1. Philadelphia could come out a very weary bunch with 15 back-to-backs
Despite the NBA’s efforts to curb the numbers of back-to-backs to a plausible minimum, the 76ers got the shorter end of the stick this time. They will have 15 back-to-backs this season, their most since the 2016-17 season, and one more than last season’s 14. Safe to say, rest won’t be much of a point of leverage for them.
Last season, Philly went 7-7 on the second leg of back-to-backs. Hopefully, that tally card improves this time, though this could admittedly be tricky for a team with a lot of older commodities than fresh legs. Their depth will be hevaily tested, especially if a key player or two is to be held out due to injury or rest.
The 76ers don’t have a very forgiving slate with these 15 back-to-backs, especially with most of these coming at the midseason point, but they will provide very definitive tests for the team’s depth amd overall roster quality. Here’s to them making them seem like a piece of cake.