NBA Futures: Should You Bet on the 76ers to Win the East?

There are only five teams that I think could have a legitimate chance at winning the Eastern Conference. The Celtics have been the favorites all season and for good reason. The Nets have been climbing up the odds board, thanks to their recent 12-game win streak. With Giannis Antetokounmpo on their roster, you should never count out the Bucks. The Cavaliers are the best home team in the league, which goes a long way in the postseason. And the Sixers have been one of the hottest teams as of late. I'd argue any of these teams could come out of the East, but Philadelphia presents the best value on the board.

Why the Sixers Could Win the East

The 76ers have made the playoffs in each of the last five years. They've reached the Eastern semifinals in four of the five, but have failed to get to the conference finals. In each of those seasons, Philadelphia has been above league average in offensive and defensive efficiency, yet fallen short of the opportunity to play for a spot in the NBA Finals. So, what makes me think this year will be different?

For starters, their roster this season is much better on both sides of the ball. They currently have the third-best half-court defense, thanks to the size and dominance of Joel Embiid, but also because of the play of P.J. Tucker and De'Anthony Melton, who weren't on the roster last season. Offensively, getting James Harden healthy has led the Sixers to the fifth-best half-court offense and fourth-best transition offense, allowing them to have success against multiple different styles of play. Much of their postseason disappointment has also come from injuries. Embiid missed a number of games in the playoffs last year and was banged up in their season-ending series against the Heat. The previous season held a similar story. Granted both Embiid and Harden have missed a bit of time already this year, their health down the stretch is going to be the most important aspect of the Sixers' chances of making the Finals.

The Rest of the Contenders

I also like the Sixers' chances to win the East at +900 because of what is going on with the other top teams. Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant just went out with a knee injury and could miss significant time. Durant is the main reason that the Nets just rattled off 12-straight wins. Without him on the floor, I'm not sure that same success continues, which means they could significantly drop in the standings.

It also looks like there's something going on with the Milwaukee Bucks. They aren't a team that I feel comfortable betting on right now because of how hot and cold they are. They've suffered a number of bad losses lately, including allowing the Charlotte Hornets to put up 138 on the Bucks' home floor. Milwaukee's offense looks lost without Khris Middleton and while I'd expect him to be back and fully healthy for the playoffs, I just don't feel confident in putting money on this team right now.

The Celtics have been up and down over the last few weeks. That's not to say they aren't still title contenders, but I worry about Joe Mazzulla's ability to make adjustments in the postseason. As a first-year head coach, that's a tough task for anyone, let alone the youngest coach in the league. Not to mention, getting to the finals in back-to-back seasons is a tall task.

I was very high on the Cavs coming into the season and believe they're a team that will easily make the playoffs. However, their ability to win on the road concerns me. They're 8-11 on the road despite having the 27th hardest strength of schedule this season. Plus, they've dealt with a number of injuries already, which is exactly what dragged them down at the end of last season.

As it stands, Philly looks like a great value to win the Eastern Conference at +900.