Philadelphia is undeniably a huge sports town and certain fans preen about their “4 for 4” status. Still, there exists a hierarchy, and who sits atop it is a certain combination of what part of the season we’re in, current competitiveness of each club, overall likeability of the team.
The last time the Sixers unquestionably sat atop the hierarchy was all the way back in 2001 for the Allen Iverson-led NBA Finals run. Between AI, still one of the city’s most popular athletes ever, an underdog status
that you know Philadelphia loves, and a lunchpail defensive attitude that further endeared the squad to fans, it was a perfect combination for what became a magical playoff run. Could this be the year the Sixers ascend back up the Philadelphia sports mountain? Let’s examine.
First and foremost, Philadelphia is an NFL city. The Eagles dominate coverage and conversation across the greater Delaware Valley. For anyone to pass the Eagles in the current hierarchy, it has to be a combination of another team being really good and the Birds greatly disappointing. This could be a tough hurdle for the Sixers to overcome, because the Eagles should be pretty good, currently sitting with the seventh-best Super Bowl odds, per Fanduel.
Still, the narrative is easy to construct. Despite winning a Super Bowl MVP, Jalen Hurts is a somewhat divisive quarterback that a section of the fanbase would be happy to move on from. Last year left a bitter taste in fans’ mouths with a bunch of ugly wins that overshadowed the huge flaws in the offensive scheme. Sean Mannion is in as offensive coordinator this season, but the opening win over Washington was uneven, and the offensive line looks like it could be an ongoing issue. There’s every chance some tweaks are made and the Eagles go on to have a very successful season, but you can envision a scenario where things go off the rails and fans demand a major shakeup.
Next, we have the Phillies, and I have a much easier case to make than I would have needed a couple weeks ago. After a recent rough patch, a couple wins have settled things a bit, but there’s still plenty of concern with the postseason approaching. Jesus Luzardo was just placed on the injured list, bringing into question the one surefire advantage the team had in a playoff series, which was the starting rotation. The bullpen is a mess and all the same questions exist about the lineup that have caused them previous postseason swoons, namely there aren’t enough patient hitters and they’re easy to gameplan around in a playoff setting. Vibes are very low at the moment. Fans were already getting antsy with this current core after the recent postseason defeats, and an early exit this fall could spell full-on emotional removal from the Phils with the emotional hierarchy.
The Flyers have some exciting young players, highlighted by Porter Martone. The front office certainly looks to have things on the right track, and beating the Penguins in the first round of the playoffs last season was enjoyed by one and all east of Harrisburg. Still, the sweep to Carolina showed this group still has some growth steps ahead of them. The Flyers are in the fun come up stage of a franchise rebuild cycle, but it’s hard to say they’re a threat to being atop the city hierarchy.
So, let’s make the case for the Sixers?
Before this offseason, I would have said there was no chance. With his injury history and huge contract, half the fan base wants Joel Embiid gone, and the other half is always internally wincing for the next injury report to drop. Tyrese Maxey is and always has been terrific, but he’s not enough to overcome all the scars of the playoff heartbreaks, tough injuries, and bizarre off-court situations that have plagued this franchise in recent years. No, we needed something big to reset the table and Mike Gansey arrived to provide it. The trade for Jaylen Brown immediately put the Sixers put into the short list of true contenders. Fans took notice. Then, LeBron James chose to come to Philadelphia on a minimum contract. Money was not a factor, and the greatest player of at least his generation…chose…the…Sixers. Sure, he’s 41 years old with a bad back, but LeBron is still playing at an All-Star level and he’s here on a minimum deal.
Things still need to break right. There’s injury luck involved and pieces needing to gel and all the rest of it. But the Sixers are now tied with the defending champion Knicks for the third-best NBA title odds, per Fanduel. They’re objectively the most fascinating team in the league, as evidenced by their having the maximum number of nationally televised games this season. It’s the potential for the perfect storm of competitiveness and intriguing storylines that could catapult the Sixers back atop the Philadelphia sports hierarchy for the first time in decades.
