After narrowly escaping with a win against the worst team in the East missing four of their top six players (though to be fair, the Celtics struggled with that same Nets squad last night--scrappy bunch, I guess), the Sixers have somehow managed to turn a relatively unimpressive start into a winning 3-2 record. Of course, it's hard to judge precisely where this team is at, since the only teams they've played thusfar have been the best (Orlando, Boston), and the worst (Milwaukee, New York, New Jersey) in their conference. They've beaten the teams they should have (albeit rather indecisively) and lost to the teams they should have (albeit extremely decisively).
In many ways, today's upcoming game against the Pistons will be the most interesting of the season thusfar, since it will be against a fellow middle-of-the-pack Eastern team. Integrating some new guys (power forward Charlie Villanueva, sharp-shooter Ben Gordon) and missing some old ones to injury (Rip Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince), no one seems quite sure what to make of the Pistons yet, least of all the Pistons themselves. They have a 2-4 record, but one of those two wins was against the Magic, so clearly they're not to be trifled with too much. Chances are, they'll end up shaking out somewhere on the playoff bubble--the very same bubble the Sixers seem on track to be flirting with come April as well.
It'll be an educational experience, no doubt, to see the Sixers match up with someone in their relative peer group, for once. Plus, the Pistons and Sixers always seem to play weird, suspenseful games (two words: Donyell Marshall), and the Eagles aren't on until 8:30 tonight. Perfect day for a hoops matinee.
1:00 tip-off from the Palace. Is 4-2 too much to ask for?
Original Story:
http://www.the700level.com/2009/11/ho...
