PHILADELPHIA— Jimmy Fallon, sportscasters throughout the country and op-ed columnists can stop making them the butt of jokes and wisecracks now.
The Philadelphia 76ers will only share a piece of the record book, rather than having it all to themselves.
By scoring 70 first-half points on their way to a 123-98 blowout of the totally disinterested Detroit Pistons here last night, the Sixers avoided the ignominy of owning professional sports’ all-time losing streak. Never will a team be so willing and grateful to only own a piece of rock bottom: 26 games … but finally no longer counting.
At 9:48 P.M. civic pride was officially restored to a town still reeling from the Eagles stunning decision to jettison star receiver DeSean Jackson. While the P.A. system blared that old favorite from better days gone by “Clap your hands, everybody for Philadelphia 76ers,’’ and the message board flashed “Sixers Win’’ in bold bright letters, the players gathered at center court, almost unsure what to do.
After all, when you’ve gone 59 days between victories, it has to seem strange to celebrate rather than commiserate when the buzzer goes off.
“I thought we came out with fire,’’ said rookie Michael Carter-Williams — still the odds-on favorite for Rookie of Year, after both he and Thaddeus Young scored 21 points to lead the way. “It’s been tough losing, but I don’t think we felt any extra pressure tonight.
“We just got on a real bad losing streak, but that didn’t faze us at all.
“Of course you never want to be a part of bad history, so it’s good we got the win. .But I don’t really worry about what others say—the jokes and everything. I just keep focused on the long term.’’
So does his coach, who from the beginning has made no secret that he’s convinced the path the Sixers have taken will ultimately lead to success. On this night when his players seemed to take out two full months of frustration and ridicule on a team the “Bad Boys’’ from the Motor City would surely like to disassociate themselves from, Brett Brown felt no more—or less–vindicated
“I’ve been in the league for 13 years,’’ said Brown, moments before his team came out and played with a cohesion and passion that ‘s been noticeable missing since the roster was gutted at the trading deadline, with Evan Turner and Spencer Hawes sent packing in separate deals. “I’ve seen rebuilds of all sorts.
“I’ve been lucky to be a part of four NBA championships and they take shape in different forms. Everybody has a different philosophy,” Brown said. “But I’m able to sleep at night because the path we’re on is right.’’
That will be determined well down the road, as the Sixers attempt to reestablish themselves among the NBA’s hierarchy, a quest Brown concedes will take 3-5 years. He’s never shied away from that realization all season, acknowledging this is what he signed up for.
While he’s thrilled that it all came together last night, his mantra wouldn’t have changed had record breaker No. 27 gone into the books instead. “I’m happy for our players and happy for our fans,’’ said Brown, whose club took command from the start against a Pistons’ team coming off a 110-78 home court thrashing by LeBron James and the Heat, building a 70-51 halftime bulge and never looking back. “Really happy for our players and our fans.
“They’re prideful NBA players. As much as I tried to deflect this (the streak) from them I am pleased the win validates how they’ve stayed together.
“We’re all human. Perhaps the stigma (of being the biggest all-time consecutive loser) it’s a good thing it won’t be attached to their names.’’
No, the 2010-11 Cavs and the 1976-77 Tampa Bay Buccaneers still can lay claim to a share of the all-time futility mark. While the players tried their best to insist this win was no more satisfying than the 15 which preceded it—against 57 losses, the relief was evident.
“We’re just happy to get a win, said Young, who’s become the de facto leader of this team mainly because he’s the only one remaining (Jason Richardson has been hurt all season) from last year under Doug Collins. “I don’t think it was the streak.
“We started off with lots and lots of energy and took them out of the game early. It is what it is. We haven’t even talked about it. We just go out and play.
“At the end of the day we can’t hold that over our heads. This is our job, our craft. We play basketball, regardless of the steak. We got a win. Now we have to go play Atlanta.’’
Aside from Hawks fans (and Knicks fans, who are looking for an Atlanta collapse), the only folks paying close attention to Philly’s next game are the folks in Vegas, who before the season got underway set the Sixers’ win total at 16 1/2 . In other words, Carter-Williams, Young & Co. will hit the ‘’over’’ should they win any of their remaining nine games.
No matter how that plays out, though, Brown says the franchise is heading in the right direction. He’s looking at a 2014-15 team with Carter-Williams, red-shirted rookie big man Nerlens Noel, who’s yet to play a game due to the severity of a knee injury he suffered early his freshman season at Kentucky, and presumably one of the top picks in the upcoming draft, be it Andrew Wiggins, Jabari Parker or someone else.
Add another likely late lottery pick acquired from New Orleans, which annoyingly keeps winning to lessen that prospective pick’s value, and Brown is convinced it won’t be that long before winning streaks rather than losing streaks become the norm.
“The main thing is we chose a path when Sam (GM Sam Hinkie) was hired,’’ explained Brown, reiterating the company line for the umpteenth time. “Some agree with it. Some may not agree with it.
“But we’re committed to the plan. We don’t want to blink. Times like you’ve just been through, they teach you a lot about different people. How things may sound good at the start of the plan, yet people get wobbly and second guess things,
“But we are fully committed to seeing our plan through and we did win tonight. We’re everyday people trying to knock out a great day. Nothing has changed. Nothing will change.
“But we do see a far greater picture ahead of us—and it’s exciting.’’
Posterity will note that Ebony Joy sang the National Anthem on this night. Maybe she can become the Sixers’ good luck charm answer to the Flyers’ Kate Smith, who’ve used her recording of “God Bless America’’ as their rallying cry for decades.
For now, for the foreseeable that will have to do, as the Sixers will happily retreat from the front pages and being the lead story on SportsCenter. Yes, they’ve earned their place in history. But at least they won’t be alone.
In their case, having someone to keep company with never felt so good.
Jon Marks has covered the Philadelphia 76ers from the days of Dr. J and his teammate, Joe Bryant (best known as Kobe’s dad). He has won awards from the Pro Basketball Writer’s Association and North Jersey Press Club. His other claim to fame is driving Rick Mahorn to a playoff game after missing the team bus. Follow him on Twitter.
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