Are the Sixers the Rodney Dangerfields of the NBA?

Reggie Evans seemed to think so.

“It ain’t like we’re on ESPN,” the forward said when asked if the Sixers were sneaking up on other teams. “If they don’t have NBA package they’re still not watching our games. If they want to watch us they’ve got to watch the highlights on ESPN. If they don’t have cable they’ve got to hope we’re on the local news. I still think we’re sneaking on people a little bit.”

Evans went on to say that when the playoffs rolled around they’d be on TV, but he has a point about the team being ignored. At the beginning of the season it was understandable that none of the Sixers games were scheduled for national television on ESPN or TNT.

But over the last two months, the Sixers have become worthy of coverage, and had a game that seemed tailor-made for television when Allen Iverson came back to Philly for the first time. ESPN, which broadcasts Wednesday night games, chose not to pick that up.

Their loss. It was one of the most riveting events I’ve ever seen – Iverson blowing kisses to the crowd then saluting – not to mention the game itself which went down to the last possession.

Wow! Another big win, although they did catch the Celtics coming off a five-game road trip that took them through Texas and New Orleans. Still, the 19-0 run Monday night that gave them the 95-90 win was impressive.

The Sixers have now won 18 of their last 23 games. Can they keep it up through the final two and a half weeks of the season? We'll see.

They are now in sixth place in the Eastern Conference, half a game ahead of Toronto, but I'm not sure that's where they want to be. They don't exactly match up against Orlando. Sam Dalembert has huge problems with Dwight Howard. Then again, despite Monday night's win, they're not exactly well suited to play the Celts in a series, either. Detroit anyone? Or can they catch Washington and get Cleveland?

After the last two dreadful seasons, though, should just making the playoffs be good enough. Or do they at least have to acquit themselves well once they get there? And what does that entail? One win, two? Or do they have to win a series?

Too often nights like Wednesday turn out to be a disappointment, but the return of Allen Iverson to Philadelphia was nearly perfect.

First, Allen showed up and was terrific in the pre-game interviews, taking the high road on everything. If he was bitter when he was traded he's getting over it.

Then, the crowd reaction to Iverson was tremendous -- a standing ovation that just went on and on. Iverson was clearly moved, though he said afterward he was forcing back the tears because he didn't want to hear it from his teammates. He also greeted Maurice Cheeks, walking down the court before the tip-off to shake hands and hug the man who had once been his friend. The two hadn't talked in 15 months.

Finally, the game itself turned out to be one of the most entertaining of the year -- a high-scoring, up-and-down affair that the Sixers won in the final minute.

The Sixers celebrated afterward as though they'd won something. And maybe they did. Perhaps they're finally establishing themselves as a good team in the post-Iverson era. While they're just 34-34, they are 16-4 in their last 20 games.

This town will always love Iverson, but this team now belongs to Andre Miller, who did what Iverson couldn't, nurturing the young players and helping them become winners.

With just 17 games to go in the season, it’s looking more and more likely that the Sixers will make the playoffs.

The question now is who they’ll face. If it’s Boston or Detroit, they’re looking at an early exit.

Which is why it would behoove them to make hay while they can and move up to the sixth spot. Even there, they’d have a tough opponent in Orlando (the likely third seed), but the Magic have a fair number of young, untested players as well. At least they’d have a fighting chance.

As of Friday evening, the Sixers were 11/2 games behind Washington for the sixth seed, and the Wizards were on a mini-win streak. Washington, however, might have a tougher closing schedule because they still have a five-game, Western Conference road trip that includes games against the Lakers and Utah.

So, are you now cheering for the Sixers and whoever the Wizards play? Or are you still not ready to believe the Sixers could not only make the playoffs, but give a decent showing?

Sixers forward Thaddeus Young isn’t that far removed from college. Heck, he’s younger than most players on college teams.

So with the conference tournaments and the NCAA tourney just around the corner, he’s keeping an eye on things.

“I’ve kind of been watching it because I have some friends who are still playing for different colleges and a couple of them are thinking of coming out,” he said. “I try to give them a little advice about how hard it is and the things they have to do as far as keeping your body fully intact.”

Young, 19, knows about that. He played a year for Georgia Tech before making the jump to the NBA. He was drafted 12^th by the Sixers and has worked his way into the starting lineup.

He said he has no regrets about coming out early.

“No, I don’t,” he said. “At first I was having a little doubt when I was getting ready to come out, but then I was like if you’re gonna be in you’ve got to be two feet in.”

Not that he hated his year at Tech, either.

“It was one of the best years of my life. I was in Atlanta plus I had all my teammates who were like brothers to me plus I had the coaches. It helped me out a lot.”