Originally, Philadelphia was presented as a logical place for the nation's capital in colonial times. A central location, a bustling metropolis, and a beautiful beacon of freedom and American ideals defined the Pennsylvania hub in the 1700s.
Today, Philadelphia has fallen. Crumbled to the point of collapse, this once beautiful community of basketball unity has dismantled in a horrific sight of disarray, empty promises, and unrealized potential.
With the rampant injuries to star players Joel Embiid and Paul George, the Sixers have failed to reach the basketball pinnacle -- the mountaintop of the NBA Finals -- since the inception of "The Process" enacted under Sam Hinkie. The plan to position the Philadelphia franchise for favorable draft picks and the future stars of basketball was met with great resistance at first.
Yet with years of positive results, the eventual championship contenders in the City of Brotherly Love failed to achieve the goal it once set out for. Ringless, awardless, and void of any banner-worthy accomplishment (save for an Embiid MVP award, perhaps), this franchise is no longer the beacon of hardwood accomplishment it was originally designed to become.
Now, the Sixers are right back at the bottom of the totem pole. knotted in the seventh-worst record in basketball with a dangling protection threatening to ship their first-round pick to the bloated beast in Oklahoma City, any outcome worse than the sixth selection will see the 76ers forced to reconsider their position in the cosmos.
They face Utah, a team that never neared a championship in any real sense, in a full-on tear-it-down rebuild. Utah sits tied with Charlotte for the second-worst record in basketball and very few tangible prospects to construct a future around.
Entering this matchup, both teams see this as a must-lose meeting. For Philly, they see the demise of an organization on the horizon if they fail to retain their draft selection. For Utah, anything less than a future superstar in the 2025 NBA Draft class would be taken as a horrific failure.
Neither team has any wiggle room to speak of, both enter the contest with the intent of delivering a poor product of entertainment. A blemish to the spirit of competition, neither team will field their best talent, as neither team is too keen on earning a victory.
Utah Jazz vs Philadelphia 76ers Injury Report
Utah Jazz Injuries: Collin Sexton - Out
Jaden Springer - Game-time decision
Lauri Markkanen - Out
John Collins - Out
Jordan Clarkson - Out
Philadelphia 76ers Injuries: Andre Drummond - Game-time decision
Kyle Lowry - Out
Tyrese Maxey - Out
Paul George - Out
Joel Embiid - Out for season
This game will tip off at 5:30 p.m. Mountain Time and be televised on KJZZ and SEG+.
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This story was originally published March 9, 2025 at 5:17 PM.