The schedules for all 30 NBA teams were released today, with the release of the news packing its usual "oh yeah, I guess there's really nothing that exciting to be learned here" punch. I haven't counted to make sure, but it seems like the Sixers will indeed play 82 games this season--41 home, 41 away, most likely--and before you ask, no, none of them appear to be against the Miami Marlins. In fact, most of them appear to be against teams that are better than the Sixers, because as we all know, all teams are going to be better than the Sixers next season.
Anyway, some of the games are going to be a little more interesting than others, maybe. Here are the few worth-knowing things to glean from the sched:
1. For the second time in the LeBron era, the Sixers will begin their season at home against the Miami Heat. This sucks, of course, but at least Sixers fans won't care so much about the inevitable loss this time around, as it will merely be Step One in Sam Hinkie's 82-step tanking program.
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2. The Sixers play seven of their first nine games at home this year. From looking at the list of opponents, it's my guess that they'll lose every one of them, and probably the two on the road as well, as well as the two on the road to follow. By my estimation, their first legitimately winnable games come in games #12 and #13, when they face off against the Raptors and Bucks on November 20th and 22nd. Long as you get one W by Thanksgiving, right?
3. Couple old faces return to Philly early this year, as Andrew Bynum's Cavaliers visit first on November 8th, and Jrue Holiday's Pelicans swing by on the 29th, about two weeks after we visit Jrue's new stomping grounds in Nawlins. Bynum's return visit, especially if it actually ends up in him playing on the Wells Fargo Center court for literally the first time since we traded for him last summer, might inspire the most (only?) passionate fan turnout and response of the season.
4. The Sixers will have exactly one nationally televised game, which will come November 2nd against Chicago, in Derrick Rose's revenge game against the team he tore his ACL playing two post-seasons ago. Experts agree we were lucky to get the one.
5. Philly also finishes the season against the Heat--this time in Miami--because clearly we will not have suffered enough indignities as a team or fanbase by that point.
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