I don't think it's too much of a stretch to say that Friday's game between the Sixers and Knicks was the closest thing we've seen to playoff basketball in Philadelphia since, well, we were actually in the playoffs two seasons ago. The Tri-State matchup, the possible post-season positioning at stake, and the near-sell-out crowd (even if a high percentage of them were NY fans) all contributed ot what was one of the most exciting Sixers regular-season games in recent memory. Oh yeah, and the game was kind of awesome too, with both Elton Brand (33 points, 15 boards) and Andre Iguodala (18 points, 16 assists, 0 turnovers) posting season-best performances, and the Sixers squeaking out a too-close-for-comfort 100-98 victory.
What will the two teams do for an encore? Well, luckily, we don't have to wait too long ot find out, as the Knicks and Sixers square off today at Madison Square Garden for a matinee rematch.
With Friday's victory over the Knicks, fans and writers now officially seem comfortable--after a whole lot of times where it seemed close, only to end in heartbreak--to declare the Sixers officially a team on the rise. Over at Philly.com, Kate Fagan writes about how much happier the team locker room seems than in years past, and declares it time to get on the team bandwagon after they've gone 20-13 since their miserable 3-13 start. (If so, the team's New York contingent didn't seem to get the memo--I haven't seen more than one or two Sixers jerseys among the sea of Stoudemires and Gallinaris at MSG today.)
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I'm getting there myself, but I need to see a big road victory or two first. Going two-for-two against the Knicks this afternoon, in front of one of the most raucous crowds in the NBA, would be a big start. Not to mention that it would move the team to just a game behind the 'Bockers for the sixth seed in the East, closer to that possible matchup against the Bulls or Magic, rather than a likely slaughter at the hands of the Heat or Celtics. (Though being honest, of course, we still need to see a lot more from the Sixers to think they'd have a chance against any one of those four teams.)
Noon-ish tip from the Garden. "It's fun being February and having something to play for," said Brand, who has only seen the post-season once in his decade-plus in the league. Amen, brother.