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Hey Guys, Let’s Talk About The Sixers For A Second

Last night, the Sixers lost a nail-biter in OT to the Denver Nuggets, giving them their first home loss. The team’s overall record for this year is now an impressive 10-4, placing them atop the Eastern Conference’s Atlantic Division. It is all very exciting, and for a team that had fallen behind in fan attendance and support prior to the lockout, it is doing wonders. But is it just excitement? Or are the Sixers back?

The TV ratings are up 64% from last year and ticket sales are undoubtedly growing, but is it excitement, or is it fandom? The team is very much what Philly fans love to root for: they’re scrappy, they’re team players, and most of the players (at least before the season) were fairly anonymous. The new ownership is kicking ass in the social media department (even after the whole mascot debacle), and on top of all that, they’re winning.

But if they can’t continue to win, and the excitement fades, will there still be fans? Sure, there were a few before the season, but we’d say that many of the people getting themselves wrapped up in Sixers fever are new to the team, or returning after some years away. The organization (and team) have done great work so far, but if the excitement fades, who knows what will be left. But for now the family-friendly, teamwork-driven Sixers are a refreshing change to the ego-driven teams of the past. And of course, bringing back Big Shot/introducing Black Moses couldn’t hurt.

This entry was posted on Thursday, January 19th, 2012 at 12:31 pm.

  • The Drama King

    As an excited fan, I’ll say that I agree that the new management has done very well as a whole. I also agree that this team is much more functional and enjoyable than the “ego-driven teams of the past.” I do think that they need a star of sorts if they are serious about winning, especially in the playoffs. The almighty Doug Collins can handle the ego that comes along with a star player.

  • http://bluelightmusic.bandcamp.com Blue Light J

    I have this fantastic dream where they pick up Dwight Howard and become a serious force. It seems unlikely.

  • Snake

    They’ve played a bunch of SHITTY teams and will come back to Earth in the next couple weeks. But in their division they play the Nets, Celts (who got old very quickly), Knicks and Raptors quite a bit. They’ll undoubtedly make the playoffs – the usual end though, first round loss.

  • AquaBoogie

    They have played some sub par teams so far, but it’s not like they are squeaking out wins against these teams. They are destroying them. (The 2 recent games they’ve lost were close, and with Hawes out. He’s no all star, but a 7 footer with a high FG % is definitely a nice added bonus to have on the floor.)

    And Collins has done a great job with the pieces he was given. They still have to maximize the value of Iggs and Brand who are both getting paid waaay more than their worth. So, as well as they may be playing, they are still in Stefanski hang over stage at the moment.

    As far as the fans, once the season gets further along, and if they keep up this level of play, they will start to come out. The TV ratings increase is nice to see, but I’m very surprised that more people aren’t coming out to watch this team being the ticket prices have been slashed by management to start the season. But, in typical Philly (and everywhere else) fashion, once they start portraying some type of sustainable success, the fans will come. Philly fans seem to think they aren’t susceptible to the “bandwagon” thing, but they are, and it will eventually show with this team.

    (J-Roll was right, as much as people didn’t want to admit it.)