By: Kylan Watson

When the 2017-2018 NBA season first began most experts, fans, and media personalities would have said, they expected the path to the finals in the Eastern Conference, to go through the Cleveland Cavaliers. However, no one told the Philadelphia 76ers this. The Sixers might be the most surprising team in the NBA this year, and for the first time in 16 years the Sixers have won 50 games. If the 76ers keep this pace up they may be in for an impressive playoff run.

The Sixers are playing great basketball at the right time. Last night, the Sixers beat the Dallas Mavericks by a score of 109-97.  The Sixers now have won 14 straight games, their longest win streak in 16 years. Everybody pitched in for the Sixers as the team had six players that scored more than six points. Sixers shooting guard, J.J. Reddick was the main beneficiary of the Sixers balanced scoring attack. He scored 18 points, grabbed two rebounds, and had 4 assists.  Reddick has been the Sixers leading scorer for the past few games. He really has stepped his game up since Joel Embiid went down with an injury.

Reddick was not the only one who had a big game as forward, Robert Covington scored 15 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Ben Simmons also had another big game to add to his amazing rookie season, Simmons scored 16 points, grabbed seven rebounds, and had nine assists.

The Sixers are currently the third seed in the Eastern Conference and if they continue to play great basketball, they could make it to the Eastern Conference Championship.

The 76ers were expected to limp into the postseason after leading scorer Joel Embiid fractured his face.  The Sixers should have Embiid back by the beginning of the playoffs. This team is playing well without Embiid, just imagine what will happen when he comes back.  Every team in the Eastern Conference should be afraid to play these Sixers, they will be a nightmare match-up for most teams in the East.