2020 NBA Playoffs: Sixers fans implode after embarrassing Game 2 loss
The Sixers were up against the odds heading into their first round matchup against the Celtics. No Ben Simmons, a team that failed to gel all year long, and tough recent postseason history against the Celtics? Not ideal.
But no one could’ve predicted the absolutely listless effort they put forth on Wednesday night in the second game of the series.
After taking a double-digit lead in the first quarter, the Sixers were outscored by 29 points in the second and third quarters combined, and looked more like a lottery team than a playoff participant. The Celtics got whatever they wanted, and the Sixers looked helpless.
And Sixers fans… did not take it well.
As in, they started melting down halfway through the third quarter, and kind of never stopped.
The highlight of the meltdown was undoubtedly Sixers Twitter legend @GipperGrove, creator of #RaiseTheCat, struggling in real time through the brutal loss as a virtual fan:
?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 20, 202076ers fan put on a blindfold while getting blown out by Celtics 🤦♂️
(➡️ @MichelobULTRA) pic.twitter.com/5lv6UdLURL
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport)
76ers fan put on a blindfold while getting blown out by Celtics 🤦♂️
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) August 20, 2020
(➡️ @MichelobULTRA) pic.twitter.com/5lv6UdLURL
And plenty of other Sixers fans, who viewed the loss as a microcosm of everything gone wrong for the Sixers organization over the last two years, chimed in with their own thoughts on the outing:
?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 20, 2020the Sixers are at least partially responsible for every bad thing that has ever happened to me
— Michael Levin (@Michael_Levin)
the Sixers are at least partially responsible for every bad thing that has ever happened to me
— Michael Levin (@Michael_Levin) August 20, 2020
?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 20, 2020Live look at all of Philly rn: pic.twitter.com/0c72NU1g2g
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter)
Live look at all of Philly rn: pic.twitter.com/0c72NU1g2g
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) August 20, 2020
?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 20, 2020I feel for Embiid. I do.
— Kei (@RealMamaEagle)
I feel for Embiid. I do.
— Kei (@RealMamaEagle) August 20, 2020
?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 20, 2020sixers fans sixers haters
🤝
hating the sixers
— Molly Morrison (@mollyhannahm)
sixers fans sixers haters
— Molly Morrison (@mollyhannahm) August 20, 2020
🤝
hating the sixers
?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 20, 2020I hate this team.
— Dave (@DaveHarris73)
I hate this team.
— Other Dave (@DaveHarris73) August 20, 2020
?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 20, 2020An embarrassing first-round loss to the Celtics is the best thing that could happen to this team, this front office, and this ownership group. They’ve been playing with Sam Hinkie’s house money for four years, and they’ve finally hit bust in spectacular fashion.
— johnwintertweet (@johnwintertweet)
An embarrassing first-round loss to the Celtics is the best thing that could happen to this team, this front office, and this ownership group. They’ve been playing with Sam Hinkie’s house money for four years, and they’ve finally hit bust in spectacular fashion.
— johnwintertweet (@johnwintertweet) August 20, 2020
?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 20, 2020Embiid and Simmons’ talent has allowed the Sixers cosplay front office to slide under the radar for two years. Jig is up, lads. Philly needs to hire a reputable GM immediately
— Ben Detrick (@bdetrick)
Embiid and Simmons’ talent has allowed the Sixers cosplay front office to slide under the radar for two years. Jig is up, lads. Philly needs to hire a reputable GM immediately
— Ben Detrick (@bdetrick) August 20, 2020
?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 20, 2020They don’t take 3s, they don’t close out, they don’t switch, they don’t run, they don’t get to the line besides jo, and they don’t make decisions quickly or crisply. Theyre a good-not-great from 1998 and will be bad until many things change
— Ben (@bpdunst)
They don’t take 3s, they don’t close out, they don’t switch, they don’t run, they don’t get to the line besides jo, and they don’t make decisions quickly or crisply. Theyre a good-not-great from 1998 and will be bad until many things change
— ben (@bdmtgfgc) August 20, 2020
Do not let the people responsible for turning the Sixers from the most asset-rich team in the NBA into this absolute dumpster fire off the hook.
Jerry Colangelo. Bryan Colangelo. Alex Rucker. Ned Cohen. Elton Brand. Marc Eversley. Josh Harris. David Blitzer. Adam Silver.
— adam aaronson #BLM (@SixersAdam) August 20, 2020
?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 20, 202010 points in 54 minutes for Al Horford through two games. 28 in 74 for Tobias Harris.
— sad sports fan (@legsanity)
10 points in 54 minutes for Al Horford through two games. 28 in 74 for Tobias Harris.
— Legs (@legsanity) August 20, 2020
?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 20, 2020Way more embarrassing than the 10 win team
— Chartisse (@SnowmanEmbiid)
Way more embarrassing than the 10 win team
— Charxey (@SnowmanEmbiid) August 20, 2020
?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 20, 2020Elton made the two worst signings of the offseason and traded a guy who’s dominating for headband sisqo
— Redacted (@NikoReg_)
Elton made the two worst signings of the offseason and traded a guy who’s dominating for headband sisqo
— Redacted in the mode (@itsneeks2) August 20, 2020
?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 20, 2020Horford is going to join DeMarco Murray in rare company as a guy who left a Philly rival to sign with a Philly team and actually be disliked more afterward
— Kyle Neubeck (@KyleNeubeck)
Horford is going to join DeMarco Murray in rare company as a guy who left a Philly rival to sign with a Philly team and actually be disliked more afterward
— Kyle Neubeck (@KyleNeubeck) August 20, 2020
?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 20, 2020Brett Brown. JAIL. https://t.co/Vxs6eIPWeC
— Sixers in 6 (@SI6pod)
Brett Brown. JAIL. https://t.co/Vxs6eIPWeC
— OfftheCliffShow (@OfftheCliffShow) August 20, 2020
?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 20, 2020Not a good night for the Sixers when Jimmy Butler and Markelle Fultz are trending in PA pic.twitter.com/fO3GsMSGhF
— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS)
Not a good night for the Sixers when Jimmy Butler and Markelle Fultz are trending in PA pic.twitter.com/fO3GsMSGhF
— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) August 20, 2020
Sixers Twitter is usually able to laugh at their own pain, but Wednesday night’s chatter had a different edge to it. This loss felt different.
And, frankly, when Tobias Harris makes four of 15 shots, and Al Horford scores four points, it’s hard to blame fans for wanting change. Joel Embiid wasn’t the problem on Wednesday night. But it felt like everything, and everyone, else was.
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