Do or die tonight for the Sixers

(AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

The Sixers season could come to an end tonight. With the team down 3-2 to the Detroit Pistons and Game 6 coming tonight in Philadelphia, the Sixers will need to play their best game of the season if they want to stave off elimination. They have surprised even the biggest Sixer fan out there with how they have forced the Pistons to play at their highest level to get past them, but if the last two games have been any indication, the Sixers might simply not be able to keep up with the Pistons when they are at their best.

Since halftime of Game 5, when the Sixers held a 10 point lead, the Pistons seem to have risen their game to another level that the Sixers have had no answer for. The Pistons have made fewer turnovers which hasn't allowed the Sixers to get out and run. Detroit's defense has also locked things down even when the Sixers got out in transition. They have also exposed the fact that the Sixers are simply one scorer short of being a contending team. Andre Iguodala can't do everything himself, no matter how hard he tries and how many bad shots he forces up.

Even if their season ends tonight, the Sixers should still look at this season as a success. They fought hard to get into the playoffs and their young guys have gotten a taste of playoff basketball against an elite opponent. Now it will be up to Ed Stefanski to make the big move he has promised us since he unloaded Kyle Korver. It will be up to him to fill in the missing pieces that will make this a complete team. It will also be up to Stefanski to try to convince Andre Miller to stick around for a while.

But, we can look to the offseason later. Let's enjoy tonight's game in Philly because it might be the last time we get to watch this exciting, young Sixers team in a while.