With Friday evening’s 122-97 victory over the Orlando Magic, the Philadelphia 76ers have clinched 1st place in the Eastern Conference for the 2020-21 NBA season. By laying claim to the no. 1 seed in the East, the Sixers guarantee themselves home court advantage in the 2020-21 Eastern Conference Playoffs. The accomplishment marks the first time the Sixers have finished with the best record in the East since 2000-01, when Allen Iverson led Philadelphia to the NBA Finals.
For Sixers fans, this moment has been a long time coming. The Delaware Valley should rejoice on this beautiful Friday evening. Of course, this is but a small accomplishment in the grand scheme. There’s a long and challenging road ahead as Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons and the rest of the Sixers roster will have to defeat the best the league has to offer to hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy. But for now, Sixers fans can take in their beautifully bizarre and uniquely Philly basketball team — it feels good to be on top.
