The Sixer Sense
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Sixers v.s. Pacers is the biggest game since the Process began

By Christopher Kline

PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 3: Victor Oladipo #4 of the Indiana Pacers and JJ Redick #17 of the Philadelphia 76ers await the ball on November 3, 2017 at the 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 David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 3: Victor Oladipo #4 of the Indiana Pacers and JJ Redick #17 of the Philadelphia 76ers await the ball on November 3, 2017 at the 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 David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Philadelphia 76ers are playing a game with significant playoff implications tonight.

Entering the 2017-18 campaign, most reasonable expectations had the Philadelphia 76ers fighting for the eighth seed. They were on the come up, but nobody expected them to be legitimate Eastern Conference contenders in Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons‘ first season together.

And, while the Finals are still out of reach, they have exceeded those expectations. Currently 36-29, the Sixers are just two games behind the third-seeded Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference, with the tiebreaker up for grabs tonight.

In many ways, this is one of the least-expected big games of the season. Indiana has outperformed their preseason expectations as well, with Victor Oladipo emerging as one of the best guards in the conference. They’ve also gotten solid production from the likes of Darren Collison, Domantas Sabonis, and Myles Turner, among others.

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The Sixers have won 12 straight games at home, while the Pacers have emerged as one of the conference’s most consistent teams. It’s also the first time the Sixers (and Wells Fargo Center) have experienced a game with critical playoff implications since the Process got underway.

We’ve seen Embiid miss two seasons with injury, Simmons get knocked out with a broken foot, and plenty of losing between the last Sixers playoff team and this one. They’ve gone from starting a rebuild around Nerlens Noel to competing for home-court advantage in about five years.

Not too shabby.

The Sixers are currently sixth in the Eastern Conference, but have one of the easiest remianing schedules in the league after tonight’s bout with Indiana. Winning would not only give the tiebreaker to Philadelphia, but also move them within half a game of the fifth-seeded Wizards and within a game of Cleveland and Indiana. They’d only be half a game behind the Cavaliers, who currently occupy the fourth seed.

Philadelphia has been wildly inconsistent at times this season, but most of that has come on the road. They’re a good team at home, which makes tonight’s matchup all the more intriguing.

This won’t be the Sixers’ last game with playoff implications either. The Eastern Conference is tight from three through eight, which should up the importance of every game moving forward. Philadelphia still has a few more playoff teams on the docket, so those games could play a big role in determining the final seeding.

Also, Trevor Booker makes his return to Philly tonight. In his three games with the Pacers, Booker is averaging 4.7 points and 4.0 rebounds per game in 16.7 minutes.

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Tip off is at 7 P.M. ET on NBC Philadelphia.

NOTE: Dario Saric might be out tonight, which would presumably move Ersan Ilyasova to the starting five and give Richaun Holmes backup minutes at the four.