Public Relations and Rebuilding: Phillies vs. Sixers

Sam Hinkie, 76ers GM (Philly.com)

As we sit a little over a month away from pitchers and catchers reporting and near the halfway point of the NBA season, the Sixers and the Phillies each find their respective immediate futures rather bleak. The Sixers sit at 7-30 as of Wednesday morning, and winter projections have the Phillies trending further below their 73-89 record from a season ago.


Despite the current mutual futility, it feels as if the Sixers are closer to a significant upswing than their neighbors across the street. Part of this feeling stems to some degree from the honesty and public relations savvy with which the respective managements have approach the rebuilds.

Sixer Fans, Patience is a Virtue

With the third pick in the 2014 NBA draft, the Philadelphia 76ers select….Joel Embiid. Another injured player Sixer fans are thinking. Before Joel Embiid broke his foot, he was almost a lock to be the number one overall pick leaving the Sixers with either Jabari Parker or Andrew Wiggins. Sixer fans are no stranger to having to wait for a top ten pick to be healthy. Last year it was Nerlens Noel being the number six pick sitting out the whole year but they had Michael Carter-Williams as well. This year, they have a bunch of second round picks instead.  It is reported that Embiid will be out five to eight months but no one will be surprised if he sits out the entire season.