Philadelphia 76ers: 5 matchups to watch from first half of 2020-21 schedule

The first half of the Philadelphia 76ers’ 2020-21 schedule is live — here’s where you should mark your calendars.

The Philadelphia 76ers are on track to rebound after a tumultuous and disappointing 2019-20 season. New leadership has revitalized the front office, while Doc Rivers plans to unleash Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons in hitherto unseen ways.

While it’s unwise to set expectations too high, it is reasonable to expect improvement across the board. Philadelphia’s offense is in better shape, and even the defense could see slight improvements without Al Horford’s lumbering presence at the four.

The first half of the Sixers’ 2020-21 schedule has been released, and several important games are already on the docket. Here are five matchups fans should be looking for.

Sixers matchups to watch: Wizards, Dec. 23

The Sixers open the season in the Wells Fargo Center against the Russell Westbrook-led Wizards. Beyond the obvious fireworks potential in an Embiid-Westbrook matchup, this is the NBA’s first look at Westbrook’s partnership with Bradley Beal.

Washington still has glaring flaws, and Westbrook is no longer the MVP candidate he was in 2017. That said, he was still dominant for stretches in Houston last season, and the Wizards have more than enough spacing to let Westbrook attack the middle of the floor. The Wizards’ defense is a mess, but the offense — which was great last season — could get even better with Westbrook.

Philadelphia’s defense will get an early test. Plus, Washington is something of a wild card now — not a title contender, but certainly a postseason hopeful with a lightning rod for intense criticism in Westbrook.