The Philadelphia 76ers needed a pick-me-up after getting smacked back down to Earth by the Miami Heat on Feb. 3. Since the Sixers still aren't good enough to get past the Heat even now, fans like myself had it rubbed in that they aren't elite yet. All that the Sixers can do is be the best of the rest of the Eastern Conference - with the Atlanta Hawks as another contender for that throne.
After getting manhandled late by Miami, Philadelphia could have easily let it carry over in its visit to Atlanta on Feb. 4. Instead, the Sixers blew past the Hawks for the second time this season, putting together a 98-87 win which wasn't that close.
The last time these two met, the Sixers got one of their first statement wins of the season by beating the Hawks on Jan. 20. It happened the night before Philadelphia got blown out by Miami for the first time on Jan. 21 - so it made sense that the Sixers took care of the Hawks the night after getting beaten up by the Heat this time.
When they first met, Philadelphia used its customary formula by destroying Atlanta after halftime. In this case, the Sixers did most of their damage before halftime, or at least in the second quarter. In slaughtering the Hawks by 37-20 in the second, the game was rarely in doubt the rest of the night.
Yet Philadelphia seems to be getting a little weaker in the second half lately, so Atlanta did threaten to get a little close by the end. But with all four bench players in double figures - including rookie Nikola Vucevic with a career high 15 points - and with a 14-point return from Spencer Hawes, the Sixers took control with their usual depth.
Winning this way is harder against the likes of the Heat and championship favorites in general. But while the Hawks are still neck-and-neck with the Heat for the Southeast Division lead, they are considered a step behind the elite just like the Sixers are. However, with two straight convincing victories over Atlanta, along with earlier wins over the Indiana Pacers and Orlando Magic, Philadelphia is locking itself into the No. 3 spot in the Eastern Conference.
The Sixers may not be as high up in the pecking order as they might like, despite how high they have climbed up already. Yet as it waits to catch up to the likes of Miami, Philadelphia still seems to be a step ahead of the Atlantas of the East. After the night they had against the Heat, this kind of reminder was just what the Sixers needed.
Robert Dougherty is a life-long Philadelphia resident and 76ers fan.
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