As I’m sitting here in my Air BnB in Rome, Italy, It’s weird seeing results of Sixers games at 4:00 in the morning. Even though I woke up this morning to a loss to the Bucks, I still woke up with a huge smile on my face; not because of the amazing shrimp risotto, pasta, and exquisite wine that I devoured at Bernini’s (whose employees are also from Philadelphia), but from seeing Joel Embiid taking a picture with amazing Philly fans traveling from all over to see them play. I also smile because at Flyers games in Las Vegas, Philly fans are chanting E-A-G-L-E-S as well as my friends and I starting Eagles chants last night in Italy.
I smile because Philly is everywhere. You will find Philly fans in any state or country. It’s truly special what this Super Bowl victory gave to our city. It’s more than a ring and more than an ending of a drought. It gave us pride. Philly fans have always been proud to represent their city, but there was always that negative connotation with that; losing. I can happily say that those notions are washed away, and Philadelphia’s version of the roaring twenties are well on its way.
The Sixers and Flyers are both making playoff pushes, but the Sixers are getting to be very dangerous going into the playoffs. Sitting sixth in the eastern conference (just two games back from the three spot), the momentum this team is carrying as well as the fans that travel are going to lift this team to new heights.
Since joining the roster, both Marco Belinelli (11.0 ppg) and Ersan Ilyasova (10.3 ppg) have averaged just about nine more points per game than the Bayless/Booker duo which makes it a million times easier for Ben Simmons to spread the ball around. It also frees Embiid more space to dominate in the paint and vice versa (which is also scary to think about). Both Belinelli and Ilyasova are great off the ball which only enhances this team far more than what this roster was like before the Super Bowl.
The Sixers head to Charlotte to face the Hornets next, which in their last meeting, the Sixers kept calm down the stretch and ended up winning handily 110-99, prompting an ejection for Hornets head coach Steve Clifford. The Sixers finish up their four-game road trip in South Beach and Brooklyn. The end of the season is looking promising and I cannot wait until the playoffs begin, because we are coming for more than just a playoff spot.
