After a key loss to the Nets, the next seven days can go a long way for the Sixers in solidifying their positioning ahead of Brooklyn and others in the lottery standings.
Whether it’s tanking or being really bad at trying to win, the Sixers keep losing games as their skid has reached seven straight losses. They will begin the week in sole possession of the all-important sixth place position in the lottery standings. For a refresher, if the Sixers end the season in sixth place in the lottery standings, they’ll have a 46% chance of retaining their top-six protected pick. Any spot below sixth would make it unlikely that the pick is retained by Philadelphia. Should the Sixers jump Toronto and finish fifth, the chances of retaining the pick jump up to 64%.
Fifth place is looking like a more and more realistic place to land for the Sixers after Toronto’s win on Sunday night against Phoenix. But for now, it’s important to stay ahead of the Nets and this week could be pivotal in creating some separation between the Sixers, Nets and the rest of the teams in that neighborhood. The Bulls are trying awfully hard to enter the chat having lost eight of 10 and six straight. Should the Sixers build a bit of a cushion on Brooklyn and Chicago, and put Portland out of reach, then we can shift our attention fully towards making a run at the Raptors.
Here’s a look at the schedules this week for teams in the vicinity of the Sixers in the lottery standings:
Toronto (18-39): 5th in lottery standings
Schedule this week: vs. BOS Tues, @ IND Wed, @ CHI Fri, @ ORL Sun
Philadelphia (20-36): 6th in lottery standings
Schedule this week: vs. CHI Mon, @ NY Wed, vs. GSW Sat
Brooklyn (21-35): 7th in lottery standings
Schedule this week: @ WSH Mon, vs. OKC Wed, vs. POR Fri, @ DET Sat
Chicago (22-35): 8th in lottery standings
Schedule this week: @ PHI Mon, vs. LAC Wed, vs. TOR Fri, @ IND Sun
Portland (24-33): 9th in lottery standings
Schedule this week: @ UTAH Mon, @ WSH Wed, @ BKN Fri, @ CLE Sun
There are a lot of opportunities this week for Brooklyn, Chicago and Portland to pick up some wins. The top four in the lottery standings are basically locked in and will in some order be Washington, New Orleans, Utah and Charlotte. Therefore, it would be nice if Brooklyn and Portland can take advantage of games against the Wizards and Jazz.
But, then there’s Monday night’s Sixers game against the Bulls. As we noted, the Bulls aren’t going away in this race for more ping-pong ball combinations. A Sixers win on Monday would really muddy the waters here with all these teams in the back half of the top 10. A loss coupled with the aforementioned winnable games this week for Brooklyn and Portland resulting in wins for the Nets and Trail Blazers, would allow Sixers fans to put more of a singular focus on chasing the Raptors.
It’s hard to see this Sixers team going into Madison Square Garden and beating the Knicks on Wednesday. Golden State seems to be playing pretty well since acquiring Jimmy Butler and should be a sizable favorite on Saturday night at Wells Fargo Center. Losing to the Bulls on Monday night likely means this Sixers’ losing streak reaches 10.