Two years ago, the 76ers were the laughing stock of the NBA. The lowly squad was in the midst of a humongous rebuild, and the words "Trust the Process" were closer to a meme than an obtainable reality. The icing on the cake was that the team managed to scrap together only 10 wins that season.
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.
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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)