Philadelphia 76ers (37-21)
The Philadelphia 76ers were one of the trendy picks entering the playoffs last season to upset the Cleveland Cavaliers and come out of the East, however they fell flat on their faces in the second round at the hands of the red-hot Celtics.
However, this is a different Sixers team. They are a bit more experienced and have even added two all-star talents to their roster in the last few months, in the way of Jimmy Butler at the start of the season and Tobias Harris at the NBA Trade Deadline last week.
The Sixers have one of the most talented rosters in the Eastern Conference and will no longer be overlooked as a team that can potentially make a deep run in the playoffs. Jimmy Butler was a huge addition and could be the calming veteran force in the playoffs that this team needed last season.
Verdict: Contender