The Sixers Tank Makes The New York Times, and Adam Silver Speaks!

Photo Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

The Sixers are one of two 0-5 teams in the NBA. Many fans expected this. And as they watch the games with (some) excitement, they’re watching for individual player growth, a hint of what these young players can become in the future, and sometimes spirited play. I doubt any Lakers fans are watching their games the same way. But this, of course, is tanking. There’s no way around that, and you know it’s real now because the The New York Times noticed.

In a piece that went live yesterday, the Times’ Harvey Araton spoke to Harvey Pollack — team statistician since before the Sixers were the Sixers — who, at 92, still hopes for another ring. But the main grab is from higher up. NBA Commissioner (and real-life Stick Stickly) Adam Silver has remained relatively quiet about the situation, but told the Times in an email:

“First of all, no team goes on the court trying to lose games. What’s sometimes labeled tanking in our league is, in my view, more accurately described as rebuilding. Unfortunately, rebuilding a team is not easy in any league and takes time and careful planning.

I am concerned by the often cited conventional wisdom that finishing at the bottom (in order to acquire better draft picks) presents the only reliable path for some teams to build a championship roster. The draft is structured to help the teams with the worst records, but it’s an imperfect system. In fact, many top picks do not transform their teams.”

Silver’s right about one thing, rebuilding does sound better. Also, the draft is an imperfect system, but it’s still the only reliable path for a low-to-mid level team without the draw of NY or LA to build a winner. The Sixers play the Bulls tonight, where they could go 0-6 for the first time since they went 9-73. The NBA Draft is June 25. Together we build.