Predicting Wins and Losses for the Upcoming Season
By Daniel Solis
April 15, 2013; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Philadelphia 76ers small forward Thaddeus Young (21) dunks during the second quarter against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
The 1972-73 Philadelphia Sixers finished with a franchise-worst record of 9-73, while the 1995-96 team were nearly just as bad closing their campaign with a record of 18-64. This year it seems Philly is headed in the same direction with the roster they put together over the summer. It’s clear the organization is in a serious rebuilding phase at this point, hoping for better days 2-4 years from now. First let’s see the probable starters and bench Philadelphia will roll out on opening night:
PG – Michael Carter-Williams
SG – Jason Richardson
SF – Evan Turner
PF – Thaddeus Young
C – Spencer Hawes
Bench: Lavoy Allen, Arnett Moultrie, Kwame Brown, Tim Ohlbrecht, James Anderson, Tony Wroten, Justin Holiday, Kwame Brown, Royce White (still can’t travel with team), Nerlens Noel (Injured)
The starters and bench players listed above are subject to change in the coming weeks depending on how coach Brett Brown and management handle the roster after preseason. Marred by a combination of inexperience and inconsistency, Philadelphia’s starting five this year are a collection of role players compared to most of the starters around the league. With that being said, there will be plenty of losses in the coming months.
Now for the fun part, let’s take a rough trip into what lies ahead this regular season for the Sixers:
Wed, Oct 30 Miami Heat LOSS
Fri, Nov 1 @ Washington Wizards LOSS
Sat, Nov 2 Chicago Bulls LOSS
Mon, Nov 4 Golden State Warriors LOSS
Wed, Nov 6 Washington Wizards WIN
Fri, Nov 8 Cleveland Cavaliers WIN
Sat, Nov 9 @ Cleveland Cavaliers LOSS
Mon, Nov 11 San Antonio Spurs LOSS
Wed, Nov 13 Houston Rockets LOSS
Fri, Nov 15 @ Atlanta Hawks WIN
Sat, Nov 16 @ New Orleans Pelicans LOSS
Mon, Nov 18 @ Dallas Mavericks LOSS
Wed, Nov 20 Toronto Raptors WIN
Fri, Nov 22 Milwaukee Bucks LOSS
Sat, Nov 23 @ Indiana Pacers LOSS
Wed, Nov 27 @ Orlando Magic WIN
Fri, Nov 29 New Orleans Pelicans WIN
Sun, Dec 1 @ Detroit Pistons LOSS
Tue, Dec 3 Orlando Magic LOSS
Fri, Dec 6 @ Charlotte Bobcats WIN
Sat, Dec 7 Denver Nuggets LOSS
Mon, Dec 9 Los Angeles Clippers LOSS
Wed, Dec 11 @ Minnesota Timberwolves LOSS
Fri, Dec 13 @ Toronto Raptors LOSS
Sat, Dec 14 Portland Trail Blazers LOSS
Mon, Dec 16 @ Brooklyn Nets WIN
Fri, Dec 20 Brooklyn Nets LOSS
Sat, Dec 21 @ Milwaukee Bucks LOSS
Sat, Dec 28 @ Phoenix Suns WIN
Sun, Dec 29 @ Los Angeles Lakers LOSS
Wed, Jan 1 @ Denver Nuggets LOSS
Thu, Jan 2 @ Sacramento Kings WIN
Sat, Jan 4 @ Portland Trail Blazers LOSS
Mon, Jan 6 Minnesota Timberwolves LOSS
Tue, Jan 7 @ Cleveland Cavaliers WIN
Fri, Jan 10 Detroit Pistons LOSS
Sat, Jan 11 New York Knicks LOSS
Wed, Jan 15 Charlotte Bobcats WIN
Fri, Jan 17 Miami Heat LOSS
Sat, Jan 18 @ Chicago Bulls LOSS
Mon, Jan 20 @ Washington Wizards LOSS
Wed, Jan 22 @ New York Knicks LOSS
Fri, Jan 24 Toronto Raptors LOSS
Sat, Jan 25 Oklahoma City Thunder LOSS
Mon, Jan 27 Phoenix Suns WIN
Wed, Jan 29 @ Boston Celtics WIN
Fri, Jan 31 Atlanta Hawks LOSS
Sat, Feb 1 @ Detroit Pistons LOSS
Mon, Feb 3 @ Brooklyn Nets LOSS
Wed, Feb 5 Boston Celtics WIN
Fri, Feb 7 Los Angeles Lakers LOSS
Sun, Feb 9 @ Los Angeles Clippers LOSS
Mon, Feb 10 @ Golden State Warriors LOSS
Wed, Feb 12 @ Utah Jazz WIN
Tue, Feb 18 Cleveland Cavaliers LOSS
Fri, Feb 21 Dallas Mavericks LOSS
Mon, Feb 24 Milwaukee Bucks LOSS
Wed, Feb 26 Orlando Magic WIN
Sat, Mar 1 Washington Wizards WIN
Sun, Mar 2 @ Orlando Magic LOSS
Tue, Mar 4 @ Oklahoma City Thunder LOSS
Sat, Mar 8 Utah Jazz LOSS
Mon, Mar 10 @ New York Knicks WIN
Wed, Mar 12 Sacramento Kings WIN
Fri, Mar 14 Indiana Pacers LOSS
Sat, Mar 15 Memphis Grizzlies LOSS
Mon, Mar 17 @ Indiana Pacers LOSS
Wed, Mar 19 Chicago Bulls LOSS
Fri, Mar 21 New York Knicks LOSS
Sat, Mar 22 @ Chicago Bulls LOSS
Mon, Mar 24 @ San Antonio Spurs LOSS
Thu, Mar 27 @ Houston Rockets LOSS
Sat, Mar 29 Detroit Pistons WIN
Mon, Mar 31 @ Atlanta Hawks WIN
Wed, Apr 2 Charlotte Bobcats LOSS
Fri, Apr 4 @ Boston Celtics LOSS
Sat, Apr 5 Brooklyn Nets LOSS
Wed, Apr 9 @ Toronto Raptors WIN
Fri, Apr 11 @ Memphis Grizzlies LOSS
Sat, Apr 12 @ Charlotte Bobcats WIN
Mon, Apr 14 Boston Celtics LOSS
Wed, Apr 16 @ Miami Heat LOSS
Final Record: 24-58
Hopefully Nerlens Noel’s return around or after Christmas will bring in some wins for the Sixers. Several teams have revamped their rosters over the summer while Philadelphia hit the reset button. Only the loyal fans will pull through the losses in hopes for some huge splashes during the 2014 offseason.