Thanks to a loss by the Miami Heat, the Philadelphia 76ers are now tied for the first spot in the Eastern Conference. What’s even better is that the Sixers own the tiebreaker over the Heat so they are currently the top team in the East.
Certainly, this helps to validate the trade for James Harden and helps Joel Embiid‘s case for his first MVP trophy. However, the implications of this first overall seed go beyond how it impacts the team’s two superstars.
What does the top spot mean for the Sixers?
If the current standings stay pat after the play-in games, that would have the 76ers play against the Brooklyn Nets. However, based on play-in matchups, it’s more than likely that the Nets would win their matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers and jump to the seventh spot.
This would be a big deal for Philly. If they can avoid the Nets in the first round by holding onto the first seed, it’s something they should focus on. Working under the assumption the Nets win their play-in game and the Sixers hold onto the first seed, it would make Philly’s first round matchup relatively easy.
As of now, it would be either the Cavaliers, Charlotte Hornets, or Atlanta Hawks. The 76ers are 3-0 against the Cavs this season with one more matchup this season. Against the Hornets, Philly has a 2-1 record with one more game to go. The Hawks have a 1-2 record against the Sixers this year.
In some ways, I personally hope that Atlanta is the team that shows up in the eighth seed for the first round matchup. In a way, it would be the perfect way to exorcise the demons from last year’s playoff disappointment. It would bring the team together and on top of that, the Hawks aren’t the same team they were last year.
In short, holding onto the one seed should be very important for the Sixers not only for personal players stories but the team’s playoff hopes as a whole.