Sixers Need To Take Advantage Of Next Four Games

The Sixers have a four game stretch this week that they seriously need to take advantage of and get four wins before their schedule gets a lot more difficult in the next few weeks. The Sixers next four games are all at home and are against the worst four teams in the Eastern Conference. Tonight they take on the Washington Wizards, Wednesday they host New Jersey, Friday they take on Charlotte, and Saturday they end the four game stretch against the Detroit Pistons. The combined record of these four teams is 14-53. Currently sitting at 11-5, the Sixers are 4th in the Eastern Conference. It would be huge if the Sixers could get all four of these wins and improve their record to 15-5 before a brutal 2 week stretch which includes games with Chicago, Miami, and both Los Angeles teams.

Even though the next four games are at home and against weak opponents Doug Collins had this to say about their upcoming stretch, "We've got, I think, the biggest week of our season coming up, and we've got to be healthy and ready to go." I don't know if he is just saying this to get his team motivated for the lesser opponents coming to town or if he really feels like this four game stretch could really determine how far this team can go. I agree it is key because anything short of four wins this week would be somewhat of a disappointment, but there are definitely more important and bigger weeks to come later in the season.

Tonight the Sixers take on the Washington Wizards for what seems to be the 20th time this season (it's only the third regular season game with them) and will be without Nikola Vucevic (strained knee), Spencer Hawes (achilles injury), and possibly Elton Brand (stomach illness). This leaves the frontcourt very thin especially if Elton doesn't play. If all three are out it would most likely be Thad Young and Tony Battie starting at the four and five. Off the bench they would have Craig Brackins and rookie Lavoy Allen to spell Young and Battie a rest. It will be a much more difficult task to win all four of these games if Vucevic and Hawes can't play in them because they provide a lot more for this team than some people realize.

The next four games could have a big impact on where the Sixers finish in the standings at the end of the year. They need to win all four to prove they are here to stay in the Eastern Conference and convert on four great opportunities to get wins. My prediction is that the Sixers realize how important it is to get these four wins and will go 4-0 on the week. The Sixers tip off their four game home stretch this week with the Wizards tonight at the Wells Fargo Center at 7 p.m.