"Respect.

No, the Sixers claim they didn't go into Wednesday night's showdown against the Eastern Conference's top-rated team, the Bulls, at the Center on some sort of quest for respect or their just due. The season is much too long for any declarations of that sort after just 22 games.

However, if there ever was a victory that should make the NBA powerbrokers turn their heads and take notice of those Philadelphia 76ers, it most definitely was the 98-82 drubbing of the Bulls, Wednesday night."