Busy Stretch Ahead For Sixers

Beginning tonight with a home game against the Indiana Pacers, the Sixers will enter into a very busy stretch of 5 games in 6 nights.  After the Pacers game tonight, the Sixers will host the Kings tomorrow night, travel to New York on Wednesday, and will then have a home at home series against the Washington Wizards on Friday and Saturday to close out the week.

For the Sixers, this is not a time to sit back and relax with their 5-2 first place record.  The Sixers have to keep their foot on the gas and try to use this week to put some distance between themselves and the other teams in their division.

It is in a busy stretch like the one coming up that the depth of the Sixers bench is really going to become so valuable.  The Sixers have so many guys that can come off the bench and contribute, and they will need their bench to play their fair share in the upcoming week so that everyone can stay fresh.

As for the 5-2 start, I really don't see it as an early season fluke.  I believe the Sixers have the ability to play at this level all year and put up good fights even against quality opponents.  Right now the Sixers are doing a tremendous job on defense, and defense is something that will keep them in games even when the offense is having a rough night.  The Sixers are also using a balanced attack to hit other teams from just about every angle.

Tonight's game against the Pacers will be the Sixers' biggest test all week.  The Pacers are 6-2 on the season and are a very good team down low with guys like Tyler Hansborough and Roy Hibbert.  Hibbert and Hansborough do a good job of controlling the boards and getting easy high percentage buckets so the Sixers are going to have to body up.  Spencer Hawes left Saturday's game early with some back problems and if he is not 100 percent, the Sixers could be in some trouble tonight down in the paint.

Tomorrow I think the Sixers will take care of business against the Kings.  Wednesday's game in New York against the Knicks could be another big challenge for the Sixers as they have two big stars in Carmello Anthony and Amara Stoudemire.  Also the Knicks are much bigger than the Sixers, but the Knicks are still searching for their identity and the Sixers should be able to come away with a win.

And even though the Wizards gave the Sixers some trouble at the beginning of last season, they are currently 0-8 and Doug Collins and the boys will have no trouble sweeping the home at home series.

Overall the Sixers could very easily go 4-1 this week which would put them at 9-3 on the season.  9-3 is a very strong record, and a record that could put the Sixers way out in first place as well.