76ers vs. Celtics, 1:00 ET
76ers vs. Celtics, 1:00 ET
We had a full day of basketball yesterday as the first half of the NBA playoff series took place. I’ve already stressed how much I love playoff basketball, but it really doesn’t get any better than this. In this series, we have two passionate fans facing off as the 76ers take on the celts.
The 76ers got here by winning the Play-In Game. They were probably the most attractive team of the Play-In series, as they won at home and by double digits. However, there is still reason to worry about Philadelphia. There are a number of questions about Joel Embiid and his availability after an appendectomy. With a healthy Embiid, it seems like the 76ers would have a big advantage, since the worst position the Celtics have is center. Nikola Vucevic was repeatedly tormented by Embiid when he was with the Bulls. However, we don’t really know what shape he will be in if he plays. The team will need Tyrese Maxey and Paul George to be extremely aggressive and efficient to have any hope in this series. I don’t think the 76ers are too deep, but in the playoffs, as the benches get shorter, they could at least put up a fight.
Philadelphia 76er combo guard Tyrese Maxey Philadelphia drives to the hoop over Heat great Bam Adebayo at Kaseya Center in Miami. (Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
He celts They went from a team that no one expected to go anywhere to a team that finished second in the East. It seems crazy to say they had low expectations, but that’s what happens when your second-best player (yes, I said what I said) gets injured and isn’t expected to return this year. And, when the team trades Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis in the offseason, it doesn’t make people think Boston would be great. Jaylen Brown, Celtic’s best player, had other ideas and played like an MVP candidate this year. Brown, already the owner of a Finals MVP, could help lead Boston to another deep run if the team is healthy. Sure, it helps that Tatum is back, but I still hope they’re cautious with him, but this series is one Boston could win without him, even if he doesn’t want to return as a role player.
I’m not sure about the distribution of this game. I can make a pretty compelling case for both. The 76ers are less rusty and generally try to do everything they can to steal a road game. There is the element of surprise here, so they may be able to make progress. On the Celtics side, you’re at home, you have a big advantage, especially if Embiid isn’t back, which it looks like he won’t be at the time of this writing. I think this game will be more offensive than defensive. I don’t think teams need to feel each other out. Boston will score three-pointers and Philadelphia, without Embiid, is at its best when it plays with more rhythm. Give me the over 212.5.
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