Remaining schedule gives Sixers an edge in race for Eastern Conference top spot

The 76ers are at their lowest point of the season, at least as far as wins and losses are concerned. Saturday’s 132-94 blowout in Milwaukee was their season-high fourth consecutive loss.

The last four games have included home losses to Golden State and Phoenix and two losses in three days at Milwaukee.

At least the Sixers are over the rough part of their schedule. Despite their current losing streak, they have a clear path to earning the top seed in the Eastern Conference.

After Saturday’s loss, coach Doc Rivers was confident that the Sixers’ world wasn’t falling apart and he has every right to be. He is frustrated at the recent run of injuries, for sure. On Saturday Ben Simmons missed his fourth straight game due to illness. Before Saturday’s game, Rivers said Simmons told him he was feeling stronger.

Joel Embiid was a late scratch on Saturday with a sore right shoulder.

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“Health-wise I think we are going to be fine,” said Rivers after Saturday’s loss.

If that is the case, and when talking about injuries that is always a big if, then the Sixers should have a clear path to earn the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.

The Sixers (39-21) have 12 games remaining. Entering Sunday they were one game behind top seeded Brooklyn (40-20) and a game-and-half ahead of Milwaukee (37-22). The Sixers own the tiebreaker over the Nets but don’t over the Bucks.

According to tankathon.com, the Sixers have the easiest remaining schedule. Eight of the 12 games are against teams with losing records.

Entering Sunday, the Bucks had the seventh easiest schedule and Brooklyn had the ninth hardest, which includes two games in three days at Milwaukee on May 2 and May 4.

Seven of the Sixers’ remaining 12 games are at the Wells Fargo Center, where they are 22-7.

The Sixers’ schedule resumes on Monday when they host Oklahoma City, the No. 30 and last team in the most recent Inquirer NBA power ratings, and losers of 13 consecutive games.

There couldn’t be a more ideal game to being attempting to turn things around.

Half the Sixers 12 games are against teams that entered the Sunday at least 10 games under .500.

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The team with the best record that the Sixers face in their final 12 games is Atlanta, 33-27, entering Sunday. The Sixers will host the Hawks on both Wednesday and Friday this week.

Besides Atlanta, the Sixers’ other remaining games against teams with winning records are road matchups at San Antonio and Miami.

Again, with so many teams suffering injuries in this condensed schedule, it’s difficult to see from game to game who will be available for each opponent or for that matter, for the Sixers.

We know that the Sixers, who have lost twice to Cleveland and once to Detroit, can lose to anybody, but generally, the Sixers have put away the sub .500 teams. They are 21-5 in games against teams with losing records.

Despite Rivers’ confidence, it’s not a given that the Sixers will be healthy down the stretch, but if they are, then they should benefit greatly from their remaining schedule.