Sixers Schedule Breakdown: Month Of December Predictions
The Sixers have yet to finish their somewhat surprising November, but it’s not too early to take a look at December’s match ups.
The Sixers currently sit at 4-10 with 5 games left to play in the month of November. It’s been a month filled with Joel Embiid excitement, Brett Brown slander, and questions about Nerlens Noel. There have been wins, there have been blowout losses. What we do know is the Sixers are clearly more talented than last season, as expected.
With Joel Embiid leading the Sixers, it seems the team is in good hands. Jahlil Okafor has also shown flashes of potent bench scoring, but must find consistency. Robert Covington has struggled immensely shooting, but provides relief defensively and on the boards. The team still has Ben Simmons and Nerlens Noel out with injuries, and Jerryd Bayless playing just one game.
It certainly looks like a different Sixers team, and with wins coming more frequently, it’s a team that can find themselves out of the last spot in the league. They will have to go through a tough December schedule that includes 7 home games and 7 road games. In comparison, they had a 11-6 home-road split in November.
The month starts off with an intense and condensed schedule. The start with a back-to-back at home against the Orlando Magic and Boston Celtics. They have one day off before the Denver Nuggets come to town, which the Sixers follow with a trip to Memphis. It’s a difficult month, but one where the team can rack up the win total nonetheless.
Record Prediction For December: 5-10
Wins:
December 2nd, vs. Orlando
The Orlando Magic squeaked out a win against the Sixers in Philadelphia last time, but it won’t happen again. This time around the team will be deeper at the guard position with Bayless back and healthy, and the possibility of Nerlens Noel returning should bring enough bench power to dominate the Magic when Embiid isn’t in.
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The Magic are one of the league’s best rebounding teams, but the scoring hasn’t come easily for them as they rank 28th in points. The Sixers can win this one by hitting the outside shots and defending the interior.
December 5th, vs. Denver
The Denver Nuggets have been an inconsistent team so this season. They square off against the Sixers twice this month, but the first matchup in Philadelphia will go to the home team. Denver’s perimeter defense is enough to warrant an easy Denver prediction, but the unicorn that is Joel Embiid will prove too much for the Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic–Jusuf Nurkic tandem.
December 8th, at New Orleans
The Pelicans have dragged down Anthony Davis‘ career like a 500 pound anchor on a 20 pound boat. Davis will forever be putting up insanely huge numbers as the Pelicans put out a horrible product. Embiid versus Davis may be fun, but where the Sixers can attack is from the outside, with Gerald Henderson being the key factor.
December 18th, vs. Brooklyn
The Brooklyn Nets have gotten off to a not-so-horrible start that many thought they’d have. They’re still amongst the worst teams in the NBA, but have shown fight. It’s hard not to cheer for the Nets considering they are ragtag team brought on by a horribly shortsighted former management regime.
That being said, the Sixers win handedly.
December 20th, vs. New Orleans
Let’s make it two against Anthony Davis, why not?
Biggest Loss: December 14th, vs. Toronto
I picked Toronto to hand the Sixers a huge loss in last month’s breakdown, and I’m even more confident placing them as the biggest loss for this month considering DeMar DeRozan becoming an even more impressive star. 30-point loss in this one, make sure you leave your cars on, as you’ll be driving home fairly quickly.
Marquee Matchup: December 16th, vs. Lakers
The first matchup against the Lakers, who have become somewhat of a rebuilding rival to the Sixers. If the season ended today, the Sixers would receive the Lakers’ first round pick, but it would be at the 16th spot.
It’ll be fun to watch D’Angelo Russell, Julius Randle, and Jordan Clarkson take on Joel Embiid and the Sixers. Unfortunately, the Lakers will come away with the win in Philly, but the story between these two teams won’t stop.
Next: Embiid Can Be Unanimous ROY
The Sixers could end the first two months of the season with double digits in wins, which would be an incredible improvement from last season. The turning point is happening now, and soon the Sixers will see glory days.