The postseason is a fitting reward for a season fueled by success and hard work. For the Philadelphia 76ers, a Play-In Tournament berth could hinge on an Eastern Conference in which several franchises have determined that tanking is the most sensible course given their current circumstances. Whether the Milwaukee Bucks are part of this conversation is debatable, but their struggles will certainly be a determining factor in Philadelphia's fate.
Fortunately for the 76ers, their strong start to the campaign has provided a solid foundation for their future ambitions -- largely thanks to Tyrese Maxey and further strengthened by the return of Joel Embiid. Even with an abundance of injuries and a major dip in performance levels, Philadelphia can boast a 37-31 record and sit somewhat comfortably in ninth position in the regular-season standings.
To reach the postseason, a team does not have to be perfect; it must trump its opponents by any means necessary. At this moment, Milwaukee's woes make this a much simpler proposition for the franchise.
Bucks have an enormous gap to bridge to make the postseason
The Milwaukee Bucks have a litany of issues to deal with in the coming months, most notably the future of their superstar, Giannis Antetokounmpo. However, that is a situation that must wait for a later date, and they must address the prominent problem of the franchise in the here and now -- reaching the Play-In Tournament.
Despite the Bucks chalking up a 134-123 victory over the Indiana Pacers in their most recent matchup, it has been an awful stretch of form for the team. With just two wins in their previous 10 games, Milwaukee is currently six games back from the Charlotte Hornets in tenth position, and nine games back from the Philadelphia 76ers.
When fit and available, Giannis is proving that he can still be a catalyst for the franchise, and it is tough to count the Bucks out when the field a player with the star power of this nature. His dominance was on full display against the Pacers, as the 31-year-old recorded 31 points, 14 points, and eight assists, while shooting 50% from the floor.
Nevertheless, much like Philadelphia and Joel Embiid, the Bucks have not had the pleasure of Giannis' availability for much of the season. Again, 'The Greek Freak' is questionable for Milwaukee's next fixture against a free-flowing Cleveland Cavaliers side. Automatically, this reduces the team's potential to win this game.
For once, the Philadelphia 76ers can take bathe in another franchise's turmoil. Without the core of Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, and Paul George, the Sixers have struggled to retain a stretch of form that had them sitting in a playoff position. However, the Milwaukee Bucks are in a far worse state, and it could inevitably cement the 76ers' place in the postseason.