You can only put so much stock in the odds at a sportsbook. They are based on perception as much as reality.
So while it is understandable that the 76ers are now listed as the co-favorite in the Eastern Conference after acquiring LeBron James and Jaylen Brown, it is also absurd that an injury-prone, awkward-fitting lineup would be placed on equal footing with the defending champion Knicks before playing a single minute together.
The superteam was thought to be a casualty of the second apron, which makes it incredibly prohibitive and punitive to carry more than two max-salary players on a roster. Philadelphia found a loophole by getting the league’s all-time leading scorer to sign for the veteran’s minimum, adding James to a star-studded lineup featuring Brown, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe.
It has been nearly a decade since an NBA champion contained so many household names (2017-18 Warriors). Since then, most of the title winners have been led by one superstar (i.e., Jalen Brunson, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokić, Steph Curry, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kawhi Leonard) who elevated teams with depth and role players straight out of central casting.
