Sixers home games that are worth the ticket: 2019-20 schedule ranked from No. 1 to 41 | David Murphy

If you are like most people, you operate in a world in which there a finite number of waking hours. You also spend most of those hours working like a sucker.

Other than bourbon, time is the world’s most precious resource. Money ranks up there as well, so it would be a shame to waste it, and your time, by picking the wrong game on the Sixers’ schedule to attend.

Which is why you, the loyal Inquirer reader, are in luck. Below, you’ll find a complete breakdown of the Sixers’ 2019-20 home schedule, including the 14 games that will be most worth your ticket dollars. Because we get paid to waste our time so you don’t have to.

The game I’m most looking forward to is one that could end up being a huge letdown. Admittedly, that’s not a great way to sell it, but we can’t ignore the fact that the NBA schedule masters did not do us any favors by scheduling Jimmy Butler’s return to the Wells Fargo Center as the second game of a back-to-back for both the Heat and the Sixers. Miami will be in Chicago the night before, while the Sixers host the Spurs, so it will be interesting to see how both coaches handle their lineups for this one.

It’d be a shame if Joel Embiid is in street clothes, and even a bigger shame if Butler himself doesn’t play. But let’s suspend our disbelief for the time being and pretend that both sides are at full strength.

Cheers? Boos? Cheers and then boos? The circumstances surrounding Butler’s departure make it difficult to predict — the lack of spin from both sides in the wake of his sign-and-trade suggest that the parting of ways was a mutual decision. Whatever the case, this will make for some good early-season drama.

Other notable games include the season opener against the Celtics on Oct. 23 and Kawhi Leonard’s return with Paul George to the Wells Fargo Center on Feb. 11.

The second tier of games feature some former Sixers who will be headed back to the Wells Fargo Center:

T.J. McConnell’s return with the Pacers will be Nov. 30, though it is the second game of a back-to-back. JJ Redick’s homecoming will be on Dec. 13, again the second game of a back-to-back for the Sixers, although not for the Pelicans. Robert Covington will be in town with the Timberwolves on Oct. 30; he did not play when Minnesota was in town last season.

And, finally, here is your slate of Eastern Conference specials, many of them back-to-backs. Thank God for bourbon!