The Philadelphia 76ers’ schedule for the NBA’s Orlando re-start is official.
Yesterday, the NBA and NBPA agreed in principle to the league’s re-start plan in Orlando. Games will start back in late July, and we now have confirmed schedules for all 22 teams — the Philadelphia 76ers included.
Here are the Sixers’ final eight regular season games.
AUGUST 1 Indiana; AUGUST 3 San Antonio; AUGUST 5 Washington; AUGUST 7 Orlando; AUGUST 9 Portland; AUGUST 11 Phoenix; AUGUST 12 Toronto; AUGUST 14 Houston
This is the second easiest schedule of the re-start, which bodes well for a Philadelphia team that struggles away from home. No one has a firm grasp on how crowd-less games will sound or feel, but it stands to reason the Sixers will no longer experience home-court advantage.
The Sixers effectively avoid the NBA’s top three teams (Lakers, Clippers, Bucks), as well as several other high-level contenders (Heat, Nuggets, Celtics, Jazz). They also face arguably the two worst teams traveling to Orlando in the Suns and Wizards.
Philadelphia’s only significant challenge here is the final stretch. The Sixers finish the season with three games in four nights, and the final two games happen to feature their toughest opponents. They play Toronto on the second night of a back-to-back, then have a day to prepare for Houston.
Success will come down to how effectively the Sixers survive away from home. If the crowd-less environment doesn’t have a pronounced impact, then Philadelphia should finish the season strong. The first six games feature mid-to-low tier contenders who the Sixers have comfortably beaten in the past. Several probably won’t make the playoffs.
At this point, it’s reasonable to doubt whether or not the NBA’s plan will work. There are serious concerns about the “bubble,” which no longer feels secure from a health and safety perspective. As cases rise in Florida, the NBA is accepting the risk involved with a resumption of play.
If the NBA manages to stave off a surge in coronavirus cases, however, the Sixers have a chance to make noise. Whether you consider them sleepers or not, it’s difficult to deny the talent on Philadelphia’s roster. An easy schedule to end the year is a positive development.