<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Whether the Sixers follow their coaches lead and use that "belief" to reach the playoffs remains to be seen. Even if the Sixers hold on, their postseason isn't going to last long. The Pistons have the best record in the NBA and are 3-0 against the Sixers this season. So, make it four-and-out for the Sixers if they face the top seed in the postseason. Sure, they won a home game against Detroit last season to extend the series to five games, but this year's team probably won't even be able to muster that. "I can't tell you anything that is going to make you feel like we are going to turn it around," Iverson said after Wednesday's loss. "All I can do is believe in that and realize that we are still alive. We still have a chance to make it into another season, that's the most positive part of all of it. We still have a chance and that is something worth fighting for, it's something worth playing for." What's worth fighting for? An embarrassing first-round sweep? The Pistons handled the Sixers, 108-88, the first time the teams met this season and then came into Philly to win the next two, 87-80 and 101-91. Every time the Sixers got close on Wednesday, the Pistons proved to be too much, putting together runs of 15-4 and 14-0 to keep the Sixers in check. If the Sixers failed to reach the postseason, they would be in the lottery and have a shot -- albeit a small one -- at one of the top three picks in the NBA Draft. If the Sixers nail down the eighth seed, they could draft no lower than 15. Not reaching the playoffs would be better for the Sixers in the long run. When Boston edged Philadelphia for the eighth seed two years ago, the Sixers ended up with Andre Iguodala with the No. 9 pick. Temple's Mardy Collins, Arkansas' Ronnie Brewer and Bradley 7-footer Patrick O'Bryant have all been projected in the 11th or 12th spot. After seeing Kevin Ollie and Steven Hunter in the Sixers starting line-up on Wednesday, any of the three would be welcomed with open arms. The Sixers can still give fans a reason to get excited this June. It'll just depend on where they end up in the draft. </div> link: http://www.nj.com/sports/gloucester/index....2130.xml&coll=8 hello lottery. hopefully......
What the hell are we going to do in the lottery? It's not like we're missing on a top 5 pick by making the playoffs. Plus, this draft is weak anyway, so I really don't think its worth "purposely" missing the playoffs. The guys need to just go out there and try to win every game. If you can't get motivated in the thick of the playoff chase, then you shouldn't be playing. And, the media needs to stop writing this "we should miss the playoffs" bullshit. They are giving the players an excuse. They need to start writing harsh criticism, not petty excuses.
