Sixers Preview - Grizz sighting in Philly

The sound of ping pong balls will be ringing in the air tonight as the 76ers take on the Memphis Grizzlies. Both teams are looking at a lottery finish, and the winner of this game may be the loser.

The Memphis Grizzlies might be the worst team in basketball, but they may also be the most envied heading into the lottery. The Oden-sweepstakes leading Grizz have a gruesome 15-44 record. To top it off, like it matters, they're 34 games out of first in their division.

It's hard to believe that the Sixers were once on the brink of contending for the league cellar this season. They're still an antonym of the word elite, but they have been playing some inspired ball as of late. Yesterday, the team beatdown the Phoenix Suns juggernaut, and they're the only Eastern Conference host to achieve the feat all season. Philly even managed to lead from start to finish, another first against the Suns this season.

At 20-38, it's safe to say that the Sixers aren't headed to the playoffs, and they won't be the lottery favorites either. However, the team is showcasing its young talent (Andre Iguodala, Kyle Korver, Rodney Carney), and using a crafty veteran point guard (Andre Miller) to achieve something Philly couldn't do last season, play with respect.

A squad with Allen Iverson and Chris Webber on the roster that doesn't make the playoffs is just a sad bunch to watch. The current incarnation, though virtually star-less, is an exciting group to see on the court. They play with a passion and hunger lost after the influence on big money.

I'm not a betting man, but if I was I'd... take the under. The teams scored a combined 220 points when they played in January, but Philly's defense has stopped Sacramento and Phoenix in their last two games.