Bell: Sixers entering dangerous territory ahead of playoffs
PHILADELPHIA (FOX 29) - The Philadelphia 76ers are entering a dangerous place right now -- a place they don't want to be come playoff time. If they're not careful, they'll be bounced early in the playoffs.
The team essentially thought they wrapped up the No. 3 seed in the East, so they have been resting players and sitting guys out over small injuries.
Because of that, they're 5-and-5 in their last 10 games, and they've yet to clinch the No. 3 spot in the Eastern Conference with three games to go. All they need is one game, but that's a dangerous game to play.
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No matter where you are in the playoff picture, you should be playing your best ball in April. You want to enter playoffs firing on all cylinders, playing at an optimum level. You should be playing playoff ball before you're even in the playoffs. The first round will be easy for the Sixers, but after that, the East is a beast.
The Sixers can't beat Milwaukee, Toronto or Boston playing less than their best. The Sixers don't have enough championship experience to just 'turn it on' in the playoffs, regardless of talent. The Sixers need to pick it up and play everyone, or they'll be disappointed in the second round.