PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — To play or not to play? That is the question.
The schedule says the Philadelphia 76ers have four games remaining in the regular season, beginning Tuesday night in Indiana.
The games will indeed be played, but the question will be just how much if any of the Sixers top players will see playing time.
The Sixers are two wins away from wrapping up the top seed in the Eastern Conference, which could lead to some rest for the likes of Joel Embiid.
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Coach Doc Rivers knows there is a fine line between getting his team rested and being playoff-ready in two weeks.
"Guys are rhythmatic," said Rivers. "I mean, that’s how they play basketball, but we’re going to have a week off regardless, whether what we do once we clinch, we still have a week of practice."
The discussion of load management will likely be put on hold until the top seed is secured. The Sixers not only want the top seed for home court advantage, but also want to avoid a matchup with the Brooklyn Nets or Milwaukee Bucks in round two instead of the Eastern Conference Finals.
Players such as Tobias Harris says they can discuss rest after wrapping up the top spot.
"I think a lot of people are excited," Harris said. "But we’ve got business to handle. We need to get those wins. We need to lock up the number one seed, and from there we can discuss 'What’s the plan?'"
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It is an enviable position for the Sixers to be in. They will have an opportunity to manage their time off as they enter their first round matchup as a heavy favorite.
George Hill continues to settle in with the Sixers since coming to the team from a trade, and believes the Sixers could be ready for a deep playoff run.
"The makeup of this team is very good," Hill said. "I think we have a great opportunity to do something special in the post-season. It’s just coming together, playing the right way at the right time."
Rivers agreed with Hill's assessment regarding the need to play their best basketball in the coming weeks.
How much rest some of the key contributors in the coming days to prepare for the playoffs remains to be seen.
"Here is the bottom line," Rivers said. "Everybody has to be playing their best now at least once the playoffs start, and if you don’t, you go home. That’s what makes the playoffs so great."