Looking ahead to the best and worst-case first round matchups for the Philadelphia 76ers in the playoffs
Right now, the Philadelphia 76ers are one of the hottest teams in the NBA. Their record over the last ten games is 7-3, and they hadn’t lost a January game in the United States until falling to the Grizzlies last night.
The Sixers are starting to come into their own and form an identity, and these post-Process Sixers, barring a massive regression from All-Star center Joel Embiid or fellow star Ben Simmons, should be a playoff team in the East.
Now that the Sixers are a likely playoff team, us fans can begin to look ahead to potential playoff opponents. The Sixers match up very well with some Eastern playoff teams and match up horribly against others. Let’s take a look at some of the best and worst-case matchups for the Sixers in the 2018 playoffs.
Worst-Case Playoff Scenarios
Nightmare #1: Boston Celtics
The Celtics are maybe the most complete team in the East this season. Coach Brad Stevens has adapted brilliantly to the loss of Gordon Hayward and is in the running for Coach of the Year. The Celtics also have an electrifying scorer and bona fide superstar in Kyrie Irving, whose ability to get late-game clutch buckets can’t be matched by anyone on the Sixers.
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Outside of the obvious advantages of Brad Stevens and Kyrie Irving, the Celtics are one of the deepest teams in the East. They also have two wing players, Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, who have the size and foot speed to stay with Ben Simmons.
The Sixers have defeated the Celtics this season, but the Celtics were playing without Kyrie Irving. The Celtics are also excellent at finishing out close games and leading second-half comebacks, two skills that the young Sixers don’t yet have. The Celtics are more talented and more experienced than the Sixers, at least this season, so the Celtics aren’t a team that we want to run into in the first round.
Nightmare #2: Cleveland Cavaliers
Right now, the Cavs are spiraling downward. Overpaid veterans J.R. Smith and Tristan Thompson have been underperforming, and since the return of vertically-challenged guard Isaiah Thomas to the starting lineup, the Cavs defense has been embarrassing. They allowed 148 points to the Thunder in their last game, an all-time franchise scoring high. So why are they so scary in the playoffs?
Two words: LeBron James.
Remember, the Cavs go through this little January slump every year. Last year, people were saying the Cavs were going to lose to the Celtics in Eastern Conference Finals around this time of year. It’s hard to doubt this Cavs team’s ability to do the same when they still have a top-two player ever leading their offense. The Sixers don’t want to be the first stop on Freight Train James’ playoff rampage.
Best-Case Playoff Scenarios
Dream #1: Detroit Pistons
The Sixers have had the Pistons’ number for a long, long time. Since coach Stan Van Gundy called the Process an “embarrassment,” the Sixers have had a consistently good record against the Pistons, going .500 against them despite three years of historically bad overall records. This season, the Sixers are undefeated against the Pistons.
The last matchup between the Sixers and Pistons was a 114-78 drubbing by the Sixers. Across the board, the Sixers matchup really well with the Pistons. Joel Embiid feasts against centers who can’t space the floor like Andre Drummond because they let Embiid camp the paint on defense and conserve energy for offense. The Pistons also don’t have a Ben Simmons stopper — wing Tobias Harris is too slow, and All-Defensive guard Avery Bradley is too small.
The Sixers or Pistons would have to leapfrog into the top four seeds to make this matchup happen. However, this is the matchup that Sixers fans should be hoping for come playoff time.
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Dream #2: Washington Wizards
An under-the-radar narrative this season has been the regression of Wizards point guard John Wall. Since an early injury sidelined Wall, he hasn’t been the same. He’s shooting an abysmal 42 percent from the field, his lowest mark since his rookie season. His free throw percentage has also dropped eight percent, and his points and assists are both below last season’s production.
Without Wall playing at a superstar level, the Wizards are struggling. Shooting guard Bradley Beal is a good scorer, but he’s no John Wall. The Wizards are just 26-20 right now, good for only fifth in the conference.
The Sixers and Wizards have split the season series thus far, but there’s reason to be optimistic for Philly’s chances. Washington, like Detroit, just doesn’t have the personnel to guard either Embiid or Simmons. An old, slow Marcin Gortat or an overpaid Ian Mahinimi isn’t going to slow down the All-Star center. Simmons could be slowed down by Kelly Oubre or Otto Porter, but neither one of them is quick enough to guard Ben off the dribble.
If the Sixers can’t draw the Pistons in the first round, a slumping Washington team could be their best shot.
Cautious Optimism
At this point, the Sixers are only one game above .500. Getting a high playoff seed, or even a playoff seed at all, isn’t a guarantee. This young team still has plenty of questions.
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That being said, the Sixers are built to do damage in the playoffs. If they draw a team like the Pistons in the first round, this Sixers team has the talent to win a playoff series.