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Removing conferences from playoffs could make things fun for Sixers, NBA

PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 6: Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers handles the ball against the Boston Celtics on October 6, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at the Wells Fargo Center. 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 Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 6: Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers handles the ball against the Boston Celtics on October 6, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at the Wells Fargo Center. 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 Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)

With talks of the NBA dropping conferences in the playoff race, the Philadelphia 76ers could (theoretically) be thrown into some intriguing matchups.

The NBA has always been progressive when it comes to making changes in an attempt to better the overall product. With a shortened preseason, fewer back-to-backs, a new-look All-Star game and lottery reform coming soon, this offseason was a perfect example of such — and Adam Silver might not be done yet.

According to reports, the NBA might alter their playoff formatting. Rather than taking the best teams from each conference, we could see the league forgo conferences in favor of pitting the 16 best teams against one another. With talent dropping off in the East and the West looking as strong as ever, such changes would make sense.

The playoff structure for the 2017-18 season won’t see any changes, but it’s something we could see in the near future. ESPN took the time to compile what this year’s projected playoff picture would look like if conferences were dropped:

This might not favor the Philadelphia 76ers matchup-wise, but it does present a more more intriguing set of possibilities. Rather than gunning for a No. 5-8 seed and facing one of the more monotone playoff teams in the East — Toronto, Washington, etc. — the Sixers would have the chance to land a series with a team like San Antonio.

Even though San Antonio would be undisputed favorites, seeing a young squad coached by one of Gregg Popovich’s disciples face off with the Spurs would be an interesting spectacle — not to mention invaluable experience for the Sixers’ youngsters.

Some of the other projected matchups highlight just how fun this format could be. Milwaukee v.s. Minnesota puts Giannis Antetokounmpo and the endlessly long Bucks against one of the league’s more impressive young cores in Minnesota. If nothing else, that kind of matchup would deliver on ‘wow’ moments that a matchup like Milwaukee/Toronto never could.

You’d also have the Celtics facing off with the Damian Lillard/C.J. McCollum duo from Portland, and Cleveland playing one of the league’s foremost offensive groups in Denver. Cleveland isn’t a good defensive team. That could lead to some serious (even unexpected) fireworks.

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The increase in potential matchups between normally-unfamiliar opponents makes a change like this worthwhile, and then some. Not only will the Sixers become more competitive in the coming years, but we could see them traveling out West for some thoroughly entertaining series under a new-look playoff structure.