The Sixer Sense
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3 surefire events and 2 big surprises that might happen in 76ers-Nets series

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 11: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Spencer Dinwiddie #26 of the Brooklyn Nets in action against Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers at Barclays Center on February 11, 2023 in New York City. The 76ers defeated the Nets 101-98. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 11: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Spencer Dinwiddie #26 of the Brooklyn Nets in action against Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers at Barclays Center on February 11, 2023 in New York City. The 76ers defeated the Nets 101-98. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
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Philadelphia 76ers, Jaden Springer
Jaden Springer, Philadelphia 76ers trade rumors (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

Two big surprises in Philadelphia 76ers-Brooklyn Nets series

2. Jaden Springer will play

Springer showed he can hang with the players in the NBA with an impressive performance against a playoff-bound Atlanta Hawks team that played its regulars, in the next to last regular season game.

Coach Doc Rivers has repeatedly said Springer will be an ‘elite defender’ in this league. With 19 points, he also showed he can produce on the offensive end, something the Sixers brass did not feel Matisse Thybulle could accomplish.

With Thybulle now in Portland, the Sixers could use another athletic wing who can play defense. The Nets, outside of Sharpe and Claxton, are pretty much all wings and guards.

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Will he be a regular part of the rotation? Maybe not, but there will be a game(s), where Springer’s defensive chops will need to be employed.

1. Hawks-Celtics series will last longer than Sixers-Nets

The winner of Sixers-Nets will take on the Boston Celtics-Atlanta Hawks winner in the second round (otherwise known as the graveyard of past 76ers seasons).

The Hawks finished eighth in the Eastern Conference standings but pulled off an upset of the Miami Heat in the play-in tournament and are now the No. 7 seed, and will take on No. 2 Boston.

Hawks have been nothing special this season, which is why they were eighth in the standings. However, this is basically the same team that in 2021 knocked off the No. 1 seeded 76ers and took eventual champion Milwaukee Bucks to six games in the Eastern Conference finals.

They already have had the mandatory ‘fire the coach in midseason because he can’t get along with Trae Young’ episode, and new coach Quin Snyder has plenty of playoff coaching experience from his time in Utah.

This is basically the same lineup as the one that made the long playoff run: Young, John Collins, Clint Capela, Bogdan Bogdanovic. The big change is guard Dejounte Murray for Kevin Huerter, which is an improvement.

Also, Boston, except for that major beatdown of Milwaukee, has not looked all that great. Since Feb. 27, the Celtics are 11-8, not counting two wins by the scrubs at the end.

Am I saying Atlanta will beat Boston, heck no, but I think the Hawks can surprise and that series could last longer then Sixers-Nets. That would be good for the 76ers, as it would give them additional rest going into the next round.

It certainly would be a very pleasant surprise if Atlanta was the Sixers next opponent..