The Philadelphia 76ers have emerged as one of the NBA’s biggest surprises, not just with their strong regular-season performance but also with their playoff potential. While many analysts believe the team’s true dominance lies in the future, Joel Embiid firmly disagrees. “People keep saying we have a bright future,” Embiid said. “But I believe the time is now. This is our era.” His bold statement has sparked buzz across sports communities, including BD Cricket Live, where fans have begun following the Sixers’ postseason journey with growing excitement.
Heading into the 2017–18 season, expectations were rising for Philadelphia thanks to the talents of Embiid and Ben Simmons. Yet few predicted just how dominant the Sixers would become. They closed out the regular season with a stunning 16-game winning streak, leapfrogging the Cleveland Cavaliers to claim the third seed in the Eastern Conference. A defining moment came on April 7, when the Sixers edged out the Cavaliers 132–130. That win not only extended their streak but also gave them a crucial playoff seeding advantage, setting them up against a less-talented Miami Heat team in the first round, and a second-round matchup against either the injury-riddled Celtics or the inconsistent Bucks.
Embiid missed the first two games of the Heat series due to injury, a key factor as Miami, with more postseason experience, managed to steal Game 2 and the home-court advantage. In that game, the Heat used tough defense and controlled tempo to secure a commanding win. But everything changed in Game 3. Embiid returned to the lineup, immediately tilting the talent balance back in Philadelphia’s favor. Despite Miami’s physical defense, they couldn’t contain him—Embiid drew 10 fouls, shot 15 free throws, and finished with 23 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists. His presence fueled the Sixers to a dominant 128–108 victory. It was Embiid’s first career playoff game, and although he admitted feeling physically rough afterward, he looked ahead with excitement to his home playoff debut on April 24.
Should the Sixers win that game, they would close out the series 4–1 and advance to face the winner between the Celtics and Bucks, who are currently tied 2–2. “Time to get hyped and go out there to win,” Embiid said when asked about his home playoff debut. Fans on BD Cricket Live are watching every move, increasingly convinced that the Sixers’ time may indeed be now—not just in the future.