The Philadelphia 76ers currently have better odds than any other Eastern Conference team to win the NBA title. The Sixers are behind only the Warriors and Rockets. What a time.
Though the Sixers have gotten major contributions from pretty much everyone in their lineup—especially veteran sharpshooters J.J. Redick and Marco Belinelli—their two young stars have been the biggest reason for their surge. Joel Embiid is back from his orbital bone injury and has dominated since he stepped back on the court. Ben Simmons is doing Ben Simmons things.
The city of Philly is fired up. A new hype video features notable natives of the City of Brotherly Love: Will Smith, Kevin Hart, and Lil Dicky. In the video, Smith refers to Simmons as "a new Fresh Prince."
This isn't the first time the nickname has popped up. Simmons granted it to himself in an Instagram caption of a photo of himself with LeBron James after Philly defeated Cleveland earlier this month.
There's a chance those two stars could see each other again in the Eastern Conference Finals, but they have plenty of work to do. Simmons and the Sixers will face the undermanned but well-coached Boston Celtics (Game One is Monday at 8 p.m. EST) while James and the Cavs will take on the No. 1 seed Toronto Raptors (Tuesday at 8 p.m. EST).
