Allen Who?

No kidding: The last time I watched an NBA game in its entirety was almost certainly Game 5 of the 2001 NBA finals. The 76ers imploded after that wondrous season, with Pat Croce losing his power struggle with Ed Snider, Billy King unable to fit Allen Iverson's square peg into any of the many round holes he brought in, and a succession of coaches following Larry Brown in and out the door. The rest of pro hoops, meanwhile, has held little interest for me since then -- nobody cares about defense, the league has gotten increasingly thuggish, and no one has been able to combine talent and charisma in any meaningful way since Michael Jordan retired. (Now pardon me while I fetch my cane and my oxygen.)

But now, I'm thinking, it may be time to reinvest in the NBA.

Incredibly, the Sixers have caught fire with a young, hustling, defense-minded team, and powered their way into playoff contention. Last night Andre Miller, one of the guys King was able to secure for Iverson before being shown the door himself, dished an astonishing 18 assists in Philadelphia's hammering of the Bulls, its eighth victory in the last 10 games. With five double-figure scorers and virtually no attitude, the 76ers have become an easy team to like.

The question is: Have they become an easy team to watch? S|C

Tags: 76ers, Andre Miller, Allen Iverson