Looking ahead at every game in the first month of Philadelphia 76ers basketball
With the full Sixers season schedule out, it’s time to begin the way-too-early predictions. The month of October is packed with marquee games for the Philadelphia 76ers, including a prove-it game against Boston to open the NBA season and the Philadelphia 76ers’ first look at a revamped Raptors roster with Kawhi Leonard. Here are picks and predictions for each of the Sixers’ games in October.
Tuesday, Oct. 16: at Boston, 8 p.m. (TNT)
The Sixers pick up in the same arena they left off last season, beginning the season with a tough test against the favorites to win the Eastern Conference. The Celtics will be fully healthy after the return of All-Stars Gordon Hayward and Kyrie Irving, while the Sixers will get back a mask-free Joel Embiid.
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Embiid will look for a statement game against Boston and fellow star Ben Simmons will look to redeem himself after a lackluster series against the Celtics. However, the still-young Sixers likely won’t waltz into the Garden and steal a win from Boston’s stingy defense.
PREDICTION: Boston Celtics 96, Philadelphia 76ers 92
Thursday, Oct. 18: vs. Chicago, 8 p.m. (TNT)
After a tough opener at Boston, the Sixers get what should be a freebie at home against an atrocious Chicago Bulls squad. The Bulls added Wendell Carter Jr. in the draft and picked up Milwaukee power forward and former top-three pick Jabari Parker. The two big men should test Saric and Embiid’s defense inside. Short of a miraculous fluke, there’s no way Philly should drop this contest to the Bulls.
PREDICTION: Philadelphia 76ers 122, Chicago Bulls 100
Saturday, Oct. 20: vs. Orlando, 7:30 p.m.
Philly’s short two-game home stand concludes against another non-contender in the Orlando Magic. As always, there’s not much interesting about the Magic. They did pick up center Mohamed Bamba with the sixth overall pick, a gifted young big man both offensively and defensively. As gifted as Bamba may be, however, he’ll stand no chance against DPOY contender Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers’ offensive attack will be too much for a weak Magic squad.
PREDICTION: Philadelphia 76ers 114, Orlando Magic 98
Tuesday, Oct. 23: at Detroit, 7 p.m.
The first Sixers-Pistons game since a blockbuster deal sending power forward Blake Griffin to Motor City, this matchup should continue a rivalry created when former Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy called out Philly’s tanking. Since then, the Sixers have dominated the Pistons, winning the last four matchups between the two squads. This game should end no differently and extend that winning streak to five.
PREDICTION: Detroit Pistons 95, Philadelphia 76ers 103
Wednesday, Oct. 24: at Milwaukee, 9:30 p.m. (ESPN)
This marquee matchup pits the two best players in the Eastern Conference — Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpko — against each other in what should be a slugfest between two of the East’s top teams. Giannis and Embiid should match each other mano a mano, but the Bucks have nobody who even approaches Ben Simmons’ offensive abilities, so the Sixers should pull out the tough road back-to-back.
PREDICTION: Milwaukee Bucks 112, Philadelphia 76ers 114
Saturday, Oct. 27: vs. Charlotte, 7:30 p.m.
Another easy game at the Wells Fargo Center for Philly. Last season, the only Hornet to do any damage to Philly was Dwight Howard. This offseason, Dwight changed teams yet again and moved to Washington alongside John Wall and Bradley Beal. With only Kemba Walker and other assorted misfits, the ragtag Hornets should go down without much of a fight to a superior Sixers team.
PREDICTION: Philadelphia 76ers 109, Charlotte Hornets 95
Monday, Oct. 29: vs. Atlanta, 7 p.m.
The Hawks will be one of the more interesting teams in the NBA this season. Atlanta traded away the chance to select sure-thing Luka Doncic to take a flyer on college sensation Trae Young. The Hawks are betting that Young’s instant offense will be able to mask their deficiencies everywhere else. That fact alone practically guarantees a home Philly win without much trouble.
PREDICTION: Philadelphia 76ers 101 – Atlanta Hawks 89
Tuesday, Oct. 30: at Toronto, 7:30 p.m.
Toronto’s already-confusing roster became even more muddled after their blockbuster deal for the Spurs’ discontent Defensive Player of the Year Kawhi Leonard. DeMar Derozan, who always seemed to dominate the Sixers, is no longer a thorn in Philly’s side. However, Leonard is a whole different beast. One of few players in the NBA who can guard Ben Simmons, the Klaw may be able to will his Raptors at home to victory over a worn-down Philadelphia 76ers team.
PREDICTION: Toronto Raptors 95, Philadelphia 76ers 88
The Month of October
Overall, if the Sixers could emerge from a grueling eight games in fourteen days with a 6-2 record it would be a success for Philly. 6-2 would put the Philadelphia 76ers firmly on the path to another 50-win season and another shot at the Eastern Conference Finals. However, two losses to the Celtics and Raptors would leave fans questioning Philly’s ability to win those Eastern Conference Finals.
The full schedule for the 2018-2019 season can be found on Philly.com here