Philadelphia 76ers' Schedule Breakdown and Record Predictions for December
The Philadelphia 76ers are easily the worst team in the NBA and look to be taking their lack of talent into the December section of the schedule.
The phrase "lack of talent" might actually be a little harsh seeing as how the team clearly has some solid players.
Michael Carter-Williams has only played in a handful of games since returning from a shoulder injury, but he has the potential to get a triple-double on any given night. Tony Wroten has put his offensive versatility on display for all to see and is a consistent 20-point threat whenever he plays. Nerlens Noel is also beginning to look comfortable and is now leading the team in blocks and rebounds.
There are certainly pieces in place. The only problem is that those pieces have nothing to do with the puzzle.
Philadelphia has a real chance of finishing November with a 0-16 record, but maybe December will end up being a different story.
OK, maybe not by much.
Here's a look at the team's December schedule and predictions for how those games will go.
Week 1: December 1 to December 7
1 of 6
December 1 vs. San Antonio Spurs (Home)
December 3 vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (Away)
December 5 vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (Home)
December 6 vs. Detroit Pistons (Away)
*Important Game: Minnesota Timberwolves
So, starting off with the Spurs might be a difficult way to open up the month—regardless of the game being at home.
Philadelphia is the NBA's youngest team with an average age of 23.3, whereas the Spurs are the league's oldest at 28.7. The vast gap in experience doesn't play into the Sixers' hands, and the evidence can be found by the loss in their first meeting on November 17 by the score of 100-75.
On top of that, the 9-4 Spurs have the No. 1-rated scoring defense, only allowing 91.3 points per game. Compare that to Philadelphia being second-to-last in scoring with 89.9 points, and we really start to see how this could get out of hand.
Going on to face Minnesota and Oklahoma City could offer the Sixers a real shot at getting the first win of the season.
Minnesota has struggled nearly as much as the Sixers, getting off to a 3-9 record after beginning the season 2-2. It has also managed to lose six of its seven games without point guard Ricky Rubio—who sprained his ankle—by at least 10 points. He's out indefinitely, and Kevin Martin will be out until January with a wrist injury. Their absence will severely limit the Timberwolves backcourt, and...
Lead to Philadelphia's first win!
Yes, this will be No. 1 of 11 total W's for Philadelphia (that's my prediction, anyway).
Oklahoma City will be a bit more difficult, as the return dates of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook are still unknown. Westbrook is more likely to return before Durant, but both should realistically be on the court by the time they travel to Philadelphia.
If the Thunder aren't trying to rest their stars, then it could be another long night for the Sixers. If either does manage to sit, then Philly could ride the momentum of its first win and do something special.
It's obviously highly unlikely, though.
Finishing off the first week with the Pistons is a little bit strange. They only hold a 3-11 record but happen to be one of those teams that randomly show up on any given night. What doesn't help Philly is that Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond are significantly better than the Noel-Henry Sims frontcourt. The battle of the bigs should end up deciding this one.
So what if the Sixers begin December with a 1-3 record? It would mean they got their first win, and that would be reason enough to celebrate.
Predicted Record: 1-3
Week 2: December 8 to December 14
2 of 6
December 10 vs. Atlanta Hawks (Away)
December 12 vs. Brooklyn Nets (Away)
December 13 vs. Memphis Grizzlies (Home)
*Important Game: Memphis Grizzlies
The pressure to win will finally be removed from Philadelphia's shoulders, and there's a good chance that we'll see it show.
The Sixers will be playing a team from each sector of the NBA. The Hawks are beginning to look like a legitimate top-four squad in the Eastern Conference. Brooklyn is clearly going to have to battle all season to even make the playoffs, and the Grizzlies have proved they're one of the league's elite teams.
Playing in Atlanta shouldn't be difficult from an effort perspective—seeing as how they will be going off three days of rest. The difficult part will be how good the Hawks' starting lineup is at scoring. According to Hoop Stats, Atlanta's first five average 73.3 points per game. Compare that to Philadelphia's 53.1, and it's clear how solid the opposition could be.
Brooklyn would be a little more interesting if the game wasn't being played on the road.
The Nets are finding out what aging stars and a lack of depth will do to a team. Kevin Garnett is half of who he used to be as a basketball player. Joe Johnson doesn't have the mix of explosiveness to attack the rim that was so vital to him creating perimeter shots, and Deron Williams looks to be finding his groove too late. The majority of the team's troubles are coming from players getting older.
Brooklyn is 1-6 after beginning the year with a 4-2 record and will be playing the perfect team in order to get back to its winning ways. Philly should do a solid job of competing, but it's still outmatched, especially away from its home court.
That leaves Memphis.
Yes, the same Memphis that is tied for the best record in the NBA. The Grizzlies have been one of the league's most consistent defensive teams for the past five years, and nothing has changed this season, as they only allow 92.4 points per game.
This year's team is different from past squads, though, because Memphis is finding a way to score the basketball. Averaging 99.9 points will give Memphis the ability to win nearly every game it plays because of its defense, and we're all witnesses.
Don't be surprised if the Sixers score fewer than 80 points in this one. That's how bad it could be.
Predicted Record: 0-3
Week 3: December 15 to December 21
3 of 6
December 15 vs. Boston Celtics (Home)
December 19 vs. Charlotte Hornets (Home)
December 21 vs. Orlando Magic (Away)
*Important Game: Orlando Magic
At first glance, this has the makings of a beautiful week for the Sixers. Two of the three games are being played at home, and the three teams have a combined 14-27 record.
There's definitely some room for a victory—maybe even two—during this week.
Boston and Charlotte are two polar opposites.
Boston has been one of the more entertaining teams through its first 12 games. A 4-8 record isn't indicative of how competitive it's been as a unit, and a minus-2.5 point differential is evidence of just that. Six of the Celtics' losses have been by seven points or less—including four by less than four points.
One of the biggest reasons has been Boston's new pace of play. It's averaging four more possessions per game this season at 100.7, and the 104.7-point scoring average shows it. We're talking about a team that only scored 96.2 points last year, so the offensive burst is more than welcome.
The bottom line is that this will be extremely entertaining to watch. Combine Philly's tempo with Boston's, and we should be in for a show—one that the Sixers are likely to lose but most likely not by much.
Playing Charlotte should be much different than Boston and almost promises to be a boring outing.
The matchups are all there. Kemba Walker and Wroten have similar games with how they attack the paint. Carter-Williams will most likely be guarding Lance Stephenson, who's currently struggling, but he can never be counted out. Al Jefferson and Noel will be the battle of power versus athleticism.
Matching up so similarly to another team can sometimes mean that random variables decide the result of a game—things like fouls, rest from previous games and, in this situation, home-court advantage. The Sixers playing at home could end up being the real difference-maker in what should be a well-balanced outing.
The first two should be competitive, but the last game of the week could be the one that has people watching.
Orlando is in almost the exact same situation as the Sixers. The Magic are full of young, athletic players who are doing what they can to hit their stride as pros. The two teams have been tied to each other for the past two drafts, but there's a low-hanging rivalry beginning that could turn into more if each organization hits its potential.
The Victor Oladipo and Michael Carter-Williams battle began last year when each was a lottery pick, and they managed to drop a triple-double in the same game while playing each other. Combine that with Tobias Harris' game-winner at the buzzer in Orlando and Philadelphia's first meeting this season, and the chance for fireworks in this game could be really great.
Predicted Record: 1-2
Week 4: December 22 to December 28
4 of 6
December 23 vs. Miami Heat (Away)
December 26 vs. Portland Trail Blazers (Away)
December 27 vs. Utah Jazz (Away)
*Important Game: Utah Jazz
Miami and Portland are clearly more talented than Philadelphia in nearly every way.
Portland's starting lineup is as good as anyone's, and the team is led by a great point guard and power forward duo in Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Aldridge. Carter-Williams doesn't have the quickness to keep up will Lillard or the offensive game to wear him down on the other end of the court. Aldridge's ridiculous turnaround jumper is also a nightmare for anyone guarding him, so the Blazers have multiple ways of beating teams.
Miami isn't who it was last year, but don't forget that Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh are still on the team and playing really well. Luol Deng was a great addition, and it appears as though Shabazz Napier is beginning to get into a rhythm as a professional. The Heat combine depth with star power and are easily still a playoff team and threat to win a series or two.
This week's big game will be against Utah.
The Jazz are a bit like the Western Conference's version of the Sixers. They clearly aren't at the same level as the rest of the league, but there are so many young pieces in place with amazing potential, and it's nearly impossible not to be excited about the franchise as a whole.
Utah is only 5-10, but don't sleep on it to put a beating on the Sixers while playing at home. The Jazz have always had one of the NBA's best and most consistent fanbases—regardless of their record—which has a way of completely changing the outcome of games. Pair the fans with Gordon Hayward's career and potential All-Star-worthy year, and Philly could be in for a long night.
The keyword for this week will be "depth" because it ends up being Philadelphia's downfall in nearly every game. The Sixers' starting lineup doesn't match up well with most teams', which leads to a slight deficit by the time the second unit hits the floor. The bench then isn't up to par with the opposition's, and the gap grows even bigger.
This cycle will be the main reason that Philadelphia goes without a win for yet another week.
Predicted Record: 0-3
Week 5: December 29 to December 31
5 of 6
December 30 vs. Golden State Warriors (Away)
Playing the incredibly talented Warriors will be the fifth of a seven-game road trip and certainly a difficult way to end the year.
Comparing the two teams is almost comical.
Golden State has the most explosive backcourt in the NBA with Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. There's not much scarier than a team's point guard and shooting guard combing for 60 points or more on any given night.
Those two are clearly the most dynamic threats, but the Warriors still have solid players like Harrison Barnes, Draymond Green, David Lee, Andre Iguodala and Andrew Bogut. There's depth deeper than Mark Cuban's pockets coming out of Golden State, and it doesn't seem like there's any way Philadelphia comes away within 13 points of the Warriors.
It might not be the best way for Philadelphia to end the month, but we must remember one thing: The Sixers will win at least one game in December, and that's reason enough to celebrate.
Predicted Record: 0-1
How Does Philadelphia Look Going into the New Year?
6 of 6
Bad.
Philadelphia and its success can be described with only one word, and it's definitely not a positive one.
The 0-14 Sixers are only five losses from the worst start in NBA history, and it's not crazy to think that it could happen. They have a point differential of minus-16.0. The next closest team is the Los Angeles Lakers at minus-9.6. There's just no team close to having as little talent as Philly.
November has solidified Philadelphia's place in the league. December is more about growth from individual players and less about the win-loss column.
Will the 2014-15 Sixers end with the worst record in NBA history? Probably not if we're going off an 82-game schedule. Philadelphia would only be able to win eight games over the course of its 68 remaining contests. It's not out of the question, but it would still be surprising to see the team end up worse than the 1972-73 Sixers, who finished with a 9-73 record.
It is important to note that the 1972-73 Philadelphia squad also began its season with a 0-14 record, though.
So who knows?
Predicted December Record: 2-12
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