The Sixers faced an interesting dilemma last night.

It appeared, at least for awhile, that they were not the favorite team, or at least not the fans’ favorite player.

That’s interesting for a couple of reasons. For one, this was a home game, at the Wachovia Center.

Second, the object of the fans’ cheers was one Kobe Bryant. The former Lower Merion High star has not always had a warm relationship with Philly fans.

Some really never warmed up to Bryant, who was looked at as more of a suburban kid. He didn’t help matters much when the Sixers faced the Lakers in the finals a few years ago and Bryant said he wanted to “cut their hearts out.”

But you would be hard-pressed to see any lingering hard feelings last night. Chants of MVP rained down on the Lakers’ star as he casually dropped 32 points on the Sixers as the Lakers rolled to a 114-102 win.

That was last night. This morning the Sixers actually might have bigger problems. Elton Brand left last night’s game with a hamstring injury after scoring just three points.

Maybe the fans were just ticked at the slow start by the Sixers, who are now 8-11 after some fairly lofty expectations, especially after Delco native Ed Stefanski added Brand in the off-season.

Or maybe it was just the fans finally saluting a local kid who has made good.

Maybe you can go home again.