The Philadelphia 76ers have emerged as potential favorites in the East going into the final stretch of the 2018-19 NBA season. It is clear swingman Jimmy Butler has high expectations for this team moving forward.

Philadelphia has gone all out on upgrading their roster this season. According to ESPN's Tim Bontemps, Butler is confident in the Sixers' talent going into the postseason:

“We got some true talent in the starting lineup,” Butler said. “I think, when you look down the line, we have a group of guys that can do something special if we're out there on the same page, we're all playing hard and we're all competing.”

Related NewsArticle continues below
Baylor Bears guard VJ Edgecombe (7) passes the ball away from Mississippi State Bulldogs forward Cameron Matthews (4) during the second half in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Lenovo Center.
Ranking 3 best VJ Edgecombe destinations in 2025 NBA Draft
Philadelphia 76ers guard Jared McCain (20) holds his head next to Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) after a hard fall during the third quarter.
Jared McCain’s insane reaction to Haliburton’s shot to force OT

Butler's confidence is certainly understandable. Philadelphia has made headlines with their star-studded acquisitions of Butler and forward Tobias Harris. Although they are still far from a finished product, there is no question that they have enough star power to match any of the other teams in the Eastern Conference.

Philadelphia currently owns the No. 3 spot in the East. Their overdue win against the Boston Celtics was just the kind of confidence boost they needed at this point in the season. It is safe to say that their matchup could be an early preview of what is to come in the playoffs.

Butler has undoubtedly started to find his footing in Philadelphia. He proved as much with a clutch performance in the win over Boston. The Sixers will likely need him to continue taking on a go-to role in these kinds of situations moving forward.