With just 17 games to go in the season, it’s looking more and more likely that the Sixers will make the playoffs.

The question now is who they’ll face. If it’s Boston or Detroit, they’re looking at an early exit.

Which is why it would behoove them to make hay while they can and move up to the sixth spot. Even there, they’d have a tough opponent in Orlando (the likely third seed), but the Magic have a fair number of young, untested players as well. At least they’d have a fighting chance.

As of Friday evening, the Sixers were 11/2 games behind Washington for the sixth seed, and the Wizards were on a mini-win streak. Washington, however, might have a tougher closing schedule because they still have a five-game, Western Conference road trip that includes games against the Lakers and Utah.

So, are you now cheering for the Sixers and whoever the Wizards play? Or are you still not ready to believe the Sixers could not only make the playoffs, but give a decent showing?