As the month of March nears the end the Sixers only have seven games remaining on the schedule.
This year it will be a bit interesting because each team Philadelphia is facing is fighting for a crucial spot in the playoffs.
The remaining matchups in March are home games for the 76ers. Philadelphia is scheduled to host the Dallas Mavericks (March 29th) and the Toronto Raptors (March 31st).
Despite playing in different conferences both teams are scrapping for a spot in the play-in tournament.
Currently, Toronto is the 9th seed in the Eastern Conference and Dallas is the 11th seed in the Western Conference. Neither team is eliminated from playoff contention, but every game is crucial for earning a better seed.
Following the two home games, Philadelphia’s next matchups are against the top two teams in the Eastern Conference.
The Sixers play against the Milwaukee Bucks on April 2nd. Then, they return home to play the Boston Celtics on April 4th.
It wouldn’t be surprising to see Philly split these games, but ultimately, it’ll be difficult for the Sixers to pass either Boston or Milwaukee in the standings.
The second place Celtics own the tiebreaker over the 76ers meaning Philadelphia will have to finish at least one game ahead of Boston. That is unlikely to occur unless Boston’s regular season ends in shambles.
Afterwards, the Sixers have back-to back games; home versus the Miami Heat (April 6th) and then the team travels to face the Atlanta Hawks (April 7th).
Lastly, the final regular season game is in Brooklyn on a Sunday afternoon.
There’s a lot of decisions to be made as the playoffs approach.
Joel Embiid is dominating and in contention for the MVP award, but do the Sixers rest their star big man down the stretch?
With that being said, more minutes can be given to bench players in hopes that some of them can find their groove before the big games.
At this point each game is vital for every team, so hopefully the Sixers can lock up a top seed in the Eastern Conference and be well-rested prior to the postseason.
Featured Image: Getty Images/Ringer illustration
