The 3 Most Meaningful Games on the Sixers’ 2019-20 Schedule
This upcoming season will assume its own, natural ebbs and flows, but as with any impending campaign, certain games will inevitably serve as pivotal benchmarks for the new squad.
3) Opening Night (10/23) vs Celtics
Just from a pure revenge standpoint, I think Sixers fans can all agree how much a strong performance is needed to forget last year’s abysmal opening night showing summarized by a 105-87 loss in Boston. In all honesty, is there another team fans and players alike would rather face in a home opener? On the surface, it’s quite clear how much of a statement the Sixers can make to not just the home crowd, but to the rest of league.
Regardless of what the final score on the jumbotron might read, October 23rd will nonetheless serve as a concrete indicator of this roster’s potential. At this point, all of Elton Brand’s 2019 offseason moves are well known, and anticipation for the opening night has reached its peak this decade(they saved the best for last I guess). It’s obviously completely unreasonable to expect the Sixers to be clicking on all cylinders in Game 1 of 82, but at the very least it’s necessary to see some evidence of team chemistry to get the ball rolling.
2) Christmas Day (12/25) vs Bucks
The 33rd game of the Sixers 2019-20 campaign will be played against the team which won the most regular season games last season. The Bucks showcased how dominant of a team they were last season by going 60-22. Sure they blew a 2-0 ECF series lead to the eventual NBA Champion Toronto Raptors, but like the Sixers, the talent is there plus Kawhi Leonard is no longer in the East.
2019 Christmas Day at the Wells Fargo Center will be Opening Night 2.0. Fans have waited a long time for a game like this, and the stage has been officially set. If all goes according to plan, this matchup should feature the two juggernauts of the East. In what will be a playoff-like atmosphere, this game will be an opportunity for the Sixers to really set the tone for the rest of their season. Keep in mind, at this juncture we’ll already have a large sample size, and the team can either build upon their first 32 games or raise some questions about their ability to deliver on a big stage.
1) First-Half Finale (2/11) vs Clippers
Game 55 should be a good one. Not only will it be against a formidable opponent, but one that features the man which broke Sixers fans hearts. Assuming both teams are around full strength, this matchup will be quite the litmus test for the Sixers. Both teams will be vastly different than the playoff teams they fielded just a few short months ago. 54 games in, the Sixers will have defined the course of the season, for the most part.
This game provides the Sixers an opportunity to dictate the perception of their season by displaying they are true contenders. Will they put forth a strong, respectable effort win or loss, or will the team roll over and start their week-long break early? Whoever hits the floor that night needs to respond to the intensity of a Finals contender. Hence, the Sixers must put forth a performance indicative of a Championship caliber team, showing they’re ready to make the jump well beyond the 2nd round.
Now, of course, it’s an 82 game season for a reason, and teams aren’t seeded based on 3 games alone. However, the results of these 3 games should give fans quite an indication where the 2019-20 Sixers are headed.
Featured Image: Aaron Gash/AP Photo
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Categorized:Sixers