76ers Better off Losing?

I never want a team to lose on purpose, but every once in awhile it can be better for a team to lose. Last night may be one of those cases. Now I didn't want to see them lose in the way did, because it's a tough loss to swallow, but their playoff situation did improve.

The loss sets up a date with the Pistons in the first round of the playoffs. As I eluded to yesterday in my welcome back post, a first round matchup against Detroit wouldn't be that bad for the Sixers. Mo Cheeks's squad has taken on the Pistons three times since they started playing well in late January. The 76ers have won two of those three meetings, and looked really good in the last two meetings which Philadelphia both won.

A 76ers win last night would have kept the possibility of playing Orlando still open, something Philadelphia doesn't want. The Magic have won three of four meetings this year as the last two wins were in very convincing fashion. The Magic create a lot of matchup problems with the Sixers between Dwight Howard's post presence and the many guards and SF's Orlando has that can drill threes all game long and get to the paint if necessary.

So maybe this loss wasn't totally bad because I think the 76ers have a much better chance of getting out of the first round of the playoffs against Detroit than Orlando.