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Sixers are capable of winning a playoff series

CLEVELAND, OH - MARCH 1: Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers high fives his teammates before the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on March 1, 2018 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - MARCH 1: Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers high fives his teammates before the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on March 1, 2018 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Philadelphia 76ers look like a legitimate playoff contender.

Overreactions are natural in sports. One or two games can significantly alter someone’s opinion, which normally shouldn’t be the case. The Philadelphia 76ers looked really good in Cleveland last night, but that isn’t the only reason they’re a playoff threat.

They’ve looked like a playoff threat since Christmas.

During that two-month stretch, the Sixers have emerged as one of the best defensive teams in the league. Their starting group ranks among the best five-man lineups in the league, while Joel Embiid continues to showcase his transcendent talent. Ben Simmons should be Rookie of the Year, to boot.

On top of that, the Sixers have added to their bench in the form of Marco Belinelli and Ersan Ilyasova, two veterans who spurned other contenders to come to Philly. Brett Brown’s team is on the rise, and players around the league are starting to notice.

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Beating the Cavaliers might have been the Sixers’ coming-out party on a national stage, but they’ve looked the part of a legitimate playoff contender for a while now.

That kind of statement, of course, deserves some context. I don’t think the Sixers will win the East, nor would I consider them a top three team. Toronto, Cleveland and Boston would all be favorites in a playoff series, and rightfully so.

That said, the Sixers can compete. They’re capable of winning four games against an above-average team. If they grab the fourth or fifth seed, beating Washington is a possibility. We’ve seen them give Boston some trouble this season, and the Celtics aren’t quite the juggernaut they appeared to be earlier in the year. If Embiid gets hot and health permits, it’s not hard to picture the Sixers stealing some games in a marquee matchup.

An elite defense, elite stars, and solid depth is what most good playoff teams have. The Sixers are now in that boat, with Embiid playing like one of the 10 best players in the league and Simmons continuing to up his aggressiveness. Ilyasova and Belinelli, albeit flawed, are huge upgrades to a second unit that was Philly’s primary weakness all season long.

We’ve seen how inconsistent the Sixers can be, but they’ve been a heck of a lot more consistent since the calender flipped to 2018. Barring any unforeseen setback, they’re in a position to not only make the playoffs, but give one of the teams up top a real fight.

Next: Markelle Fultz showing signs of progression

Home-court advantage isn’t out of the picture either.