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After a lopsided loss to the Spurs on Monday evening, the
Sixers sunk to 0-10 to start the season. While the record may not be completely
representative of their talent as a team, as they dropped several close
contests and were without reigning Rookie of the Year Michael Carter-Williams
for the first seven games, they remain the only team across the league’s
landscape without a win.
While the first eighth of the season hasn’t been comely, the
Sixers still sit several games away from the all-time futility record to start
a season, which was set by the 2009-10 iteration of the New Jersey Nets, who
dropped their first 18 at the season’s start.
The ’09 Nets went on to tally 12 wins on the season, and
avoided the worst record ever, which, for a full season of course belongs to
the ’73 Sixers. In order for the Sixers to avoid being on the wrong side of
history again they must win one of their next nine contests, a task that, with
their current crop, may be easier said than done. Nonetheless, a look ahead on their schedule
shows a couple opportunities where the ’14-15 Sixers could potentially pull out
a win and avoid the history books.
Wednesday, November 19 vs. Boston
Image from Philly.com |
Boston is a struggling squad themselves, and far from the
talented team they were just over two years ago when they knocked the Sixers
out in the seventh game of the Conference Semifinals. Rajon Rondo is the only
familiar face from that ’12 team, and while he continues to stuff the stat
sheet, he can’t do it alone.
While Jeff Green is a solid perimeter player, Boston’s lack of depth, and frontcourt options makes them vulnerable. If Wroten and Carter-Williams are able to get it going attacking the basket and creating opportunities for other, the Sixers could have a chance to pull it out over the Celtics at home. Plus, wouldn’t it be fun to have the first win come against Evan Turner’s team.
While Jeff Green is a solid perimeter player, Boston’s lack of depth, and frontcourt options makes them vulnerable. If Wroten and Carter-Williams are able to get it going attacking the basket and creating opportunities for other, the Sixers could have a chance to pull it out over the Celtics at home. Plus, wouldn’t it be fun to have the first win come against Evan Turner’s team.
Saturday, November 22 at New York
Right off of the bat, no, the Sixers don’t have an answer,
on either end, for Carmelo Anthony. The thing is, outside of Melo, the Knicks
don’t have all that much going for themselves either. If Hollis Thompson, K.J.
McDaniels, and whoever else Brett Brown may throw at Anthony can manage to
limit his offensive output and force other Knicks to make plays the Sixers
might be able to keep it close, and even pull it out in the end.
Wednesday, November 26 vs. Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the better team, but in this matchup the Sixers
may have an advantage: Speed. The Nets, build around Kevin Garnett, Deron
Williams, and Joe Johnson, are an elderly, methodical team, 20th league-wide
in fast break points per game. The Nets also don’t have a ton of depth. Thus,
if the Sixers can use their plethora of players with young legs, spearheaded by
Wroten and Carter-Williams to push the ball and attack the basket, they may be
able to tire the Nets out and give themselves the upper hand in the contest.
Wednesday, December 3 at Minnesota
The Timberwolves are battling injury issues, and despite
being a young, talented team, they have yet to gel as a unit out on the court.
Ricky Rubio, the centerpiece to the Wolves’ offensive attack is out for the foreseeable
future, leaving rookie Zach LaVine in charge at the point position; a role he
may not yet be completely ready for. The Wolves are a talented team, but they
are beatable. K.J. McDaniels on Andrew Wiggins is a rookie battle to look
forward to.
Friday, December 5 vs. Oklahoma City
Under normal circumstances, this game would be on the list
of games that the Sixers would be least
likely to win, however injuries to the Thunder’s two superstars make a Sixers
win slightly more feasible. With Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook both
missing serious time to start the season, the Thunder have struggled to stay
afloat. They are currently 3-8, 13th in an extremely deep Western
Conference. The loss of their stars exposes the team’s lack of depth, and their
inexperience, similar to the Sixers. Three of the Thunder’s starters, Lance
Thomas, Jeremy Lamb, and Steven Adams have never played major starter minutes,
and they are prone to mental mistakes, leaving the door open for an upset
opportunity. If either Westbrook or Durant is back in the Thunder lineup by
then however, an upset won’t be expected.
The matchup with the Thunder sits nine games away from where
the Sixers currently sit at 0-10. Aside from the games mentioned above, the
Sixers face off against the Suns, Blazers, Mavericks, and Spurs in that
nine-game span. If they are unable to produce a win during that period they
will again find themselves in the record books for the wrong reasons.
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