The Philadelphia 76ers have six games to go in the 2021-22 regular season after a disappointing loss to the Detroit Pistons on Thursday night. The defeat dropped the Sixers to 46-30, which is good for fourth place in a tight Eastern Conference.
Even with so few games left, there are still multiple variations of how the East standings will play out. As of now, only 2.5 games separate the first (Miami Heat) and fourth (Sixers) seeds. Not only that, the teams vying for a spot in the play-in tournament are also neck-and-neck.
Since there is still so much uncertainty, it remains unclear who Philly could see in the first round. If the playoffs began today, the Sixers would be playing the Chicago Bulls, a team they dominated in the regular season. But given the nature of the standings, things can still change.
That being said, here is a ranking of possible playoff opponents for the Philadelphia 76ers.
*Watch NBA games LIVE with fuboTV (click for free trial)*
Ranking 76ers playoff opponents
The one team the 76ers, and other top teams in the East, should be looking to avoid is the Brooklyn Nets. Squaring off against Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving is not an optimal first opponent for a team looking to make a run at the NBA Finals. Even more so now that Irving is allowed to play in home games.
Everyone still remembers how the matchup between the Sixers and Nets unfolded not too long ago. On top of that, Durant has had his way against them all year. In four matchups, he put up 30.3 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 7.8 assists per game while shooting 52.9% from the floor.
Brooklyn's roster is flooded with ball handlers and shot creators, leaving the Sixers with some unwanted matchups defensively. While Joel Embiid would have his way against Brooklyn thanks to the lack of size, they would fare much better against multiple other teams.
Heading into the playoffs, the Toronto Raptors are one of the biggest dark horses in the East. They are probably not a real title contender, but they will be a tough out for anyone they square off against.
Between their abundance of size and length and championship experience, the Raptors know what needs to be done to win in the playoffs. Head coach Nick Nurse is also one of the best in the business when it comes to the chess match of playoff basketball. He will surely have a few tricks up his sleeve once the real action gets underway.
There's no denying this would be a tough series, but it's one the 76ers should come away victorious in. They also don't have an answer for Embiid, which could prove to be the deciding factor. Toronto poses some threats, but not enough for the Sixers to look to avoid them at all costs.
2) Chicago Bulls
After being one of the hottest teams in the opening months of the season, the Chicago Bulls have flamed out of late. Injuries have taken a massive toll on their roster, with Lonzo Ball still out, making the Bulls an optimal first-round opponent.
Along with the injury situation, the 76ers saw great success against the Bulls all season. In four matchups, they came away with a perfect record of 4-0. Also, Embiid put up some of his highest scoring numbers against Chicago. In those four meetings, he posted averages of 32.8 points, 12.3 rebounds, and 3.8 assists.
While the Bulls still pose a threat, their lack of playoff experience is a glaring weak spot for them. Outside of DeMar DeRozan, few players on the roster have gotten their feet wet in the postseason. Containing the duo of DeRozan and Zach LaVine would not be easy, but this is a series that would be very winnable for the Sixers.
The best-case scenario for the 76ers in the first round would be matching up with the Cleveland Cavaliers. They, too, lack playoff experience and continue to lose important players to injury down the stretch. First All-Star center Jarret Allen was sidelined, then shortly followed by rookie sensation Evan Mobley.
Like the Bulls, the Cavs are an opponent the Sixers had their way against in the regular season. They won all three matchups against Cleveland, and Embiid averaged 32.3 points on 56.4% shooting from the floor. Given they are now without their two best frontcourt players, they have little to no answer for the MVP frontrunner. Even if those guys come back, they probably would not be at 100%.
Based on how the Cavs are trending as of late, they might not even be in a position to square off with the Sixers in Round 1. But if they can stay afloat for these final games, Cleveland is by far the most optimal opponent come the postseason.
Follow Us
Subscribe