The Philadelphia 76ers are the best team in the East
When it quickly became known that James Harden was not going to be a part of the Philadelphia 76ers, many assumed that they would be taking a big step back in the Eastern Conference. And there was some natural evidence that would suggest that. However, the jump that Tyrese Maxey has made in his game has made many Sixers fans quickly forget about Harden and the mess he created this past summer.
With Maxey playing like an All-Star and Joel Embiid picking up where he left off last year, the Sixers very much look like the best team in the Eastern Conference. Through the first few games of the season, Philly is 7-1 and has won seven games in a row. Their only loss of the season was at the hands of the Milwaukee Bucks, in which they came storming back from a huge first-half deficit.
The Sixers have a top-10 offense and a top-5 defense. They also have the second-best net rating in the NBA. All that said, I think this hot streak is eventually going to end. The Sixers are good but not best-team-in-the-East good.
Verdict: Sell