Philadelphia 76ers’ easy schedule comes with boom-or-bust potential
The Philadelphia 76ers’ return-to-play schedule is a very beatable one.
The NBA is expected to finally return in late July. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the conference call to confirm Adam Silver’s proposed plan — which includes eight regular season games, a potential play-in tournament, and a postseason — is Thursday, June 4.
In addition to the league’s overarching structure, the league has also laid out the groundwork for each team’s eight regular season games. The Philadelphia 76ers’ schedule to finish the 2019-20 season is as follows: Indiana Pacers, Washington Wizards, Toronto Raptors, Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers, Houston Rockets, Washington Wizards, Orlando Magic.
The Sixers currently hold the No. 6 seed in the East. As has been discussed on our podcast, it’s probably ideal to stay put in the sixth spot, as Philadelphia has matched up favorably with the Boston Celtics (the No. 3 seed) this season.
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With that in mind, the Sixers’ schedule to finish the season isn’t difficult. And of top of that, the Sixers find themselves in a statistical tie for fifth place, the Pacers mere custodians of a tiebreaker at this point. If Philadelphia beats Indiana upon its return to play, the Pacers no longer maintain that advantage.
The Sixers have a real chance to move up. Even the fourth-seeded Miami Heat are only two games ahead of Philadelphia. If the Sixers want to maintain the sixth seed, it would involve some degree of luck and struggle. The odds would suggest a move up in the standings.
We haven’t seen Philadelphia play in a neutral environment this season. There is a real chance for disaster, as the Sixers have stumbled all season when removed from the Wells Fargo Center. Conversely, if the Sixers can maintain some level of consistent shooting, it’s safe to doubt Indiana’s ability to hold the fifth spot.
If the Sixers do move up, the likely result is a first-round matchup with Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat. If Philadelphia manages to win that series — I have my doubts — the second round would bring the first-seeded Milwaukee Bucks, who have curb-stomped the NBA all season.
Miami-Milwaukee-Toronto is a far less desirable path to the Finals than Boston-Toronto-Milwaukee, even if only to delay the Bucks series as long as possible. Joel Embiid is in matchup heaven versus the Celtics, who lack a viable response at center. The Heat, on the other hand, at least have Bam Adebayo.
When push comes to shove, it’s difficult to project success for the Sixers this season (any, by extension, postseason). They have been too wildly inconsistent — especially away from home — to proceed with a great deal of confidence in a neutral environment. Even so, talent alone makes Philadelphia a threat, and a move up in the standings would at least signal a desire to win and to prove themselves.
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The Sixers have a lot to figure out upon their arrival in Disney World. Brett Brown will need to decide on a starting five. Does Al Horford resume his post, or does Shake Milton — or even Glenn Robinson III — fill out the fifth spot? If Horford does move to the bench, how many minutes will he receive once Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons have their minutes increased?
In addition to the starting five, Brown must decide how to utilize his stars. Last postseason, Simmons saw his role altered in a significant manner. He was moved off-ball as Jimmy Butler took on greater responsibilities in the halfcourt. There is a chance Simmons’ role undergoes similar changes this postseason, especially if Milton is Brown’s choice as the fifth starter.
Brown will have a difficult balancing act on his hands, not to mention the inherently difficult task of bringing the Sixers back from three months of no competitive basketball. Philadelphia does indeed have a chance to make noise, but the circumstances are far from favorable. There are too many dynamics at play. Again, confidence is hard to come by.
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A lot can happen in eight games. The Sixers will either flourish or flounder.