The Philadelphia 76ers and Orlando Magic had a very memorable game on Feb. 26. However, it was mainly memorable for the Sixers losing to such a poor, struggling team and for Doug Collins’ rants at the end of it. Basketball wise, it was the second straight terrible game between the Sixers and Magic, with the rematch on March 10 set to complete the awful trilogy.
Back on Feb. 4, the Sixers managed to beat the Magic by a mere 78-61. It was their third straight victory at the time, yet they would obviously never get that hot again. Nevertheless, a 78-61 victory wasn’t an indication that Philadelphia was a hot team.
There was still promise in the beginning of February that the Sixers would turn things around. But the Magic certainly crushed that hope at the end of February when they returned to Philadelphia. Losing to an Orlando team that had lost 10 straight road games and had barely won at all that month was the obvious last straw for Collins.
The Sixers haven’t exactly risen to the occasion since Collins’ postgame attacks, having won just one game since then. As such, their rematch with the Magic in Orlando on March 10 doesn’t stand to be pretty on either end of the court.
Philadelphia and Orlando have been among the worst teams in the East, if not the NBA in general. Expecting them to suddenly play good together might indeed be too much to ask for. There's certainly no doubt that their past two games won't go on any NBA highlight reel this season.
Collins has been the only real star in the Sixers-Magic battles this year, although that happened off the court. But this will mercifully be the last time that these two clubs will face each other this year. It will also be an act of mercy once they don’t have to face anyone else until the 2013-14 season begins.
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