Phoenix Suns (8-16) v Philadelphia 76ers (13-9)
Monday12/4/2017 5:00pm
Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA
Arizona Sports 98.7FM/Fox Sports Arizona
2017-18 – Series tied 0-0
All-Time Series – Phoenix leads 66-55
Last Matchup – Suns won 123-116
Suns’ Last Game – Loss to the Celtics 116-111
76ers’ Last Game – Win over the Pistons 108-103
2017-18 Suns’ Scoring Averages – PTS/G: 107.1 (12th of 30) Opp PTS/G: 115.8 (30th of 30)
2017-18 76ers’ Scoring Averages – PTS/G: 108.5 (8th of 30) Opp PTS/G: 107.8 (22nd of 30)
Regardless of the moniker placed on the two ‘Ph’ NBA franchises in their long-term attempts at rebuilding, the word most aptly used to describe their individual efforts is: patience.
For nearly a decade the Philadelphia 76ers staff preached patience as they intentionally threw entire seasons (and then picks) as they sought their fortune in the draft. By losing as much as possible, by drafting as high as possible, then by drafting as many injured players as possible, the Sixers created the template for tanking that would eventually be used as a model for the Phoenix Suns’ own attempt at rebuilding through the draft.
Phoenix Suns
The Suns, now in their third year of abject tanking, too are seeking the rewards of high draft picks and patience in losing that Philadelphia is finally, this season, beginning to reap. The difference between the two being that the Sixers have managed to acquire two sure-fire superstars throughout all their losing in Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, while the Suns have been unable to acquire one in this method, actually acquiring their star Devin Booker 13th overall following the 2014-15 39-43 season. (The jury is of course still out on Josh Jackson, although he has not produced his rookie season similar to Embiid or Simmons, let alone Jahlil Okafor’s rookie year as well.)
These two teams clash this afternoon for the first time in 2017-18 and for the first time since Simmons has recovered from the injury that kept him out all of last season. The now official rookie is tearing up the league with a 17.9/9.4/7.1/2.1/.9 slash line that makes any NBA GM (and fantasy basketball owner) salivate. He is the kind of player that at that the tender age of 21 might be the league’s best comparison to ‘Magic’ Johnson than any other player since Magic’s original retirement in 1992.
Add Embiid’s 23.1 points and 11.3 rebounds (in only 29.7 minutes) and the Sixers’ long trudge through the slogging muck of tanking appears to have finally allowed the franchise to walk out shining.
The Suns, on the other hand, are still toiling away with the apparent fortitude to see this process through, although now bombarded with renewed calls to seek out trades or star free agents to end the maddening losing once and for all. The great divide between the Suns and the Sixers that several of Phoenix’s remaining veterans (those who could potentially acquire the most talent through trade for the Suns) have demanded trades out of Phoenix only to succeed at levels unprecedented to their time in the Valley.
The stress to win (or to lose right) that is placed on Suns General Manager Ryan McDonough and owner Robert Sarver is immense. A franchise long seen as a crown jewel of regular success in the league is struggling to keep to a plan that may be equally as faulty as it is a risk. What succeeded for the 76ers in the luck of their drafts (and unfortunate injuries) may not prove as fortuitous for the Suns. While Philadelphia was able to land two number one overall picks and select two sure-fire superstars, the Suns have yet to select higher than fourth with their one definite star was taken much later.
While Philadelphia seems to have accepted “the process” almost universally after Embiid picked it up as a rallying cry for his young career, Suns fans are still torn on Phoenix’ version of rebuild as their efforts have not necessarily recouped the talent needed to equate current losing with long-term success.
Tonight’s matchup will be little more than a Monday afternoon game in early December, a game that will long be forgotten in history as simply one of 82.
Next: Suns Power Rankings Week 7
The comparing of franchises, however, will continue until Phoenix eventually finds the talent necessary to meet the Sixers on the court as equal, rebuild titans fighting for method supremacy. If that happens, it means that the Suns have succeeded in their rebuild and today’s game was an early precursor to greater clashes between these two.
If they fail, well, then tonight will mean a lot less than it even appears to be now, and it could mean that the bright future envisioned with hope of the draft, will not only mean the jobs of some, but the continued march of mediocrity will at length keep Phoenix in the shadow of Philadelphia.