Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer writes that if the Philadelphia 76ers plan to get the No. 1 overall draft pick in the 2016, the 76ers fans' memories of the 2015-2016 could be short.
"For the third consecutive season, every 76ers loss feels like a win. With every final buzzer that sends the players walking out of the arena with their heads hung low, supporters of "The Process" rejoice at the possibility that their team may finally get the first overall pick," wrote Pompey.
"That would make folks erase from their memory what has been a season full of disappointments.
"Jahlil Okafor's off-the-court troubles have overshadowed his being one of the league's most polished rookie big men since Tim Duncan.
"So far, the twin towers tandem of Okafor and Nerlens Noel has been a failure, partly because both players are traditional centers. And the Sixers (1-20) would still be winless if not for taking advantage of Kobe Bryant's ill-advised and off-target shots in the first stop of his farewell tour.
"Yes, the Sixers have major problems.
"But regardless of how challenging this season becomes, it will become a mere footnote if the Sixers are lucky enough to get the first overall pick next June.
"Of course, that will be determined by how the franchise fares in the draft lottery in May. The team that finishes with the worst record will have a 25 percent chance to nab the top spot and can finish no lower than fourth.
"Should the basketball gods deliver the No. 1 selection to the tanking Sixers, they will undoubtedly pick LSU freshman Ben Simmons.
"The Sixers could also get the Lakers' top-three-protected first-round pick. If that happens, they could be in position to draft Kentucky guard Jamal Murray or Providence point guard Kris Dunn. Like Simmons, Murray and Dunn would fill immediate needs.
"That doesn't even account for the protected first-round picks they could receive from Miami and Oklahoma City. And they'll also have the opportunity to swap their first-rounder with Sacramento's, if need be."
Twitter talk
One Twitter user took exception with Brian Billick's critique of Cleveland Browns quarterback Austin Davis on Sunday.
Billick, who led the Baltimore Ravens to a Super Bowl title in the 2000 season and is now an analyst on NFL Network, took to Twitter to discuss Davis' performance for the Browns against the Cincinnati Bengals.
"Austin Davis' clock management skills are awful in back-to-back weeks," Billick tweeted. "Seriously...how are you that unaware of the situation...TWICE?"
Brian Plumadore, a Browns fan, was not pleased with Billick.
"It comes down to coaching, Brian," Plumadore said. "You should know first hand that's why your [sic] not coaching anymore."
Billick wasn't done.
"Why?" Billick said. "Because 'your team' moved to Baltimore and I won a Super Bowl with them 5 short years later? Yeah, that's why."
"Ouch," wrote Yahoo! Sports blogger Jay Busbee. "You know, sometimes the cold, hard truth burns the hardest."
He said it
From Dwight Perry of the Seattle Times:
• "FIFA announced plans to expand the traditional 32-team World Cup field to 40. But in a stunning show of fiscal restraint, soccer officials vowed to keep the bribe intake at its current budgeted level."
• "Timofey Mozgov, the Cavaliers' Russian center, shot 0-for-3 in his only scoreless outing of the season against the Wizards last Tuesday. In other words, nothing but nyet.
• "A prime advertising spot in the Super Bowl 50 telecast will cost you $5 million per 30 seconds, CBS announced. Hey, don't laugh: That's probably about what Tony Romo got paid to quarterback the Cowboys this season."
SPORTS QUIZ
When did the Philadelphia 76ers last win the NBA championship?
ANSWER
1983
Sports on 12/07/2015