NBA insiders are skeptical of the Philadelphia 76ers' championship credentials, picking the Boston Celtics as the bigger threat to the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference.
Zach Lowe polled 30 Eastern Conference coaches and executives on which team, besides the Knicks, is most likely to reach the 2027 NBA Finals. The Boston Celtics were the "overwhelming winners." Lowe admitted he was shocked by the level of optimism for Boston. The reasoning was simple: insiders felt safest projecting the Celtics, alongside the Knicks, as a top-three seed when the regular season ends.
Behind the Celtics, there was a three-way tie between the Philadelphia 76ers, Toronto Raptors, and Miami Heat. The Indiana Pacers finished with the third-most votes. This places the Sixers in a crowded second tier of contenders, according to league decision-makers.
Boston's roster moves have generated significant confidence. They added veteran forward Paul George and center Mitchell Robinson this offseason. Robinson's defection from the Knicks in free agency was a notable coup. The core also features a healthy Jayson Tatum, who is fully recovered from a torn Achilles. That combination of star power and depth has insiders believing Boston can return to title contention immediately.
For the Sixers, the poll suggests their own high-profile offseason, which included signing LeBron James and acquiring Jaylen Brown, hasn't fully convinced the league's power brokers. The Eastern Conference appears deeper than ever, with multiple teams believing they can make a run.
The team's recent results show a squad finding its form. After a tough stretch with losses to the Houston Rockets, Detroit Pistons, and Miami Heat, they've strung together consecutive victories.
Their offense exploded for 126 points against the Bucks, a positive sign for a team integrating new stars. Defensively, holding a potent Milwaukee team to 106 points is a strong statement. Building consistency will be their next challenge as they aim to climb the conference ladder.
They'll need to use this insider skepticism as fuel. The regular season is a marathon, and early polls don't determine playoff success. With players like LeBron James and Jaylen Brown now in the fold, their ceiling is undoubtedly high.
The coming weeks will test their chemistry and resilience. Every game is an opportunity to prove that the insider consensus is wrong and that Philadelphia belongs in the conversation with Boston and New York at the very top of the East.
