NBA 2012: Why the Philadelphia 76ers Will Win the Atlantic Division

Once the 2012 NBA season finally got underway, few would have predicted that coming toward the end of January, the Philadelphia 76ers would be leading the division.

Many thought that the Boston Celtics, despite their aging trio, would have the ability to win the tight games and fight their way to the title. Others predicted the New York Knicks, behind Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire, would finally click it all together and piece together a dominant season, winning the division and being a serious title threat.

Whatever they predicted and whatever you thought, the number of people that predicted the 76ers would lead the division at 12-5, and not just lead it, but dominate it. Currently they are the only team in the Atlantic Division with a winning record, and the only team that looks like winning the division in the end.

Starting with the fact they've turned the Wells Fargo Arena into a fortress

When you look across the league to the other divisions, the leaders of which all have imposing home court records.

The 16-3 Chicago Bulls are undefeated at home this year, as are the 11-4 Indiana Pacers. The Atlanta Hawks (13-5), Oklahoma City Thunder (14-3) and San Antonio Spurs (11-7) have all only dropped one match at home, and out of all the 16 teams in the NBA with winning records, all have dropped two or fewer matches at home to start the season.

And at 8-1 at home, the Philadelphia 76ers are no exception.

Their home-court dominance is clear this year, and it's no coincidence that they are the only team in the division with a winning record, and the only team that possesses a home-court winning record.

The Celtics are 5-5 at home, the Knicks are 3-6, the Nets are 2-5 and the Raptors are 2-5.

The dominance the Philadelphia 76ers have had at home this year is one of the key reasons why they are in the divisional lead, and because no other team in the division contains a fortress like the Sixers have built, they will go on to win the division.

Then keep in mind the fact that they can play defense

Let's just run through the defensive numbers of the Philadelphia 76ers this year. League-wide, they have allowed the second fewest points per game, the sixth fewest field goal percentage, the lowest three-point percentage and the fourth fewest assists per game.

They are the best defense in the division.

The Boston Celtics have been one of the best defensive teams in recent years, and Monday's win over the Magic was testament to that fact. However, their defense is not as good as it has been, and still ranks outside the top 10 in many key factors. Allowing the third fewest points per game is excellent, but they do not generate the same defensive pressure as the Sixers do.

And as for the Knicks, their defensive lanes are open. Plain and simple, they're open and they're not closing any time soon. The smothering defense of the Sixers is far superior to that of the Knicks.

The Toronto Raptors and the New Jersey Nets are not going to win the division this year, and so we can rule them out by noting that they do not win games because they allow too many points (an obvious sign of a poor defense).

Because Philly has the best defense in the division, they will end up taking the No. 1 spot with ease.

Add to that mix their youthful energy

The only good thing it seems about the Boston Celtics at the moment is Rajon Rondo, although you could probably throw Paul Pierce at times and Ray Allen at times in that mix as well. Yet with three of their big-name players aged over 35, the Celtics struggle with youthful athleticism and energy.

The Celtics are not going to get any younger, and as the youth and energy of the Sixers continue to provides them with wins, it highlights their dominance in the division.

Philly has nine players aged 25 or younger on their roster, and with their youth are building a team that can last for many seasons to come and will compete at the highest level for many seasons to come.

We call that a dynasty.

And whilst the Knicks struggle to move the ball around the court and can't find an open receiver quickly even if their lives depended on it, the Sixers are moving it with speed and ease, carving up their opponents.

The 76ers are the best team in the NBA in the fourth quarter, averaging more than 30 points, and much of that has to be put down to their young guys stepping up and working well as a youthful team.

They don't have superstars like Anthony or Rondo, but they do have wins, and have the far superior team on the court in terms of defense and youthful energy.

And they have the best bench in the division

After leading the league in bench scoring, the 76ers could well win the title again this year as their sixth, seventh and eighth men are doing fantastic jobs when replacing their starters.

With the shorter season, roster management will be critical, and by having the dominant bench, the Sixers outshine their opponents the entire match and aren't patchy or moody, and definitely not temperamental.

I guess when you put it all together, and look at the five-game break they already have on the division, you've got to concede they're doing something right. Whatever it is, it's working fantastically for them.

With the strongest team in the division playing so coherently, the Philadelphia 76ers appear to be running away with the division and will end up cruising to a comfortable divisional win.

The Celtics and Knicks cannot find the balance that the Sixers have at the moment and will have enough of a fight to simply make the playoffs this year, let alone win the division and chalk up a high seed ranking.

They might not have played every single championship contender and may be unproven when it comes to taking down the likes of the Lakers, Thunder or Heat on the big stage. Yet when you think about the way they're playing at the moment, taking down one of those sides would not be a complete surprise.

Are they going to win the championship? Maybe not, and we'll have to wait and see, but after their dominance so far this year, the Philadelphia 76ers are a certainty to win the Atlantic Division and be a serious threat come playoff time.