Sports: Sixers Will Be Tested Early in the Season

By Kyle Klosinski

The start of the 2017-18 Philadelphia 76ers season begins this month and the new and improved team looks to verify themselves to the NBA this year. 

They will be tested from the start, as they will be facing some of the top teams in the East from last year in their first three games.  Regular season play begins on October 18^th when the Sixers head out to Washington to face John Wall and the Wizards. 

Last year the Wizards finished fourth overall in the East and will be a tough first game for the Sixers. The expectations for this season are high, with season tickets sold out, the Wells Fargo Center will be booming for the home opener on October 20^th. Fans are beyond excited to see the new look Sixers at home, but it will be another tough matchup as they face the Boston Celtics. 

The new look Celtics added All-Stars Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward to their already stellar line up this offseason. 

A team who beat out LeBron and the Cavaliers for the first overall seed in the East last season will be a hard matchup for the young Sixers at their home opener. This will be a major test to see where the team is at and if they can hang with the best teams in the NBA. 

Playing at home will be a big benefit for the Sixers this year. Playoffs are on everyone’s mind in Philadelphia and winning big games at home will play a major role in their playoff run. 

Sixers' Richaun Holmes

Following their home opener, the Sixers head north to face the Toronto Raptors the next day on October 21^st. The Raptors finished third overall in the east last year and look to continue their hot streak. 

This means the Sixers will face three of the top four teams from the East last year in just their first few games. 

Bench players will play an important role in beating teams like Boston, Toronto, and Washington this season. TJ McConnell, Richaun Holmes, Justin Anderson and others are a strong backup core to fill in for the starters. 

Sixers' TJ McConnell

In the 2016-17 season, McConnell averaged 6.9 points per game and an impressive 6.6 assists per game in 81 games.  He will be a crucial piece for the Sixers off the bench this year to fill in and run the offense. 

The center position has two solid options for backups to Joel Embiid. Jahlil Okafor and Richaun Holmes look to prove they can mix it up with other centers in the league. 

Okafor had a rough 2016-17 season and looks to prove the doubters wrong this year. He went on a vegan diet this offseason to shed a few pounds to become a quicker big man and help his defensive game. Holmes also looks to prove he can play the big man role just as well as anyone else.   

If the Sixers can pull out a win against these dominant teams early in the season. It will prove they are ready to rock and roll. It will not be easy but no matter the outcome it feels good to be excited about basketball in Philadelphian again.