NBA 2018-19: 3 Factors That Make Philadelphia 76ers East Finals Contenders

#3 The capricious weather in the East is conducive to their imminent success

Victor Oladipo is set to miss the remainder of the season

Philadelphia linger just one game behind the Pacers on the Eastern Conference leaderboard. With their main man Victor Oladipo out for the rest of the season with a ruptured quad tendon in his right leg, Pacers are just hanging on for dear life hoping they don't get battered in the upcoming games preceding the playoffs.

Let's really, really, really, really hope that Vic is alright. Oladipo goes down with an apparent knee injury and it didn't look good. #Pacers pic.twitter.com/CA6LacMo87
— FOX Sports Indiana (@FSIndiana) January 24, 2019

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Moreover, Marcus Morris Sr. just gave us some insight into the Celtics' locker room atmosphere,

"I mean, for me, it's not really about the loss," Morris said, via ESPN. "It's about the attitude that we're playing with. Guys are hanging their head. It's just not fun, it's not fun. We're not competing at a high level. Even when we're winning it's still not fun. I just don't see the joy in the game.

Boston is the team right at Philly's tail on the East standings. Indiana is the team that the Sixers are chasing in order to find a place amongst the upper echeleons of the East. Both the teams are going through struggles of their own while the Sixers look strong as ever after the trade deadline.

If only Embiid and co. could take advantage of this mismatch, they can make the final sprint for the gold before time runs out on the regular season.