Section 215
Fansided

Philadelphia 76ers earning preseason games in China exciting for all parties

By Dan Parzych

PHILADELPHIA, PA - MAY 7: Dario Saric #9, Joel Embiid #21, and Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers look on in the fourth quarter against the Boston Celtics during Game Four of the Eastern Conference Second Round of the 2018 NBA Playoffs at Wells Fargo Center on May 7, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Celtics 103-92. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - MAY 7: Dario Saric #9, Joel Embiid #21, and Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers look on in the fourth quarter against the Boston Celtics during Game Four of the Eastern Conference Second Round of the 2018 NBA Playoffs at Wells Fargo Center on May 7, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Celtics 103-92. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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The Philadelphia 76ers will face the Dallas Mavericks in China for two preseason games this October.

For the first time in what feels like forever, the Philadelphia 76ers will enter the 2018-19 season as one of the early favorites in the Eastern Conference to make a run at the NBA Finals when looking at all of their success from last season.

Originally, the plan for the Sixers made it seem like they would finish seventh or eighth in the conference at best last season since Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid were finally healthy enough to be playing together.

But as Philadelphia fans know, those expectations were shattered.

Between earning the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference along with reaching the semifinals in the playoffs before falling to the Boston Celtics, the Sixers had plenty to be proud of from the 2017-18 season. And as long as key players like Simmons and Embiid remain healthy, there’s every reason to believe Philadelphia can live up to the hype.

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With that being said, the Sixers will participate in an exciting preseason before the real games begin later in April, with two games against the Dallas Mavericks taking place in China, which should be an awesome experience for this young team.

Over the last couple of years, the NBA has done an amazing job with providing fans overseas with games, and basketball fans in China should be in for quite the experience with this young Philadelphia team coming over in October.

Last season alone showed how the Sixers are a young team on the rise that seems like is going to only get better with experience, and these preseason games in China will be a good early to test to see where this team stands before the real games begin later in the month.

Seeing the excitement that Simmons and Embiid bring to the table for Philadelphia makes it easy to see why the NBA wanted to give fans in China the opportunity to see this team play in person.

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The Mavericks may not be the most exciting opponent in the world since they appear to be heading towards another season of being a work in progress, but as long as the Sixers avoid injuries, and make these two games exciting, that’s all that really matters.