Why the Philadelphia 76ers are the NBA's new team to beat

Per FiveThirtyEight, the Sixers currently have the highest percentage chance to win the NBA Finals (32 percent), while according to OddsChecker, the 76ers are either tied for first or second in betting odds -- depending on the sportsbook -- to win the NBA Finals. 

Newly crowned MVP Joel Embiid has been the catalyst for the 76ers this series, averaging 32.3 points, 11 rebounds and 2.7 blocks in Games 3 through Game 5 against Boston. James Harden, Tyrese Maxey and Tobias Harris have also stepped up their games during these playoffs, providing Embiid with the support he has lacked in  previous postseasons. 

On defense in the playoffs, Embiid has elevated his game, providing rim protection like never before. He is averaging 2.9 blocks this spring -- up from 1.7 in the regular season -- and has disrupted countless other shots at the rim without officially being credited for the outright block. 

For his part, Maxey is averaging an impressive 20.3 points in the playoffs on 41.4 percent from beyond the arc. And Harden is averaging 22.3 points and shooting 42.3 percent from three. 

The team's exceptional three-point shooting has been on display against throughout the playoffs, too.

Aside from Game 2 against Boston and Game 2 against the Brooklyn Nets in the first round, the Sixers have shot above 35 percent from three-point range in every game of their postseason run to date. Their performance is in line with their regular-season shooting from beyond the arc (38.7 percent).

Harris is also instrumental on the glass for Philadelphia, averaging 7.7 rebounds -- a significant increase from his regular-season average of 5.7 boards per game. Overall, this whole roster is executing at a high level at both ends of the floor.

When an entire roster clicks and your team boasts the league MVP, you can develop into a force to win not just a conference title, but an NBA title as well.