ball every time down the court.
The obvious embodiment of this team is Andre Iguodala — hard-working, defensive-minded, wildly athletic… but can’t shoot well enough to earn his oversized paycheck. The obvious difference between the team as a whole and Iguodala is that the team seems to have made a real connection with the fans, and Iguodala never will. Fans want to trade Iguodala, and if it takes trading him in order to acquire a true star player, then it should happen. But if the Sixers can hold onto Iguodala, they should. Because you win with players like him, but only if he isn’t your best player.
So even though the Sixers won’t be winning this series and won’t be getting within a sniff of the NBA title, making the playoffs has been very worthwhile. Doug Collins’ team has not really had much of a chance, but has gone toe-to-toe with the Heat. They haven’t won, and ultimately, that’s what you have to do, but you have to believe they’ve learned what it takes.
The Sixers have created the right environment. This is a fun place to play and, by all accounts, a fun team to be on. They have a great coach. That should be attractive to the kind of top-tier talent that is still missing. That might just be wishful thinking, but regardless of how this turns out, the Sixers are on the right trajectory.
The coach has done his job, and the players have done their job. Soon, it will be time for the front office has to do its job.
Not quite yet. But probably on Monday.
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