Previewing the Sixers’ eight-game schedule
About three months ago, things were looking bleak for the Sixers. They dropped three of their last five games, including a brutal loss to the Golden State Warriors. Ben Simmons was shut down with a back injury, which led most to fear the worst. Glenn Robinson III and Alec Burks, both acquired at the trade deadline, weren’t jelling as well as hoped, even in expanded roles due to injuries. Outside of Shake Milton’s development, everything seemed to be going wrong for the Sixers. And then a global pandemic hits, as if things weren’t bad enough already.
The NBA’s suspension actually may have been the best thing that could’ve happened to the Sixers. The three month+ break has given the team a chance to refocus and rehab. Ben Simmons is now fully healthy and about as big as a fully grown, male kangaroo. Joel Embiid has been working out in the gym six days a week for the past four weeks to get his body ready for the playoffs. It’s funny to think they actually got healthier during a global pandemic, but hey, that’s the Sixers for ya.
The Sixers are trending in the right direction, but NBA’s return date, now July 30th, is well over a month away. There’s still a lot this team still needs to figure out. The eight-game regular season stretch will be very important for the Sixers. Catching up to the Miami Heat in the fourth-seed would be great, but the Sixers need to use the eight-game season to get everyone’s legs back and figure out the rotation. Thankfully, the Sixers don’t have the toughest schedule, so they should be able to get right and make up some ground in the standings. *knocks on wood*
Here’s a preview of the Sixers eight-game regular season:
Game 1: Indiana Pacers
This match up gives me mixed feelings. On the one hand, the Pacers are a solid team and have played the Sixers well in each of their match ups, meaning this should be a good test to see how they look out of the gate. On the other hand, I’ve wanted to rip my hair out during every Sixers-Pacers game this year and just the thought of this match up gives me agita.
The Sixers are 1-2 in their three match ups against Indiana. Of course, those two loses came on the road, but they were two of the Sixers worst losses of the season. Those losses also came when the Pacers were without All-Star, Victor Oladipo, who was still rehabbing a ruptured quad tendon. Dipo seemed to have rediscover his three point stroke just before the NBA’s suspension, shooting 42.8% from three over his last four games, including a 27-point outing against the Celtics in his last game.
As a team, the Sixers are shooting just 27% from three against the Pacers this season. I don’t feel good about the match-up, even worse considering Oladipo’s had the past three months to get healthier, so I’ll give this one to the Pacers.
Sixers’ record: 0-1
Game 2: Washington Wizards
Before the NBA went on hiatus, the Wizards had the worst defense in basketball. They ranked lasted in defensive rating (115) and allowed the most points per game in the league (119.7). Sitting five and a half games out of the eighth-seed, the Wizards are a long shot to make the playoffs and don’t have much to play for going into Orlando. This should be an easy opponent for the Sixers to feel things out; ideally.
The Wizards were able to steal a game against the Sixers early in the season, but that was largely due to seven(!!) three pointers from Davis Bertans and 27-points from rookie Rui Hachimura. It was also on the road, so it doesn’t count.
Washington is averaging the sixth most points per game in the league (115.6), but their defense is too much to overcome. This should be a win for the Sixers as they begin to gradually build steam.
Sixers’ record: 1-1
Game 3: Toronto Raptors
This will be the Sixers’ biggest test of the mini-regular season. A lot of people see the Raptors as the second best team in the East, which is hard to argue against. The reigning NBA champs have one of the league’s best defenses, allowing the fewest points in the league (106.5) with the second best defensive rating in basketball (104.9). In his two games against the Raptors this season, Joel Embiid has shot 3-18 and averaged only five points per game. Toronto’s big men have been a huge obstacle – pardon the pun – for the Sixers this season.
Despite their gaudy defensive numbers, the Sixers have split the series with the Raptors. They’ve played Toronto well this season, even with Embiid’s poor performances. If they can hit from three, like they did in their last outing against the Raptors, and Embiid can put together some semblance of a performance, the Sixers should be able to pull this one out.
Sixers’ record: 2-1
Game 4: Phoenix Suns
Finally, a chance at revenge against the team that broke the Sixers’ perfect record. The Suns started the year as one of the hottest teams in basketball, and then the second month of the season started. The Sixers were the last tea, to fall victim to the Suns before they came back down to Earth. Since then, they’ve taken a long tumble down the standings, now sitting in the thirteenth-seed.
Records aside, the Suns are a talented team on paper. Devin Booker has cooked the Sixers for the better part of his career. He’s averaged 35.8 points per game against the Sixers in their last six matchups, including a 40-point outing in November. The Suns also have talented players in Deandre Ayton, Ricky Rubio, and Aaron Bayness, who’s history against the Sixers is well known. This just feels like a game the Sixers don’t win, especially after beating the Raptors.
Sixers’ record: 2-2
Game 5: Portland Trail Blazers
The Sixers aren’t the only team who got healthier over the NBA’s suspension. For the first time all season, the front court of Zack Collins and Jusuf Nurkic will be available for the Trail Blazers. This is the closest the Blazers have been to 100% all season. Injuries have been a major inhibitor for Portland, keeping them outside of the playoff picture. Now they’re healthy, rested, and reinvigorated. For the rest of the NBA’s sake, I pray Damian Lillard doesn’t come back looking like his mid-season self, when he averaged 34.1-points per game, while shooting 45% on ten three point attempts per game. May god have mercy on us all.
The Sixers and Blazers have only met once this season, but we were gifted with possible the best highlight of the year:
The Blazers are a talented team with one of the best backcourts in the league, Lillard and CJ McCollum. They’re also one of the league’s worst defenses with 113.6 defensive rating, fourth worst in the league. The Sixers may have needed a buzzer beater to win in their first go-round, but that was with Joel Embiid serving a suspension. With the Sixers at full strength, they should be able to take care of Portland.
Sixers’ record: 3-2
Game 6: Houston Rockets
If there was any team in the NBA that needed a second to catch their breath, it was the Rockets. After trading away anyone who could possibly be considered a big man, Houston turned to an ultra small ball lineup that caught many by surprise. The most surprising part of this new lineup? It worked REALLY well. The Rockets won seven of their next nine games after making the change to their small lineup. Then their size caught up with them. Houston followed up their hot streak by losing four straight games, including three game in which they allowed 120 or more points.
The Sixers lost to the Rockets in early January – their only meeting of the season – but that was prior to Houston’s lineup change. They’re a completely different team now. The Sixers should be able to matchup with the Rockets, but their star power will be tough to keep up with. In their career, James Harden averages 28.7 points per game against the Sixers, while Russell Westbrook averages 23 points, nine rebounds, and 9.8 assist. Coming off five months of rest, the Rockets may be too much for the Sixers to handle.
Sixers’ record: 3-3
Game 7: Washington Wizards
By this point, the Wizards have to be wondering, “Why are we still here?”
Sixers win.
Sixers’ record: 4-3
Game 8: Orlando Magic
Why do we have to end against Markelle? I’m still grieving…
The Sixers finish up their mini-regular season against the NBA’s official home team, the Orlando Magic. The Eastern Conference’s eighth-seed have played the Sixers very well this season, winning both of their meetings while holding the Sixers below 100 points. The Magic are a long, athletic team that matches up almost perfectly against the Sixers. Thankfully, Orlando will be without defensive star Jonathan Issac for the remainder of the season, which should make things easier for the Sixers.
Outside of their defense, the Magic have a lackluster offense and post the third-worst effective field goal% in the league (50.3). This matchup is a bit of a toss-up and could go either way, but seeing as it’s the dress rehearsal for the playoffs, I’ll give it to the Sixers, who should have more riding on a win.
Sixers’ final record: 5-3
