Playoffs? Sixers? Sizing up the NBA Eastern Conference

The excitement that is surrounding the 76ers of late has fans talking playoffs (can this be after just 10 wins two years ago?) and coaches probably a little guarded when it comes to that subject.

But it's more than the anticipation of Joel Embiid having a healthy season and building on what he did in his 31 games last season that yielded averages of 20.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.5 blocks; it goes beyond imagining the impact Ben Simmons, all 6-10 of him, will have on the game with his passing and ball-handling skills; and it is more than how the additions of J.J. Redick and Amir Johnson will benefit the games of Dario Saric, rookie Markelle Fultz and the others mentioned above.

Not only is this Sixers roster one that has come together quickly, and one that appears to have a good amount of depth, but the landscape of the Eastern Conference has also dramatically changed, and in many cases in ways beneficial to the Sixers.

The Cleveland Cavaliers, besides being without a general manager since David Griffin left a few weeks ago, are still the cream of the crop, and with LeBron James and Kyrie Irving on their roster, they are afforded the luxury of sitting back during the free-agency frenzy and watching the rest of the East try to load up to challenge the Cavs. Whether Cleveland does or doesn't make moves to clear space for Carmelo Anthony and try to land him, they still are the clear-cut favorite to represent the East in the Finals again next year.

With the addition of free agent Gordon Hayward, Boston has closed the gap between it and Cleveland, but it was going to be the second-best team in the East whether it brought in Hayward or not. The Celtics have a very nice mix now, led by Isaiah Thomas and Hayward and a variety of younger talent, and could be legitimate in the East for quite some time. Remember the days of the Sixers-Celtics wonderful rivalry? Perhaps those days are coming again soon.

The Toronto Raptors spent a ton of money ($100 million over three years for Kyle Lowry, $65 million for the same time for Serge Ibaka) basically to stay the same team that won one playoff series a year ago before getting swept by the Cavaliers. They're still formidable but need to make some type of move or moves to become any sort of contender.

The fact that the Washington Wizards are going to pay a boatload of money to retain Otto Porter (reportedly going to match the $106 million offer over four years by the Brooklyn Nets) is a microcosm of where they are. Porter is a very nice player and getting better, but not the changing influence that puts a team at a higher level. The Wizards will probably be a 45- to 50-win team, but also don't seem to be getting better any time soon.

In Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee has a rising superstar, and the Bucks did a smart thing by locking down Tony Snell. They have a very good young roster and, like the Sixers, are a team on the rise.

Atlanta, Indiana and Chicago are all teams that let leading players walk or sent them packing, and each seems to be in that gray area between fixing and total rebuild.

Those are the eight teams that made the playoffs in the East last season. Miami just missed out and should battle again this season. So where do the Sixers fit in there when it comes to playoff talk?

It has to be remembered that Fultz and Simmons haven't played a game and will have to learn the grind that is an NBA season. There might be periods where they stink the joint up for a couple weeks at a time, which is normal for rookies. There is also the fact that this roster could include four players who didn't play on this team last season and Jerryd Bayless, who played just three games). There will be a time of adjusting to each other's games and tendencies. Brett Brown will have to figure out who plays best with whom and when and where.

To expect playoffs may lead to disappointment, and that's not something the fan base should want at this point with all the excitement. But the way the Eastern Conference landscape has changed, it's possible to believe that the playoffs are a realistic goal.