The April 4th, 2024 face off between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Miami Heat is the most important game of this Sixers season. As of today, the 76ers are in the 8th seed of the Eastern Conference and looking to get to at least 6th place by the end of the season in just ten days.
The Sixers currently have six games remaining:
- Two of those games are against the Pistons and Spurs who are the worst teams in their respective conference
- Two are against teams that are already eliminated from playoff contention in the Grizzlies and Nets
- Two are against Eastern Conference teams that are currently ahead of us in the standings and within grasp of knocking down the board, the Magic and the Heat.
It can be safely assumed that the Sixers will beat the Pistons, Spurs, Nets, and Grizzlies. However, these Eastern Conference matchups against Florida’s finest will be the deciding factor on the Sixers’ playoff picture. They will likely be the difference between playing extra play-in games and having to face the Bucks or Celtics in the first round, or resting for a few days and prepping to play the Cavs, Magic or the Knicks first round.
The Sixers need to go 6-0 to end the season to even have a chance at not facing Giannis, Dame, or Tatum in the first round.
Here’s why I think it’s possible. After the NBA trade deadline the Sixers essentially restructured their roster, goodbye Korkmaz, Pat Bev, Marcus Morris, Jared Springer, and Danuel House; welcome Buddy Heild, Cam Payne, and Kyle Lowry!
This new batch of players had weeks to get to know each other’s game and see how they play together, all without the best player on the team and the man whom the offense is built around, Joel Embiid. But just a few nights ago, Embiid came back and led the Sixers to a win against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder have a better record than any of the other teams I have mentioned in this article.
Tonight’s game against the Heat is a chance to bring the Sixers within .5 games of surpassing Miami in the standings. After playing the Sixers, Miami still has to face the Mavericks, Hawks, the Raptors twice, and most interestingly – the Pacers, all of which are losable games. The Pacers game will be important because the Pacers and Heat are the teams that the Sixers are most likely to jump in the standings. One of them has to lose that game, and either way it helps Philly.
The Pacers still need to face the Thunder and the Cavs, losing those two games matched with the Sixers going 6-0 to close out the season puts the Sixers ahead of them in the playoff picture.
Philadelphia 76ers fans need the Sixers to go 6-0 to finish the season, as well as the Pacers and Heat to lose 2 or 3 of their remaining schedule.
If the Sixers are taking this post season seriously at all, then they’ll realize that the playoffs start today.
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