The Philadelphia 76ers open up the new season in Washington, where they’ll meet the Wizards led by John Wall and Bradley Beal, a backcourt tandem few can match up with. Still, with all sorts of a new and flashy arsenal, the Sixers look to steal one right off the bat.
Sixers vs. Wizards
Spread: Washington -7 (-110) at BetDSI Sportsbook
Total: over 215.5 (-110)
Let’s see the results of the Process
The buzz around the Sixers continued over the entire offseason, as many are trying to figure out what is the ceiling and the current level of this team, assembled over last 4 years of tanking, better known as Sam Hinkie’s Frankenstein creation, aka the Process. Finally, it’s time to unleash the beast. But how mighty this beast is going to be, is anybody’s guess. I’ll take an open swing at it – not very mighty.
Hey, the Sixers do have some nice talent in Philly. That Simmons kid seems he knows how to play, and Fultz is going to be a nice addition from no. 1 pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. Embiid is obviously very skilled, especially for such a big man, and Redick is among the best sharpshooters in the league, hands down. Still, forgive me for being a doubter, but let us also repeat what we know about this group. Simmons has never played a minute in the NBA yet, and nor is Markelle Fultz. Additionally, Fultz may have been selected first, but he couldn’t even beat replacement level point competition of Jerryd Bayless and T.J. McConnell for the starter’s spot. Embiid is extremely injury prone and he’s one bad leap away from turning into a new Oden. Deny Redick the ball after his curl, and he’s pretty much deemed useless. Further, of the two centers that were supposed to be centerpieces of the rebuild, one has been shipped out (Noel) and one is awaiting the next train (Okafor). Sauce Castillo, Luwawu, Korkmaz, Saric and Amir Johnson are not good enough of a bench, even in the East. Philadelphia won only 28 games last season, so they are not going to turn into a juggernaut overnight.
Considering all the injury woes in the seasons past, the Sixers can say that they are healthy coming into this season. Embiid has began with full practices and Simmons is reportedly 100 percent ready. There are likely to be strict minutes limitations for the franchise center Embiid, but it’s not likely that it will be in the teens considering recent backup center Holmes’ injury and Okafor’s day-to-day status. Simmons will start at the power forward, as the Sixers immediately want to initiate mismatches on the floor, and Fultz will lead the second unit.
Place: Capital One Arena, Washington, D.C.
Date/Time: Wednesday, October 18th, 2017. 7:00 PM ET
TV Coverage: ESPN
Wizards determined to prove they’re on top of the East
When it comes to accomplishments, the Wizards have completed the best season in decades, winning 50 games in the regular season and coming very close to reach the East Finals. When it comes to the names, few teams can put up the face of their superstar so proudly as the Wizards with John Wall, and the supporting cast led by Beal and Porter is more than just fine. Somehow, the Wizards get left from any contending discussion, despite the top two conference teams suffering severe roster changes. Heck, they only get to be televised by the national station because the Sixers are coming into the town.
The Wizards players feel it and will use it as a motivation to build on an excellent first part of 2017. They are still suffering from a poor reserve unit, so the hope is that healthy veterans can provide some heavy lifting during the starters rest time. One eye should be kept at Otto Porter, whose steady progress may have gone unnoticed to the casual fans, yet landed him a max deal and an open road to a bona fide star in this league. The Wizards have decided to bet on the continuity, devoting time and money to this entire roster, and it’s time to get a maximum return.
The Wizards won’t start the season in full strength, as Markieff Morris will remain on the sidelines for at least a month with an injury. As their opponents announced Simmons at the four spot, the Wizards will likely accept the small ball and start Kelly Oubre in this game. Jason Smith and Mike Scott are other options at the position. Washington scored 5th most points per game last season and played at a slightly quicker pace than the average NBA team, so they’ll be comfortable with this setting.
Philadelphia 76ers at Washington Wizards Game Trends & Prediction
The Philadelphia 76ers were among the most profitable bets last season, mostly due to the big handicaps they’ve been aided with. They’ve gone 49-33 against the spread overall, and a big part of this success came on games played away from home, where they went 24-17 ATS. Total points were less predictable on Sixers games. Over the course of the regular season, there were slightly more overs (42-39-1).
Washington was among the golden geese when it came to betting the over in the NBA last season. They went 51-31 overall, so don’t be surprised in the books start with adjusted lines on their games. They also brought a small return on the spread wagering, going 42-39-1. This is rare for 50+ wins teams, so it’s another testament to this team being generally overlooked.
This year, I decided to go even more transparent about my bets and will show you the real-time ranking for all the teams showcased here at your favorite betting place, through a unique ranking system – AdmiRank. This system helps you understand how good NBA teams are on a scale to 100. If you believe the margin between the two side should be higher, it’s not due to underestimating the Wizards, who are tied for first in the East.
The excitement the Sixers team bring will quickly fade if the game they show doesn’t match the hype. The Wizards are steady, balanced team that has protected their home court very well last season. They won’t just allow a bunch of kids coming in and taking the game away from them. I believe the odds at BetDSI couldn’t have been set much better.
I will back the points on the Sixers and take the Under in this one.
My Pick: Sixers +7 (-105)
Total: Under 215.5 points (-110)
