Anthony’s Opening Diatribe- I Feel Good About the Sixers

"Going into it, I feel good (about the Sixers). I do. I feel optimistic, I feel hopeful. They are way better now than I think they were last year. Going into it, they are in a better spot. Obviously, Harden has his legs. That is such a big deal. And Joel is having an MVP year. You know what you are going to get from him. I go back to it last year. If Joel doesn't break his face, and Harden has his legs, they easily could have gone to the Finals and maybe even won it.

They are going to beat Brooklyn. They are the better team. We start this thing Saturday at 1 o'clock. Brooklyn may get one. They may shoot the lights out from 3 in one game. But they are going to beat them. 

Then it comes down to Boston. It is going to come down to storied rivals. Sixers and Celtics. Philadelphia and Boston. I believe they can beat them. We have seen the matchup is tough. Maxey has struggled vs Boston. But they aren't playing great. This isn't a Larry Bird Celtics team. This isn't the Paul Pierce, KG, and Ray Allen Celtics. The Sixers have every chance to beat them. As much as we talk about the matchups with the guard play for Boston, they have no one who can match up against Embiid. They can't guard Embiid...

Tobias does a nice job with Taum. The Guard play is a worry. But as much as the Celtics have an advantage with the backcourt, the Sixers have the advantage in the frontcourt. The Sixers have a monster advantage in Embiid."

The Philadelphia 76ers are BACK in the playoffs and have locked up the 3 seed. The team will take on the Brooklyn Nets in the first round of the NBA playoffs. The Nets will be without Ben Simmons who doesnt want to play basketball is dealing with another injury. The rest of the makeshift roster is led by former Villanova standout, and Sixers draft pick Mikal Bridges. Even with Bridges elevating his play since coming over in the Kevin Durant deal, the team didnt see a ton of wins in the column.

Hopefully the Sixers can wrap this up in 4 games, but just in case, here is the schedule for the first round series!

Game 1 starts this SATURDAY for some day basketball!It will be broadcasted live on ESPN

After the Sixers take a 1 game lead (I hope) theyll have one day off before game 2 tips off at 7:30 on TNT.

The Sixers will then head up to Brooklyn for game 3, and get 2 days off in between games. The game will be on TNT

Could the Sixers close it out in game 4? We hope. Just like games 2 and 3 it will be on TNT

Well if they need a game 5 it will be Monday. While we dont know the official tip off time we can say with GREAT confidence that it wont be 1pm. Likely a 7 or 7:30 tip off. No word on who will broadcast this game on TV but the Fanatic has you covered ALWAYS

The Sixers once again have a lot of time in between games as they prepare to head to Brooklyn. But they wont need it. Were just talking hypotheticals here. And hypothetically speaking, if they need this one it will be Thursday in Brooklyn. No word on start time or TV broadcast.

If we need this game lord help us all. But if the series goes 7 it will be broadcast on TNT. No word on start time.