When the Celtics take the court at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on Friday night, they won't be the only team fighting for playoff position.
No, sir — the 76ers are back in business this season under Doug Collins, and they're looking to solidify their spot as a contender in the Eastern Conference.
It's impressive to see the Sixers return to relevance this season. They were 27-55 last season, headed for the No. 2 overall pick in the draft last summer. They haven't made the playoffs since 2009, haven't had a winning season since '05, and haven't gotten out of the first round since 2003. Those were the olden days, when Allen Iverson and Larry Brown reigned supreme in Philly.
The Sixers' revival has been an underrated storyline this season. Elton Brand is having his best season in years, Andre Iguodala has fought through trade rumors to have a pretty good year, and that No. 2 pick, Evan Turner, has blossomed into a promising young sixth man.
No one was picking the Sixers to do any damage this season. They finished 13th in the Eastern Conference last year, and there was little reason to expect more now.
But they're silencing all the doubters now. The Sixers started their season 17-25; they've since won 16 games in their last 22. They're solidly locked into at least seventh place in the Eastern Conference, and if they keep winning, they’ve got an outside chance at sixth or even fifth.
The Celtics take the floor at 7 p.m. on Friday in Philly, fighting to retain their No. 1 spot in the conference. But this time, the Sixers are playing for something, too. That's refreshing to see.
