The Sixer Sense
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Sixers v.s. Wizards opening night matchup highlights the Eastern Conference divide

By Christopher Kline

PHILADELPHIA, PA - FEBRUARY 24: John Wall #2 of the Washington Wizards drives to the basket during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on February 24, 2017 at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - FEBRUARY 24: John Wall #2 of the Washington Wizards drives to the basket during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on February 24, 2017 at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Philadelphia 76ers v.s. Washington Wizards matchup on opening night has more meaning than meets the eye.

People are beginning to recognize the Philadelphia 76ers‘ potential, and there is no better litmus test for a team’s standing in the public eye than their appearances on national television. ESPN doesn’t just search out the best matchups. They’re looking for teams that not only sport a big market, but peak the interest of the casual, T.V.-consuming basketball fan.

Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers /

Philadelphia 76ers

If that’s any indications of popularity, then the Sixers’ brand is growing at a rapid pace. While they had a handful of nationally televised games last season, nothing was on the same scale as their primitive schedule thus far. Philadelphia will be facing off with the Washington Wizards on opening night, while ESPN will also carry a Christmas Day game against the Knicks and a game in London against the Celtics later on in the season.

That’s a slate of three significant matchups, all thrust into the national spotlight.

Their game against the Wizards on opening night, however, may be the most intriguing bout. Not necessarily because of the talent on paper, but the juxtaposition that both franchises represent in a vastly altered Eastern Conference.

It’s no secret that the Sixers are in the playoff conversation this season. With Joel Embiid heading a revamped core with both young talent and veteran leadership, Brett Brown’s crew could have the ability to scrap it’s way to the fifth or sixth seed on talent alone — not to mention coaching.

With a number of stars heading west, the last four playoff spots in the East have been left wide open — with little in regards to favorites. Philadelphia has the talent and the opportunity to make some serious noise for the first time since The Process was conceived.

On the other end of the spectrum, Washington lies in the conference’s top tier. Alongside Toronto, Boston and Cleveland, the Wizards are one of four teams that feel like genuine locks to make the playoffs — likely in the top four spots.

That not only puts the two teams on different playing fields in terms of expectations, but also highlights the different state that each organization is in.

The Wizards, while in that top four group, don’t have much of a shot at competing. They’re outmatched by Cleveland and Boston, while their current core doesn’t boast much room for improvement. They re-signed Otto Porter Jr. to a max contract, which essentially locks in a triad of John Wall, Bradley Beal and Porter for the foreseeable future.

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That’s a more than playoffs-worthy core, but their ability to compete is limited by the fact that they don’t have much room to add talent around them. Otto Porter isn’t a max-level player, while Wall and Beal can only carry the load so far if the remainder of the rotation is marred by inconsistent depth.

Washington is stuck in a perpetual state of decency, but chances that they’re able to take that next step feel minimal.

The Sixers are the direct opposite. They may not be in that top four tier quite yet, but their ceiling extends well beyond the majority of their Eastern Conference competition. They’re financially flexible for the time being, while Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons and Markelle Fultz affords them a core with potential that extends past that of Washington.

Philadelphia is trending up, with a team that looks like it can compete at the highest of levels down the line. There’s still a lot to be proven — and nobody in knocking off Golden State any time soon — but this Sixers team, should their core stick together long term, has the potential to do some serious damage league-wide.

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As Washington stagnates, the Sixers are one of the premier young franchises in the league. It’s a matchup between two different teams in entirely different states. That alone gives it some intrigue that many seem to be overlooking.