Philly Front Office

On January 12, the Orlando Magic beat the Sixers 104-99 to move to 23-18. Since that day they are 6-17, losing their last three games to the Raptors and Bulls. Last night they snatched defeat from the clutches of victory by applying no defense whatsoever on Coby White. His 44 points led the Bulls to a 125-123 victory after Paolo Bachero’s potential game winner hit iron and the put back was after the buzzer. Where would we be without them? Well, in the exact same place i suppose, but now so much is possible!

Thankfully the Sixers handled their business early last night. Other than an early 11-11 tie, we lost wire-to-wire. The Celtics did their best Playa Hater’s Ball impression essentially suiting up Silky Johnson and Buc Nasty over Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingas, Al Horford, or Jrue Holiday to try and screw over the Sixers losing ways. Our heroes would not be deterred, for we counter punched by sitting Paul George and Tyrese Maxey. Come on Boston, you’ll have to do better than that. Now if you’ll excuse us, we have to go home and put water in Lucky the Leprechaun’s dish.

For a while, last night was looking amazing. The Nets were up 22 on the Warriors, but they chiseled the lead away and remain tied with Philly. The Pelicans were up early and at the half as well but ultimately didn’t put up much of a fight to Houston.

Lottery Odds

NO CHANGE! Despite wins by Toronto and Chicago, no seeding changed at the bottom, but things are at least more comfortable. The Sixers and Nets are still tied 6th, but both only trail the Raptors by a single game. By the way, Toronto’s next five games are home against Utah, Washington, Washington, and Philly, then on the road against Utah. This next week means everything for us.

1 – 8.25%

2 – 8.5%

3 – 8.75%

4 – 8.85%

6 – 4.3% (Odds split due to tiebreaker)

Total – 38.65% chance to keep the pick (no change)

Playoff Odds

With the Bulls win and the Sixers loss, the gap between 10 and 11 widens to 3.5 games.

(Note: If the Sixers qualify for the play-in but don’t end up making the playoffs, they still have a chance to win the lottery)

Per Basketball Reference, our current odds to finish in each place are:

10 or better – 9.9%

11 or worse – 90.1% (4.5% increase)

Odds of winning the play-in and making the playoffs – 1.7% (decrease of .7%)

For those who just want to watch the world burn:

59.65% chance of missing the playoffs AND not keeping a draft pick (increase of .7%)

Games to Follow Coming Up

Numbers in parenthesis is the number of games ahead and behind the Sixers in the standings. Sixers record is 21-41 with 20 games to play.

March 7

• Utah (-6 games) at Toronto (-1) – Biggest game of the night. The Raptors embark on a 5-game stretch against the strongest losers in the league. Cross your fingers for 5-0. A victory creates a 3-way tie at 21 in the win column. All eyes on Toronto as this is our only game of the night.

March 8

• Brooklyn (EVEN) at Charlotte – Must watch game. Charlotte is diabolically terrible and is firmly entrenched in the bottom 3. Watch the injury report as the Nets try to even the odds.
• Washington at Toronto (-1) – Beware of the back-to-back. At least the Wizards are the worst team in the league. Toronto would have to really sit some guys to mess this up.
• New Orleans (-4.5) at Houston – my faith in the Pelicans is waning but not gone. Now that Zion is playing, they have too much talent to not make things interesting.
• Chicago (+3.5) at Miami – What a huge win by Chicago last night. Keep the good times going and avoid the Miami Flu guys!

March 9

• Memphis at New Orleans (-4.5) – TRAP GAME!!!
• Utah (-6) at Philly – This is one of our biggest remaining tests on the schedule. There is a chance Maxey is back for this one which will make things difficult. Sit him one more game guys! Paul George I am guessing is done for the season. Put him out of his and our misery.