Anthony’s Opening Diatribe- I Cant Just Flush the Sixers Season
Anthony Gargano spoke about wanting to enjoy the Sixers season, even if it does end in pain again, in his Opening Diatribe this morning…
“It has been a weird week discussing the Sixers. On Tuesday, we had a couple of really impassioned calls. Very upset. The one that comes to mind is T Will. He called up and was emphatic that they were going to lose, won’t get past the 2nd round, and that he has already given up the season and moved on to the Phillies. Yesterday, Chooinis had a bunch of people call up. Same thing, showing their teeth when it comes to the Sixers. Filled with angst. Lots of negativity.
Listen, I’m not going to chastise you. You feel the way you feel. I understand it. It has been a long slog when it comes to the Sixers. It starts the first five years with the process. And then the last 5 is one disappointment after another. Whether it was last year, which was really tough watching them go down. Joel gets injured only because of the Cheap shot in the Toronto series. Before that, it is Ben Simmons and the Hawks on Father’s day, which was a very difficult loss to swallow. Then you had the Covid embarrassment, and the quadruple doink. So I get it, it has been disappointing…
I look at them, and while I wouldn’t make them the favorites in the East. I think they have a puncher’s chance. We could argue, and I am sure we will. But I think as long as I have that group with Embiid Harden and Tyrese… They won 26 of 33 heading into the Break. They are not a bad team. And we act like they are a bad team. Which is not correct.
I think the style in which they are built plays better in the playoffs. Now I grant you Boston is a difficult situation. They have not beaten Boston. And Milwaukee may be the best team in the Eastern Conference. So I get it. I would never lie to you and say that they are the favorite. There is a chance that they could lose. And if they lose in the second round again it would be torturous…
But I can’t just flush the season. I want to enjoy them. I still like this team… And I want to have some fun in the spring. If it ends in pain, so be it… Before we get there, I just think you are doing a disservice to yourself by just flushing it.
The Phillies are a prime example of a team that gets hot and is able to do some things. Nobody thought they would make a run to the World Series, but they did. That is the beauty of sports. They can sit there and have a chance to shock the world and Beat Boston or Milwaukee. It is not out of the realm of possibility.
I do believe it is worth putting yourself on the line. It is more fun. The older I get, the simpler the whole equation becomes. I am just in for some fun here. We know how incredibly rewarding the Phillies and Eagles season was. What is the alternative? That you just ignore them?… If they lose, then we all gripe together. But right now, there is nothing to gripe about. They haven’t lost. They are in the running for the 1 seed. And the second half could be fun.”
And you can listen to his full Opening Diatribe below…
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