DO NOT DOUBT

Everytime I look at the upcoming opponent in this tough stretch for the Sixers, I keep quietly saying "that will probably be a loss". Now I am an incredibly optimistic person but an overachieving team has a way of coming back down to earth at a moment's notice. Why is this team different?

1) They were counted out at the beginning of the year. Therefore, they had nothing to lose and everything to gain by playing their hearts out all night. They were really in no danger of underachieving this year. Instead, Miller and Dalembert are having career years, Williams and Young are producing at a younger age than expected, and Reggie Evans has given them that defensive toughness. A young, athletic, defensive team will give anyone in the league problems.

2) Chemistry is underrated. I believe this more and more every year. Look at the teams that have stayed together and succeeded - San Antonio, Detroit, Dallas - they have something called chemistry because the players play as a team and realize the system, if correctly bought into, will yield wins. This group of guys seems to genuinely enjoy each other and the adopted underdog mentality they have played with all year.

3) Cheeks deserves more credit than he gets. Who really thought he would have this team where he does? Many people would have been willing to give him a free pass this year, knowing the roster and knowing that next year they would add some help, but now they are a game out of the 5th seed in the playoffs! They have won 18 of their last 23! Without doing the research, I would guess there are maybe 2-3 teams that have that good of a mark in their last 23. Houston is one for sure.

Now the questions arise again. How many can they win in the final 11? How many will they NEED to win to get the 5th seed? I say they can win 8 games in that stretch and doing so will get the 5 seed. Let's see how it plays out. Do not doubt. The Sixers have shown you time and time again, with great opponents, that they can play with any team on any given night.