When the NBA released the Philadelphia 76ers' schedule back in the summer, the first thing that stood out was the strength of opponents early on. If the Sixers started slowly, there were warnings to keep expectations in check and remain patient.
So far, the 76ers have been nearly flawless from a record standpoint. Through the first eight games, they have just one loss. Yet, all doesn't feel right in the City of Brotherly Love. It's not just the surprisingly underwhelming overall offensive performance so far; it's the fact that most wins have been uncomfortable.
It wasn't until Monday night's action against the Chicago Bulls that the Sixers finally got one of those nice "get right" games on paper. Heading into the game, the young and rebuilding Bulls held a 1-5 record. They are in the same territory as the expected rebuilders in Brooklyn and Milwaukee.
The road to get here
The season started on the road at Madison Square Garden on the same night the New York Knicks were raising their championship banner. Spoiling that moment was no small task, but the 76ers took care of business against the defending champions with a 106-100 win.
Although the Sixers looked like they exhausted themselves in NYC at the start of the Cleveland Cavaliers matchup, a 29-point deficit was erased, and the Sixers upset the Cavs with a 114-106 win.
The Bucks were the first true "get-right" game on the schedule, but the Sixers rolled out a different starting five, by giving LeBron James the night off. The Sixers didn't have total control of the game, but they finished with a 127-116 win, while shorthanded for the first time.
Then came the first loss. Last year's top-seeded Detroit Pistons exploited the LeBron James center experiment, as the 76ers missed Joel Embiid for the night. Even Jalen Duren's absence for Detroit didn't even the playing field. The Sixers were fortunate to face an Indiana Pacers team that missed a ton of players, including Tyrese Haliburton, but that pace nearly issued them their second loss in a row.
After squeezing out a 114-109 on the road against the Pacers, the Sixers opened up NBA Cup play with a rematch against the Knicks. Suddenly, the Sixers are 2-0 against the champs. A scrappy Charlotte Hornets team had the 76ers visit them while shorthanded on night two of a back-to-back. Once again, the 76ers looked like they were ready to throw in the towel, but another comeback was in the works. The 76ers defeated the Hornets 109-104.
76ers deliver a convincing one
At last, the Sixers started their third week with what looked like an easy win on paper. Respect to the young and rebuilding Bulls for putting up a fight, but the Sixers closed out the game comfortably. Fans wanted a blowout--and they got one. The Sixers beat the Bulls 126-107.
The schedule eased up on the Sixers for a night, but they are back in the gauntlet on Wednesday. The Sixers are firing up a three-game road trip with games in Detroit, Cleveland, and Chicago, before returning home for a three-game homestand against the Boston Celtics, Toronto Raptors, and possibly a healthy Indiana Pacers team.
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