The Cavaliers, on the other hand, could not have been in a more opposite situation. Though they weren’t the best team in the league record-wise, LeBron James was a mere month-and-a-half away from bringing Cleveland its first championship in more than 50 years.
NBA PLAYOFFS 2018: Postseason odds for tight races in East, West
Now, things are almost comically different. It turns out “The Process” was more than just a mantra to try and bring fans to watch a failing organization; it was a strategy that has brought enough young talent to the 76ers that they could conceivably still win 50 games this season. The Cavs, meanwhile, have been in a constant state of disarray, dealing with the typical drama that comes with a LeBron-led team, huge roster changes and head coach Tyronn Lue needing to step away from the bench for medical reasons.
The standings indicate these two sides are only a half-game apart as of April 6. Will the Sixers prove that there is a new force in the East ready to compete now, or will LeBron find a way to show that any team with him at the helm should never be overlooked?
Cavs vs. 76ers
Time: 7 p.m. ET, Friday
Location: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia
TV: NBA TV
Streaming: fuboTV (sign up for a 7-day free trial)
