Sixers at Clippers Preview: Tankadelphia visits Lob City

After tonight, there will only be 15 games left in the debacle that has been the 2012-2013 Sixers season. It's hard not to look ahead to the end and pray to the basketball gods (and Lucy) to bestow mercy upon us and end our suffering.

Tonight's game is the first after the announcement that Andrew Bynum is set to have surgery and is officially done for the season. A long season of hope (for some) and waiting has been for nothing. It's extremely depressing for all parties, so I won't get into it too much longer here, but rather talk about the implications instead.

Now more than ever it doesn't make much sense for the Sixers to win their remaining games. Sure, a number of people supported the Sixers (inadvertent?) tanking efforts prior to the Bynum news being official... but now it is official and I don't see how wins can help this team. In fact, they can only hurt the Sixers chances for a better overall pick in the 2013 NBA draft. For a team so devoid of talent, a high draft pick could really come in handy.

Unfortunately for all the tank-supporters out there, the Sixers have been playing better recently. They're 3-1 in their last 4 games with wins against the Nets, Pacers, and Trail Blazers. The sole loss came against the league's best Miami Heat, a team who the Sixers especially struggle against, and even that was a close game.

Even worse news is that the Clippers, who sit at 4th in the West with a 44-22 record, have hit a little bit of a rough patch recently. They're 4-4 in their last 8 including a 15 point loss last night to the lowly Sacramento Kings.

The last time these two teams met was back in February when the Clippers absolutely smoked the Sixers at home with a final score of 107-90. I didn't actually get a chance to watch that game, but just from following the reactions on Twitter it seemed like a horrible game to watch.

I wouldn't be surprised either way at this point. If the Sixers continue their improved form, they definitely have a chance (if not just to spite those of us who want them to tank!). But they could easily get blown out again as well.

Quick thoughts:

• The Clippers are a really fun team to watch. They play fast, lots of dunks, Chris Paul, etc. Just check out this highlight of CP3 lobbing an alley oop to DeAndre Jordan from half-court last night.
• Only 8 of the Clippers losses have come at home this season.
• Prediction: Sixers will win just to indeed spite the pro-tankers.
• Check out our friends at ClipsNation.
• Philadelphia 76ers Tickets

Very late start tonight - 10:30 PM EST. Game Thread will drop at 10:00. Will anyone (other than me) actually be staying up to watch this?