2015 Sixers Schedule: Tough Stretches? Easy Ones Too

Josh Wilson

Dec 3, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Philadelphia 76ers shorts with logo against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. The 76ers defeated the Timberwolves 85-77. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

Wednesday night the NBA officially released the schedules for the 2016-16 season. While the Sixers certainly weren’t a team of high importance to most, us Sixers fans were excited to see how the schedule wizards faired with the team this year.

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As this is one of the first years where the Sixers are looking to be a non-tank team, and they have more weapons (a scary front court with Nerlens Noel and Jahlil Okafor, as well as a shooting guard looking to redeem his reputation, Nik Stauskas), they’re certainly looking to win more. Last year, just 18 games were won, so naturally, we’re expecting more. It can’t get much worse, that’s for sure.

Naturally, with the schedule release, we wonder where the tough spots are, where the softer spots are. The placement of certain games can be the make or break for some teams as far as getting in the playoffs. Although the Sixers don’t appear to be good enough to get lucky and make the playoffs, some soft spots could empower them enough to get up to 30 games won, and too many tough spots could leave them finding themselves down towards just 20 won games again.

Next: October/November

Mar 16, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics point guard

Marcus Smart

(36) is guarded by Philadelphia 76ers point guard

Isaiah Canaan

(0) during the third quarter at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

October

October only has two games for the Sixers, but still, that’s the month basketball is back. We can all get excited for that. The season opener is in Boston against the Celtics, which is a winnable game. It’s certainly a losable one, too, depending on which Celtics show up. The next game is against the Jazz, another non-intimidating opponent. Although it’s probably more likely that we see the Sixers start off splitting games at 1-1, there’s a chance we could see them go 2-0. Have hope!

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Prediction: 1-1

November

Okay, this is where the wheels may start to come off. The Sixers start this month facing the Cleveland Cavaliers twice in three games, and have to face the Milwaukee Bucks and former Sixer Michael Carter-Williams in between seeing LeBron James. Later, they have the Chicago Bulls, Toronto Raptors, Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs,and Dallas Mavericks, all right in a row. With a game against the Indiana Pacers following that string, we could see the Sixers taking an early six game losing streak, unfortunately.

Things do get easier with the Charlotte Hornets after that. Although they have Frank Kaminsky and Jeremy Lin as new players to use, they’re still a young growing team like the Sixers. The Hornets were battling for the last playoff spot last year, but didn’t get it. I’d give them an edge over the Sixers, but certainly wouldn’t put them far ahead, and wouldn’t be surprised with the Sixers beating them.

They end the month with more tough games against the Houston Rockets and Memphis Grizzlies.

Prediction: 3-13 Overall: 4-14

Next: December And A New Year

Mar 27, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Nerlens Noel (4) shoots against Los Angeles Clippers forward

Spencer Hawes

(10) during the second half at Wells Fargo Center. The Clippers won 119-98. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

December

The start of December looks like an early Christmas present for the Sixers. Their first three opponents didn’t have records above .500 last season. I think they’ll be able to take at least two of their first three games. Up until December 11th, they really only have one difficult game.

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In the middle of the month, the Bulls, Atlanta Hawks, Cavs, and Grizzlies match up against Philly in four of five consecutive games. Later in the month they end on an easier note again, with the Bucks, Suns, Jazz and Kings.

This is one of the longest months of the season for the Sixers, so it could be a difficult one, and we could see them falling to only five or four games won on the month if they don’t adjust well to a lot of games in a short period of time. Ten of their sixteen games are on the road, and it starts a six game road trip for the team going into the new year.

Prediction: 6-10 Overall: 10-24

January

Kicking off the new year in Los Angeles, they should have a chance at winning their first game of the year. Although they will be on a road trip, they’ll luckily not have to move for two of those games, since they are the visitors against the Lakers and Clippers in consecutive games, who both play games at the Staples Center.

Coming back home, they face the Timberwolves, which they should win, a nice way to start a six game home stand following several on the road games. Unfortunately, it won’t be easy, facing four playoff teams after the Wolves. Later in the month they have four very winnable games in a row before they have to host the defending champion Golden State Warriors, and the defending Eastern Conference best record Atlanta Hawks.

Luckily that group of winnable games towards the end could help them reach .500

Prediction: 7-7 Overall: 17-31

Next: February/March

Apr 8, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Washington Wizards forward

Kris Humphries

(43) battles for the ball with Philadelphia 76ers forward Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (12) and guard

Jason Richardson

(23) during the second half at Wells Fargo Center. The Wizards won 119-90. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

February

Following those two tough games, they’ve got the Wizards, another difficult opponent as they’ve got a great backcourt in John Wall and Bradley Beal. I don’t think Marcin Gortat will be much of a match for Jahlil Okafor, however.

Four games in a row against the Western Conference teams won’t be easy, but I’m excited to see Jahlil Okafor match up against Anthony Davis in those games, the first one back after the All Star Break. The short month of February is the most neutral month for the Sixers. No crazy difficult games (besides the Clippers), and nothing extremely easy, either.

They play the Wizards three times this month, so I believe they will quickly become rivals this year. Hopefully, despite the Wizards good roster, they can take two of those games.

Prediction: 5-7 Overall: 22-38

March

A largely Eastern Conference month, this one should be easier than usual. A few games against the Hornets, Heat, Pistons, and Pacers will prove to be winnable as the team is really hopefully coming along at this point in the season.

Of course, these wins may be overshadowed by blowout losses handed to them by Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder, as well as Stephen Curry and the Warriors, in Golden State. Still, the easier games of the month could push them to a winning month.

Prediction 8-7 Overall: 30-45

Next: April

Apr 4, 2015; Charlotte, NC, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward

Furkan Aldemir

(19) blocks the shot by Charlotte Hornets guard

P.J. Hairston

(19) during the second half at Time Warner Cable Arena. Hornets defeated the 76ers 92-91. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

April

This short month starts off fairly easy, with the Hornets and Pacers. They should be able to win one of those, and possibly take a game against the Pelicans, depending on if they’re able to rest starters yet or not (probably not, but we’ll think wishful and give Philly the win anyway). The Knicks and Bucks are both games that should be won, but the last two, Raptors and Bulls, may not be won, unless they have playoff spots locked and are resting starters.

Prediction: 4-3 Overall: 34-48

Not a terrible record. I did some wishful thinking with some games, but if the chemistry is right between everyone, 30+ games is a goal we could possibly see becoming reality. While that probably won’t get the Sixers into the playoffs, we haven’t seen what the year has in store. The trade deadline could really shake things up.

We’ve got lots to look forward to in the next several years, and this really appears to be the first step in the right direction. Overall, the schedule wizards faired nicely in the Sixers favor, and gave them a neutral schedule with stretches of easy games that could leave them with more wins than they should have had.

Next: How The Sixers Could Sneak Into The Playoffs

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Josh Wilson

Josh is currently the Managing Editor of FanSided.com. He has worked with FanSided in some capacity for a total of eight years, starting as a contributor for Swarm and Sting, Toro Times, and HoopsHabit in 2015. He served as a site expert for The Sixer Sense during 'The Process' years while starting his educational track at Temple University as a journalism student. He later transferred to the State University of New York at Cortland where he completed his B.A. in Mass Communication with a concentration in journalism. For FanSided, Josh worked as Operations Assistant before taking on a role as Editorial Director of the NBA Division, a role he held for three years. Along the way he also helped start and lead the FanSided fellowship program which created a path for several young journalists to start their careers in sports media. Nothing is more important to Josh than Yankee wins and his family.