6. Philadelphia 76ers (36-20)
If there’s one thing we learned at the NBA Trade Deadline, it’s that the Philadelphia 76ers are all-in on making the NBA Finals this season. This is a team that traded for Jimmy Butler a couple of months ago, and Tobias Harris at the trade deadline.
Both of these stars are free agents after the season, and the Sixers need to prove that this is a core that can get it done on the biggest stage and under the brightest lights, if they’re going to re-sign them to the big money deals that they’re going to demand on the open market.
But there’s no guarantee that the Sixers come out of the East this season. I don’t think anyone would question that they have the most talented roster on paper, they do. Can they put it all together, that’s the true question.