The Sixers Season Ended in Heartbreaking Fashion But What a Hell of a Season It Was


Watching the Philadelphia 76ers this year was a lot like a father watching his son play sports growing up. They maddened you with mistakes, but you supported them nonetheless because you love them.




The season ended for the Sixers on Wednesday night with a crushing 114-112 defeat against the Celtics up in Boston. The final loss of the season epitomized an issue that lingered for Philly all year long. Victory slipped off the tips of their fingers like Evan trying to catch the Goldslick vodka on the bus in Superbad.

 






Up 109-105 with 90 seconds to go, it all fell apart. JJ Redick misses a WIDE open three, Joel OBVIOUSLY gets fouled, and ROOKIE Jayson Tatum (Markelle better figure this shit out) scored the go ahead basket. A story we’ve read the final chapter of one too many times.

 

In the hours after a heartbreaking ending to a season, we were so emotionally invested in, it’s easy to be depressed and angry. But, if you take a look in the rear view mirror, this season had many more positive moments, than negative ones. The growth this team has shown from not just October. But, also from Christmas is absolutely astounding.




This is a team that started 1-4. At that point, Joel Embiid was not playing back to back games. Markelle Fultz was playing but with one arm and we didn’t have a solidified rotation. We were a rag tag group of guys with a lot of raw talent and a severe lack of experience.

 

Fast forward a few months and the team had added Marco Bellinelli and Ersan Ilysova. Embiid, aside from breaking his face, had been dominant. And, Ben Simmons was a near Rookie of the Year lock. THAT’S what I’ll take away from Year 1AP, After Process.




The way the human mind works, we will always remember the most recent event. So, unfortunately, we will remember falling to the Celtics in 5. But, it is important to remember all the progress we made in just a few short months .

 

I’ll remember the Christmas Day game that got us back on track. Embiid dominating the Lakers. Beating Cleveland on the road, only to come home the next night and effectively end the Hornets season. The 80 point half against the Cavs at home. The Markelle Fultz triple double in the last game of the season in a blowout win against the Bucks. The Heat bullying us in Game 2, only for Embiid to return like a hero in a fitting mask. I’ll remember the TJ game. I am going to replay the horrific final moments of the games in this Celtics series for a long time. But more importantly, I’ll remember the 52 wins, the 3rd seed in the East we secured, and the playoff series victory.




Right now, the Sixers have Jimmy at Shortstop and Chase on 2nd with Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons. They have Ryan Howard on 1st with Dario Saric. It’s time to fill out the rest of the batting order. I guess this makes the Celtics the 2007 Rockies. We all know what happened next.

 

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By Aidan Powers | May 10, 2018