Not long ago, the Philadelphia 76ers looked like they were reeling. The lead in the Atlantic Division had dropped to just one game heading into the showdown against the Boston Celtics on Wednesday, March 7. But things have turned around since then. The 76ers have won three straight games and own two blowout wins over their two biggest rivals. As a 76ers fan, I am happy to say that it looks like this team is firmly in control of the Atlantic Division once again.
On March 7, the 76ers got a statement win over the Celtics. The 103-71 rout was the worst that Boston has suffered since their big three stars united in 2007. The Celtics have dropped another game since then and are three behind the 76ers once again. Meanwhile, the Knicks have really started to fade. New York is 6.5 games behind the 76ers after losing Philadelphia at home. The Knicks have lost five straight games and the Linsanity craze is clearly over. Even with all of their talent, it is hard to imagine that New York will creep back into the division race. The Toronto Raptors and New Jersey Nets are essentially out of the race.
Even though a three game lead over Boston is anything but automatic, the 76ers should feel pretty confident. They were a struggling team before that Boston game. Now they are a confident bunch with a mental edge. Since moving into the starting lineup, Evan Turner is starting to look like a number two overall pick. He has taken smart shots and played strong defense. The rest of the team seems to be blending together better. Soon, the 76ers will get Spencer Hawes back. Once that happens, this team will be even better. Philadelphia looks better now than they did at the start of the season.
Things look good now but there are still a lot of games left. The 76ers can't afford a lull like they had in February. Boston has enough experience and talent to take advantage of any Philadelphia struggles. They almost caught them once already. But as long as the 76ers do their thing, they should maintain an edge over their rivals. They have proven to be the best team in this division and I don't expect that to change.
* - Mark Paul is a Philadelphia resident and lifelong 76ers fan.
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