If you haven’t noticed, since the hiring of The Jerry Colangelo for the position of the new President of Basketball Operations, the Philadelphia 76ers have went from a seventh grade rec team who’s posing as a bloody horrid NBA franchise into a bonafide young hungry team fighting for wins and respect after being noted as the worst team in NBA history. Despite being 2-3 on this last road stretch, they have been playing at a high level on which they are competing at every contest. It’s way better than the tanking trash where I’m pretty sure fans were wearing paper bags over their heads while watching from their comfy couches. All in the while, hoping no one would make their identity to be chastised for giving this team any time of the day. Long gone are the days of Moses, Dr. J, Wilt the Stilt, Billy C, Doug Collins, Mo Cheeks, The Answer, Eric Snow. What we have now are fringe NBA players hoping to garner a splash to show their talents on a stupid weak team with the wish that a contender or a team with a better rebuilding strategy takes interest and signs them or sees their true value/potential if their home team hasn’t seen it now or values it.

In the beginning, circa 3 years ago, all hope was lost. Full tank mode. Everyone knew it. The fans knew it. The players knew it. Opposing players knew it. Personnel knew it. League owners knew it. Everybody and their damn mama knew it and it was ATROSHISH. For “The Process” of the Sixers rebuild, Sam “The Tank” Hinkie gathered assets…..and L’s. Lots and lots of L’s. Losses and laughs. Until the joke wasn’t funny anymore, and people became frustrated and pissed off! Players were depleted, fans scarce, fellow NBA players and staff feeling sorry for them. Some would even go as far as to say Commissioner Adam Silver, was pissed on it (which he admits…..ok maybe disliked) and intervened, of which he later denied.

Then a light opened in the sky, and Josh Harris had a visit from an omnipotent being. He laid eyes on him and was struck in awe. ‘Could it be?’, he thought, ‘Are you a basketball god?’ Josh asked in his bewilderment uncertain of what the beings presence beholdeth. The voice bellowed, like the sound of an army of brass trumpets shaking the walls of the Wells Fargo Center, “Josh!!! Stop this madness!!! We shall not allow it! I do not knoweth what you do in hockey but this is not how we expect our game, of that is which so pure ,be defiled by your mad consult!! Go seek the man Jerry of house Colangelo!! For he is the one true savior of this franchise!!” Or that’s just the way I see it happening not sure if it’s true or not. Enough with the sacrilege back to the rant.

Jerry Colangelo, the director of USA Basketball, former four time Executive of the Year was hired to reroute this team. He fixed many of Sam “the Tank”‘s mistakes. He reacquired Ish Smith whom Hinkie let go (with The Tanks own picks HAHA!) and has been  killing it! He’s averaging 13.4 pts/gm and 7.6 asst/gm since being reacquired from the Pelicans. The Ish Smith move was the step in the right direction, especially for them letting go Tony Wroten for whom in this writers opinion, may be the most athletic player but has the worst basketball IQ ever. Nerlens Noel has been killing it! Nerlens is averaging 16 pts/gm with 9.2 rebs/gm  and 2.2 blks/gm. It’s not a shock that these two are playing a ta high level together either, Nerlens has stated in the past that there’s chemstry between them.

The Sixers are playing with a purpose and ballin’ on a whole ‘nother level. You can see the confidence seeping through their veins. The passion burning in their eyes. The camaraderie, unity and chemistry are at an all time high. They have hope. Jerry has brought HOPE back to Philly. Something that has been lost. The Tank brought “hope” of losing enough games to get a high draft pick and roll the dice  on injury plagued bigs, and untalented players to hopefully, just HOPEFULLY get a good enough players. That shit isn’t going to cut it. Not anymore!

Philadelphia is a large market of hardworking blue collar and white collar individuals who’s passion can be mistaken, but really isn’t for most, for brash grandiose obnoxiousness. They mean well, they just aren’t truly rationalize their actions or passion. These passionate people deserve a passionate ownership, front office, coaching staff and team. They only had three of those four core ingredients towards a successful rebuild of a storied franchise.

Hope. Jerry brings hope to our city, as well as legitimacy. With the addition of Mike D’Antoni, Brett Brown whom is a defensive minded coach can have a seasoned vet and former coach of the year who knows all about moving and scoring the ball. Two passionate and  great minds on the bench leading the way for a young crop of hungry wolves chomping at the bit to reach that next level is a dangerous concoction as long as there is a direction.

And Jerry’s direction, which is to grow and win (he’s signing veterans to lead, SMART!) should rub off on The Tank knowing that his Process is over, somewhat prematurely and its time to contend. Not just for championships or division titles, but for games, to gain confidence for these young guns to grow, get better and flourish past their potential.

Sixers Pride is coming back through this city, I just hope you’re all ready to embrace the greatness that is bound to come.