How the Sixers match up against the Eastern Conference’s best in the season’s second half

The second half of the NBA season begins on Wednesday, and the 76ers return to action Thursday in Chicago against the Bulls.

Here is a look at the expected Eastern Conference contenders (in alphabetical order) as they begin the second half.

Record: 19-17 (4th place, 5 games back)

Key stat: Now in his fifth season, first-time All-Star Jaylen Brown (24.7 ppg) has increased his scoring average from 13.0 in 2018-19.

Biggest strength: The combination of All-Stars Brown and Jayson Tatum has been a consistent scoring duo that teams must stop.

Biggest weakness: The center position. Daniel Theis, Tristan Thompson, and Robert Williams don’t have the size or quickness to deal with Joel Embiid.

Unsung player: Rookie point guard Payton Pritchard has become a key rotation player, averaging 21.3 minutes and shooting 40.2% from three-point range.

Remaining schedule strength: The Celtics have the 13th-easiest remaining schedule, according to tankathon.com. Boston’s future opponents have a .494 winning percentage.

Biggest need leading up to the trade deadline: Another consistent scorer and an interior defender. Cleveland’s Andre Drummond would fit well at center. With a $28.5 million trade exception, Boston has the means to be active.

» READ MORE: Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons and the NBA are doing the best they can. In the age of COVID, stuff happens. | David Murphy

Record: 24-13 (second place, 0.5 games back).

Key stat: The Nets are 17-6 with James Harden in the lineup since acquiring him from Houston on Jan. 13 in a four-team trade that included Indiana and Cleveland.

Biggest strength: The trio of Harden, Kevin Durant, and Kyrie Irving have averaged 81.7 points (with Harden’s average only with the Nets). A key will be whether Durant and Irving can stay healthy in the second half.

Biggest weakness: The defense, especially on the interior. DeAndre Jordan is a two-time NBA all-defensive selection, but the last time was in 2016 and he is not close to being the same player. Any conference with Embiid will need strong interior defenders. The Nets are 26th in the NBA in defensive rating (113.6), which means they allow that many points per 100 possessions.

Unsung player: With the big three, other Nets players get open looks, and Joe Harris has benefited. He is shooting 50.6% from beyond the arc.

Remaining schedule strength: The Nets have the third-easiest remaining schedule in the NBA. Their future opponents’ winning percentage is .484.

Biggest need leading up to the trade deadline: Scoring is not a problem, even though the Nets just signed Blake Griffin. An interior defender is needed. A player like Cleveland’s JaVale McGee could be a realistic acquisition.

Record: 18-18 (6th place, 6 games back).

Key stat: The Heat are 14-8 when Jimmy Butler plays.

Biggest strength: The team defense is strong. The Heat are seventh in the NBA in defensive rating (109.4).

Biggest weakness: An inconsistent offense. Their offensive rating (107.7) is 25th in the NBA.

Unsung player: Rookie power forward Precious Achiuwa has managed 14 minutes per game on a veteran team and would likely draw strong interest in trade talks.

Remaining schedule strength: The Heat have the NBA’s fourth-easiest schedule. Future opponents have a .487 winning percentage.

Biggest need leading up to the trade deadline: A veteran take-charge guard. The Heat have been linked to Toronto’s Kyle Lowry and Houston’s Victor Oladipo. One thing about Miami, team president Pat Riley won’t punt on the season and will do his best to upgrade this unit.

» READ MORE: Sixers’ play in clutch situations a major factor in their first-half success

Record: 22-14 (third place, 2 games back).

Key stat: The Bucks are 5-8 in clutch games. (That is when the game is within five points with five minutes or less remaining).

Biggest strength: The starting frontcourt of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez averaged 60.4 points per game.

Biggest weakness: Consistent bench scoring.

Unsung player: Reserve guard Bryn Forbes has not missed a game and is shooting 44.8% from three-point range.

Remaining schedule strength: The Bucks have the 12th most difficult remaining schedule, with opponents’ winning percentage .502.

Biggest need leading up to the trade deadline: The Bucks need a scorer off the bench. Two local guards, Detroit’s Wayne Ellington of Episcopal Academy and Phoenix’s Langston Galloway from St. Joseph’s, are players who can give Milwaukee some shooting off the bench.

Record: 17-19 (8th place, 7 games back).

Key stat: The Raptors are last in the NBA in rebounding, averaging 41.3 per game.

Biggest strength: The backcourt of Lowry and Fred VanVleet, who combine to average 38.1 points.

Biggest weakness: An interior defender and rebounder.

Unsung player: Center Chris Boucher, who plays more on the perimeter, is shooting 44.5% from three-point range.

Remaining schedule strength: The Raptors have the eighth-toughest remaining schedule. Opponents have a .508 winning percentage.

Biggest need leading up to the trade deadline: The Raptors first have to decide if they are buyers or sellers. If they go all-in and keep Lowry, then going for a player like Drummond would fill a major need for an interior defender and he would also provide some needed offense.

Record: 24-12 (first place).

Key stat: The Sixers are 15-5 in clutch games, leading the NBA in wins in this category.

Biggest strength: Joel Embiid, who is averaging 30.2 points and 11.6 rebounds. Even double-teaming for the most part hasn’t worked against him, and he creates space for everybody else on the court.

Biggest weakness: The bench. According to Realgm.com, the Sixers are 27th in bench scoring, averaging 32.4 points per game.

Unsung player: Matisse Thybulle. He is second in the NBA with an average of 3.7 steals per 100 possessions. He is fifth in the NBA in deflections per 36 minutes (5.7).

Remaining schedule strength: The Sixers have the sixth-easiest remaining schedule, with opponents having a combined .488 winning percentage.

Biggest need leading up to the trade deadline: Kyle Lowry has been linked to the Sixers and if available, one would think that president of basketball operations Daryl Morey would attempt to acquire him. The Sixers already are good enough to contend but might be a piece short, and Lowry would put them on par with any team in the Eastern Conference.

» READ MORE: NBA commissioner Adam Silver doesn’t anticipate a bubble for the playoffs