Sixers and Nets Re-start This Weekend; Knicks Stay Home

After a COVID-19-induced break of over four months, the Sixers and Nets play games that count starting Friday, July 31.

Here is a quick breakdown of what to expect:

What does the schedule look like?
The Sixers and Nets will play eight games to decide playoff seeding. Philly starting the seeding games on August 1 against the Indiana Pacers; Brooklyn starts the games Friday against the Orlando Magic. Philly has clinched a playoff spot but could pass Indiana for the fifth seed. The most interesting game Philly will play August 12 against the defending World Champion Toronto Raptors. Brooklyn has a tough schedule, including the Los Angeles Clippers, the Eastern Conference leading Milwaukee Bucks and the two teams it wants to hold off to maintain a playoff spot – the Orlando Magic and Washington Wizards. Brooklyn is clinging onto the seventh seed.

Since the New York Knicks finished the season out of the playoff hunt, their season has ended.

So fans can’t go to any games, right?
Correct. The NBA has that well-documented bubble set up at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, FL for all teams to play all remaining games.

Are Kevin Durant or Kyrie Irving going to play?
No. Kevin Durant contracted the virus early and was still working through his injuries, while Irving is out dealing with a shoulder injury – and has spent a lot of money on social justice initiatives while being away from the basketball court. The Nets are really a shell of what their roster looked like earlier this year, with Spencer Dinwiddie and DeAndre Jordan out as well.

How are the Sixers looking?
Lots of murmurs out of Orlando say Philly looks good in large part because insiders like what they see from Ben Simmons, who has recovered from a back issue. Since clips are floating around that he is shooting threes in the bubble, the hope is this pause may have given him the confidence to shoot more in the actual games. The team struggled to shoot earlier in the season so an occasional three pointer from Simmons could be huge.

What’s up with the Knicks?
Knicks fans can look ahead to 2020-21 season as the club remade its front office, bringing in former agent Leon Rose and South Jersey native World Wide Wes. Rose then gave a big contract to former Celtics and T-Wolves head coach Tom Thibodeau.

What’s up with tickets in 2020-21?
For Sixers fans, season tickets are sold out. Those who want to get on the team’s waiting list go sign up here. The Knicks and Nets both have season ticket availability as of now. If you are looking sell off or partner up on your season tickets or would look into options for a unique ticket plan you choose, fill out this form.

Here are some good reads on each team:

New York Knicks
-Ian Begley on SNYtv and Twitter
-Mike Vorkiunov on The Athletic
-Steve Popper on Newsday

Brooklyn Nets
-Adam Schiffer of The Athletic
–SB Nation‘s Nets Daily
–The Brooklyn Way Podcast

Philadelphia 76ers
-Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer
-Spike Eskin of the Rights to Ricky Sanchez Podcast
-Coverage on NBC Sports Philadelphia