Despite mixed reviews so far, the Philadelphia 76ers are off to a largely positive start to the season. With a 16-12 win-loss card which is currently good for fifth place in the Eastern Conference, they are back in the thick of the playoff race, and by the looks of it, it seems way more likely than not that they will make a successful return to the postseason after a one-year sabbatical.
The 76ers having this record is no fluke, but another reason why they are in a good position as of the moment is the fact that some teams have unexpectedly fumbled early on. Case in point? Look no further than the Cleveland Cavaliers, which are currently in the play-in loop despite winning 64 games last season.
After their latest disappointing loss, this time on Christmas Day against the Knicks to the tune of another blown lead in the fourth quarter, the Cavs now have a mediocre 17-15 record, which has them seated at seventh place as of writing. Now, it seems like their front office is starting to panic — something that could very well redound to the 76ers’ benefit, albeit indirectly.
The Cavaliers’ misery is something the 76ers would gladly take
Cleveland was widely pegged as one of the favorites to come out of the East and play in the Finals this season. Instead, the Cavs have struggled so much that owner Dan Gilbert has reportedly started to take matters into his own hands, assuming a more prominent role in their operations and generally being “unhappy” about the situation.
Donovan Mitchell is still performing at an All-NBA level, but his star-studded cast has yet to show up. Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen are slowly getting penciled in as strong candidates to get shipped out of Cleveland, while last year’s Defensive Player of the Year in Evan Mobley has been barely felt.
Now, why should the 76ers care about all of these? Well, technically, they should not. However, given how slim the margin is in the East right now, the Cavs continuing to falter will only benefit them as they aim to cement their footing in the playoff race. Moreover, Cleveland had also bested Philly in five of their last eight outings.
The 76ers ought to focus only on themselves, but it would be disingenuous to not acknowledge the fact that some external developments could also dictate how successful they can be moving forward. And if that comes along thanks to a certain conference rival underperforming, then they will gladly take it.