Sixers vs. Wizards: Series preview and predictions

The one-seed Philadelphia 76ers will face the eight-seed Washington Wizards in the first round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs. The series opener tips off at 1 PM E.T. on Sunday, May 23, and will air on TNT. The Sixers swept the season series against Washington 3-0.

For Philadelphia, this is a chance to prove its mettle under new head coach Doc Rivers. After flaming out in the first round last season, the Sixers have a wide-open path to the conference finals — and maybe even the finals. Washington, on the other hand, won 18 of its last 25 games to secure the eighth spot.

Both teams have star power. The Wizards’ second unit and ramshackle defense are concerns, but the likes of Alex Len and Robin Lopez are big enough bodies to cause trouble for Joel Embiid. If Washington is able to control the tempo — i.e., if Bradley Beal and Russell Westbrook are allowed to play freely in the open court — then the Wizards may have enough juice to make things interesting.

The winner of this series will face the winner of New York/Atlanta in the second round, another winnable series for Philadelphia (on paper). The Sixers have an MVP candidate in Embiid and a Defensive Player of the Year candidate in Ben Simmons, not to mention several rotation pieces undergoing career-best campaigns. Fortune seems to favor South Philly.

Here is your series preview syllabus.

• 3 matchups to watch in 76ers-Wizards series
• 5 storylines to watch in 76ers-Wizards series
• Expectations for 76ers-Wizards series
• 76ers have ideal path to conference finals
• Joel Embiid will dominate Wizards in first round
• Is it conference finals or trade for Ben Simmons?

We also have series predictions from several site contributors.

Christopher Kline — Philadelphia in 5

Lucas Johnson — Philadelphia in 4

Uriah Young — Philadelphia in 4

Kasey Kennedy — Philadelphia in 6

Mike Rotindo — Philadelphia in 5

Matt Cahlil — Philadelphia in 5

Sheldon Washington — Philadelphia in 5

Jimmy Boligitz — Philadelphia in 5

Matt Plesco — Philadelphia in 5

Ashley Foltz — Philadelphia in 4

Chris Cobb — Philadelphia in 4

Jonathan Geib — Philadelphia in 5

Sam Coltrane — Philadelphia in 5

Best of luck to our friends over at Wiz of Awes! May the best team win!