Philadelphia 76ers: 8 ways to make the 2019 NBA Finals
By Larry Mendte
The Philadelphia 76ers are still looking up at the Boston Celtics in the NBA Eastern Conference. Here are eight ways the Sixers can pass the Celtics and win the East.
There are high expectations for the Philadelphia 76ers this year.
Even though the team was unable to lure LeBron James or trade for Kawhi Leonard, the 76ers are still considered a top contender to win the Eastern Conference.
According to OddsShark.com, it’s a three-team race in the East between the Bostons Celtics, the Toronto Raptors and the 76ers. The Celtics are the favorite.
Celtics fans have good reason for confidence. The team has a sterling starting five and a deep bench. The Celtics defeated the 76ers in the second round of the playoffs last season without their two best players.
After being traded from the Cleveland Cavaliers, Kyrie Irving was the Celtics’ leading scorer in his first season with the team. Irving averaged 24.4 points on 49.1 percent shooting in 60 games before having his season end because of a knee infection..
Gordon Hayward’s first season with the team last just five minutes. In the season opener agains the Cavs, Hayward dislocated his left ankle and fractured his tibia. In the previous season with the Utah Jazz, Hayward averaged 21.9 points a game before becoming a free agent.
Both stars are cleared to play and ready to join Al Horford, Jason Tatum and Jaylen Brown to complete the starting five.
The Toronto Raptors cannot match the Celtics starters or bench, but they do have two stars of their own.
When Kawhi Leonard is healthy and wants to play, he is one of the top five players in the league. In 2016-17, when he scored 25.5 points a game, Leonard finished third in the MVP voting.
Leonard joins Kyle Lowry, who has been with the Raptors for six seasons and has made the NBA All-Star team the last four seasons. Lowry averaged 16.2 points a game last season, but was over 20 in the two previous seasons.
So how do the 76ers compete with a team that beat then 4-1 in the playoffs and another team that added one of the top five players in the league?
Let me count the ways.