Sixers: Best and worst potential matchups in the playoffs

What is the perfect playoffs bracket for the Sixers?

Right now, the Eastern Conference bracket looks as such:

(1) Heat vs. (8) Nets

(4) Bulls vs. (5) Celtics

(3) Sixers vs. (6) Cavaliers

(2) Bucks vs. (7) Raptors

On the outside: (9) Hornets & (10) Hawks

Here’s how the Sixers should hope the bracket falls when all is said and done.

(1) Sixers vs. (8) Hornets

(4) Bulls vs. (5) Cavaliers

(3) Bucks vs. (6) Celtics

(2) Heat vs. (7) Nets

Play-in losers: Raptors & Hawks (the Nets are not losing twice in the play-in tournament, sorry. Trying to keep it realistic).

This would be the ideal set-up for Philadelphia: secure home-court advantage until at least the Finals, keep Milwaukee, Boston, and Brooklyn on the other side of the bracket, and set yourself up with winnable first and second-round series. The Sixers have lost winnable early-round series before, so nothing can be taken for granted, but this is (within reason) the best setup for a deep run.

Unfortunately, the Cavaliers will be without Jarrett Allen for a while. That will probably cause them to slip in the standings, not rise. The Celtics, on the other hand, are red-hot and probably won’t plummet too far. The Sixers could conceivably face a path of Brooklyn, Boston, Milwaukee to reach the Finals. That would be doable, but daunting.

Ultimately, it’s all speculation until the final buzzer sounds on the regular season. Until then, the Sixers can only hope to win as many games as possible in an effort to eclipse Miami for the one-seed. That should be the goal — even if that goal should ultimately take a backseat to resting the Embiid/Harden duo and maintaining good health in advance of the stretch run.