A Look at the Sixers’ Upcoming Home Stand: 3/11-3/18
Currently standing at 38-26* while occupying the sixth seed in the East, the 76ers have four important home games coming up to help their playoff push.
Injuries have been a primary focus for this team recently due to the absence of Ben Simmons, Joel Embiid, and Josh Richardson. While the Sixers are preparing to face off against the Pistons at home, there are still some questions looming about the players.
To start, Josh Richardson was cleared from concussion protocol and will be available for the Sixers Wednesday night. This is very good news because of the offensive threat as well as the clutch ball handling that Richardson provides. Fortunately, Joel Embiid was able to practice Tuesday and will be returning to the lineup shortly, as well. Having a reliable big man back in the rotation as well as an efficient scorer will surely help the team, as they have struggled as of late. Last but definitely not least, there is Ben Simmons. He was sidelined after the All-Star break due to back pains and still has no projected return.
There is fear that he will be out for an extended time, but for back injuries that are often very important. It is expected that the suspect medical team will slow him back into the rotation, as they don’t want to rush him back too quickly. The team should be fine without him, as they have one of the easiest schedules remaining. The only hope for the fans and the team is that he is back for the postseason. Ben provides a new level of energy and works ethic and it is very important that he can get back on the court to help his teammates advance in the playoffs.
The upcoming slate of home games includes Detroit, Indiana, Washington, and Toronto. With two playoff teams from the East coming to Philly, it is important to get these wins.
Home court is such an important advantage in the postseason, especially for the Sixers.
They currently have an astonishing record of 28-2 at home, and this trend is likely to continue with the support of Philadelphia. The Wells Fargo Center is a very difficult place to play as an opposing team, and the Sixers have been proving that all year long. Yes, they have been pathetic on the road so far, but there is still room for improvement
If everyone can come back healthier from their injuries with confidence, there is no reason why this team shouldn’t be able to dominate for the rest of the season.
Detroit Pistons
Taking a closer look into these next four games, the Sixers will be challenged. Starting with the Pistons, who the Sixers often struggle against, will be a tough game. Despite Derrick Rose and Luke Kennard being injured, the Pistons surely will put up a fight.
Indiana Pacers
Following the Pistons, the Sixers will face off against the Pacers on Saturday night which could potentially be a playoff matchup. The Pacers are missing some key players in Malcolm Brogdon and Jeremy Lamb, but are still a very talented team. Tobias Harris and company must heat up and outscore Indiana as they are right on the Sixers’ tails.
Washington Wizards
They then face a struggling Wizards team who, despite the mess of a season, should not be thought of as an easy win. This is an obvious trap game for the Sixers and they need to slow down Bradley Beal and the Wizards.
Toronto Raptors
To finish off the slate of home games, the Sixers will face their familiar rivals from next door. The Toronto Raptors will be visiting the Wells Fargo Center in a week and will be one of the biggest remaining tests for the team.
All of these games against other Eastern teams will have playoff implications as we approach the postseason, so it is very important for them to start winning games.
A nice four-game win streak right at home should be a perfect spark that the team needs to finish out this season strong.
Featured Image: Hoops Habit *Exact records and statistics may have changed from the time of publishing of this article.
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