PHILADELPHIA 76ERS AT NEW ORLEANS PELICANSThursday, Dec. 8
Why it’s on the list
With three consecutive seasons of notching fewer than 20 wins, the 76ers have been an unlikely choice to appear on anyone’s games-to-watch list, but that changed in June, when Philadelphia drafted point forward Ben Simmons with the No. 1 overall pick. Simmons, who has been in the media spotlight as a projected star since well before he even enrolled in college at LSU, enters the NBA with significant hype. He demonstrated during the Utah and Las Vegas summer leagues that he may be one of the best passers to enter the pros in quite some time, gifted with superior floor vision and the ability to find open teammates for easy baskets. LSU turned in a disappointing season with Simmons on campus – the Tigers failed to qualify for the NCAA Tournament – but that did not dissuade NBA teams from considering him the top player in the ’16 draft class. Now playing in the Eastern Conference, the 20-year-old will make one return trip per season to Louisiana. One of his first orders of business: Helping the 76ers improve on last season’s abysmal 3-38 road record. The Pelicans also boast a lottery pick in No. 6 choice Buddy Hield of Oklahoma. The shooting guard delivered a memorable 32-point, seven-trey performance to boost the Sooners over LSU and Simmons in January.
What’s new in Philadelphia
When a team goes 10-72, as the 76ers did last season, usually just about everything is new. That’s the case for the most part, with Philadelphia adding Simmons, along with fellow first-rounder Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot. In addition, past touted draftees expected to make their long-awaited NBA debuts include Joel Embiid (third overall pick in 2014, but injuries have kept him sidelined) and Dario Saric (spent previous two years overseas). The Sixers also made a series of moves to try to upgrade what’s been an overmatched backcourt, signing veteran free agents Jerryd Bayless, Gerald Henderson and Sergio Rodriguez. Their most significant departures were guards Ish Smith (Detroit) and Isaiah Canaan (Chicago).
Other 2016-17 games between these two teamsTuesday, Dec. 20, New Orleans at Philadelphia
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