The scoreboard read "51 Pistons, 33 Sixers". I sat motionless in my super-sized LoveSac. Deep down I knew the season was over. The Sixers were simply over-matched. Questions ran through my head. Can the Sixers come back? Should I even bother with the second half? After regrouping and blinking for the first time in 5 minutes, I decided how I was going to handle the final 24 minutes of basketball. I was going to watch it, enjoy it, accept it, and dream of next season.
Well, what do you know? Nearly 12 months later, the moment has arrived. This is what I envisioned on my SuperSac. This is a chance for the Sixers to introduce themselves to the world. No one has given them a chance. Media members *cough* Bill Simmons *cough* have even gone as far as calling them "awful" and "terrible". The only way to change their opinions is win.
We are officially 13 hours away from tip-off and I've previewed everything there is to preview -- stats, injuries, history. Enough with numbers and previews. Let's do the thang already.
We all know the Magic are a thousand times better on paper. We all know they have Dwight Howard. And we all know what the Sixers need to do to win. (3-point differential, defensive rebounding and free throws.) So, instead of polluting your minds with more useless numbers and strategies, I'm simply going to tell you in a couple sentences how excited I am, and leave you with a few YouTube clips to get you pumped!
How excited am I? As excited as I've ever been to watch a basketball game. Need I say more? On the flip side, I'm as nervous as a 6-year old school boy about to ask his secret crush if she wants to share a bag of cheddar fries. I think the game will go one of two ways -- good or bad -- there's no in between.
Don't ask me why I have faith in this 41-win Sixers team who has disappointed me time after time this season, because I won't have an answer. There's just something a special about this group of guys, and the sky's the limit.
God, it's now two in the morning and I don't even know what I'm saying, so I'll stop.
Watch these.
Try and get some rest.
Come hungry.
Come excited.
Expect big things.
THIS IS PLAYOFF BASKETBALL!
LET'S GO SIXERS! CLAP CLAP CLAP-CLAP-CLAP!