Barkley Rips Philly After Game 5: ‘This Was A Complete Choke Job’

The City of Brotherly Love was feeling anything but brotherly or loving after their Sixers blew a 26-point Game 5 lead against Atlanta on Wednesday night. The loss came just two nights after Philly choked away an 18-point, Game 4 lead to the Hawks. Following their second consecutive blunder, Hall of Famer Charles Barkley unloaded on his former team:

With the comeback, Atlanta became just the fifth team in the last 25 years to win when trailing by 25 or more points, and Chuck justifiably told the TV audience the Sixers “deserve to get roasted”.

For what it’s worth, Barkley not only picked Philadelphia to win on TNT's pre-game show, he guaranteed it!

Now trailing the Hawks 3-2, the reeling 76ers likely wish they had a prime Barkley to insert into the Game 6 lineup. The 11-time All-Star spent his first eight seasons in Philly, averaging a double-double (in stats and in cheese steaks) every year except his rookie year.

TNT's social media wasted no time doing some roasting of their own in response to Sir Charles' pregame guarantee.

Game 6 tips off Friday evening, and if we've learned anything through the first five games, no lead is safe.