Thanksgiving is upon us, as it’s that time of year when gratitude fills the thoughts of many. If you’re a Philadelphia 76ers fan, this is no different. Despite recent seasons of ups and downs, drama, and disappointment, there is reason for optimism this season, as the Sixers are fun to watch, and the vibes are refreshing. There’s much more to appreciate.
Sixers still among the top in the East
What exactly is there to be thankful for when it comes to the Sixers? An initial thought is their record. I doubt that anyone predicted that the Sixers would be near the top of the standings in the Eastern Conference, considering the James Harden saga that loomed over the city just a few months ago.
When Mr. System himself went out of his way to campaign against the team’s president and lambasted him publicly, things looked bad. Then Daryl Morey pulled the trigger on the trade that sent James Harden to the Clippers in exchange for Robert Covington, Nicolas Batum, Marcus Morris, Sr., and Kenyon Martin, Jr.
Cutting ties with Harden has added nice complementary pieces to the Sixers bench and allowed a certain young player to take another leap in his early career.
The emergence of Tyrese Maxey
In this holiday season, it would be ungrateful of us if we did not acknowledge the joy we get when we watch Tyrese Maxey play. Every minute of every game in each season that we’ve seen Maxey grow in front of our eyes, there’s a sense of relief that we haven’t gone through the pain and heartache of the Process for nothing.
What’s even more to be thankful for when it comes to Maxey’s rise to stardom is his personality. For a change, it is a pleasure to experience an athlete in our city who not only has a sense of humility about his unique talent but also the manner in which he’s refined it.
In addition, with Maxey, Philly fans don’t have to worry about random social media antics or headlines that involve reckless behavior, or even worse, legal troubles. He’s not a prima donna. He’s not full of himself. He’s exactly what the city needs and admires, a hard-working, dedicated person who gives his best every chance he gets.
One last thing to be thankful for as a Sixers fan is the addition of an effective leader. I want a coach who’s able to connect not only with players but with the city and fans as well.
Giving thanks for Nick Nurse
Boston accent and all, Brett Brown was, and still is, a likable figure. He was fine connecting with the fans, but he was unsuccessful at connecting with two of the most important stars that were on the roster when he was here. He wasn’t able to maximize Ben Simmons’ gifts, and he surely was unable to mesh with Jimmy Butler.
Then you have Doc Rivers, who came to Philly as a “players coach”, but he came across as callous and dismissive to the Philly media, who were just doing their job. And as far as his performance as a coach, he followed the same trend that he created himself of blowing a 3-2 series lead, not to mention failing to advance the team in the playoffs any further than Brett Brown could.
But now we have Nick Nurse, who has taken this new team and put together an amazing start to the season. He has silenced many skeptics of the Sixers this far, and he’s done so in a respectable fashion. He seems to be the perfect fit for this team.
At this point, he’s calling the right plays, saying the right things, and has the team winning. What’s even more impressive is he has the Sixers playing as a cohesive unit as if it had been playing together for several seasons.
So, if you’re a diehard 4-for-4 fan who frowned on the Sixers at the start of the season, let that smile back in as if you’re about to sit down and watch the Charlie Brown Thanksgiving special with your fam.
Thanks to the reasons I just laid out, the Sixers have reclaimed favor with the fanbase amidst offseason turmoil. Instead of a sour start to the season, the team is winning. Rather than suffer through a selfish player, holding out while pouting on the bench, we have Maxey blossoming into the star we hoped he would become. And lastly, Nick Nurse has given the Sixers and their fans a brighter future when it comes to the franchise.
So this Thanksgiving, let’s be grateful for what we’ve witnessed this fall with the Sixers, because the expectation by many wasn’t nearly this positive. And remember, on Christmas Day, we get to watch the Sixers and the Eagles play on national TV. Ah yes, life is good as a Philadelphia sports fan.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.
– The PSN Family
