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The Sixers, fresh off a road win in Boston last night, return home to battle the New Jersey Nets of Brooklyn in a pivotal Eastern Conference Showdown. The Sixers recently snapped their 26-game losing streak last week, which has sent the vultures of the national media back to their shanties. The Sixers, as presently constructed, are no longer an embarrassment in the historical sense - just the basketball sense - which isn't nearly as interesting to the general public.
These Sixers won't be breaking any records this year. So pop open the champagne, Fred Carter and Steve Mix. Mercury Morris will bring a cheese plate. Your record is safe. And there is no 27th consecutive loss on the horizon. The Sixers can play out the rest of their days this season in relative obscurity, which, if you've followed the Sixers at any point in the last decade, is familiar territory. The only faint level of national interest is from the Anti-Tanking camp, which, pardon the hyperbole, is the NBA equivalent of the Westboro Baptist Church.
Despite a horrific start, the Nets are going to make the playoffs in the East because every team with a pulse makes the playoffs in the East. (The Sixers are zombies, and unfortunately didn't qualify this year). There's certainly enough name power on the roster, but we're trying to win a championship here, not the '07 All-Star Game.
Tip-Off is at 7:30 P.M.
Nets vs 76ers coverage
Opposing Team's Jersey I Would Buy
Here we have this gorgeous Drazen Petrovic jersey. You can also purchase a Petrovic jersey from Mitchell & Ness for $275, but I shop for the 20-something guy on a budget. While doing my Draz homework, I was reminded of this cool moment from the 2012 Three-Point Shootout, when future Sixer Anthony Morrow participated in a Draz jersey.
Another Reason Why You Tube Is the Greatest Thing Ever
Petrovic and Jordan battling? Yessir.
Drazen Petrovic VS Michael Jordan - [16.02.1991] (via CroPETROforever)
We're Puppy-Sitting This Weekend
Meet Oliver (named after a certain former Phoenix Suns center). He is a French bulldog puppy with ridiculous upside.
Strengths: taking naps; peeing on the carpet.
Weaknesses: peeing on the carpet.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Oliver and his stick. <a href="http://t.co/CWI5TBbCDy">pic.twitter.com/CWI5TBbCDy</a></p>— WIBR (@wheresbenrivera) <a href="https://twitter.com/wheresbenrivera/statuses/452289403382427648">April 5, 2014</a></blockquote>
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Enjoy the game. Enjoy the Final Four. Enjoy your weekend.