Everybody talks about how challenging the Sixers’ schedule is, but I kind of like it.
In lieu of a harrowing slog toward the playoffs, you’re really just getting the hard part out of the way early.
Ten of the first 15 are on the road, including a five-game West Coast road swing. The reward for running that gauntlet is a “welcome home!” game against the Warriors, just seven days removed from a visit to Oracle Arena.
Yea, it’s gonna be a merciless start, but do you want Golden State now, or later?
This is a Sixers team that will need time to jell, evolve, and learn how to win. I’d prefer they start that curve in games where they won’t be favored, instead of facing pressure to get the job done right off the bat. Expectations feel like they’re a bit high for a squad that’s somewhere between nascent and burgeoning on the developmental scale.
We’re probably looking at a 5-10 or 4-11 start, but I don’t think anyone was expecting otherwise, not unless Ben Simmons and a restricted Joel Embiid come flying out of the gates ala Rhys Hoskins. Markelle Fultz is starting the season with the second unit and will need some time. I don’t know if a full-strength squad is winning at Houston anyway, so let’s get the ducks in a row before we get ahead of ourselves.
This isn’t next-level thinking; the flip side is that the back-end schedule is incredibly ideal.
You’re starting the final 15 games with six of seven at home against the likes of Brooklyn and New York. Assuming you tread water from December to March, there’s a really good chance to barrel towards the postseason with some momentum-building wins.
For the hell of it, let’s go down the list and see where we end up, starting with the first 15. Continue Reading
