No two groups in NBA historical past have performed towards one another extra within the playoffs than the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers. They’ve confronted off in 21 collection and 109 complete playoff video games. Their rivalry predates Invoice Russell. They’ve met within the playoffs not less than as soon as in each decade in NBA historical past apart from the Nineteen Nineties. Just about each significant member of both workforce’s historical past has carried out battle with the opposite facet, and now, we’re right here once more.
On Monday, the Celtics and 76ers will kick off collection No. 22. Boston is at full power coming off of a six-game victory over the Atlanta Hawks. Philadelphia? Not a lot. Joel Embiid is uncertain for Sport 1 with a knee damage, instantly making the 76ers the underdog on this matchup. This is all the pieces you could know as we method Sport 1.
(2) Boston Celtics vs. (3) Philadelphia 76ers
- Date:Â Monday, Might 1Â |Â Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
- Location:Â TD Backyard — Boston, Massachusetts
- TV channel:Â TNT
- Odds:Â Celtics -9; O/U 213.5 (through Caesars Sportsbook)
Storylines
Celtics: The Celtics had the No. 2 protection within the NBA this season, they usually reached the Finals on the again of their protection final season. But within the final 4 video games towards Atlanta, the Hawks torched them for 121.3 factors per 100 possessions. Was {that a} mirage primarily based on a Trae Younger sizzling streak? Or ought to we be involved concerning the Celtics? Al Horford is lastly beginning to present indicators of his age. Marcus Sensible has handled ankle accidents all season. Others have stepped up, however till Boston strings collectively a number of robust playoff video games in a row, these doubts are going to persist.Â
76ers: Philadelphia performed the primary two video games of the second spherical with out Embiid final season. It went poorly. James Harden averaged solely 18 factors in these two video games on lower than 40% from the sphere and 25% from 3-point vary. Tyrese Maxey is a much better participant at present than he was a yr in the past, however the Celtics have a number of guards to throw at Philadelphia’s high-scoring duo. With out Embiid, can Harden and Maxey carry the 76ers to a win? It will be an uphill battle.
Prediction
Younger simply torched the Celtics with out an elite huge man, however Harden would not have Younger’s first step anymore, and whereas Maxey is extra explosive than each of them, he isn’t almost as artful navigating a crowded paint. Boston’s protection ought to be capable to construct a game-plan that incorporates the 2 of them, and with out Embiid as their pick-and-roll dance companion and one-on-one security worth, neither ought to be capable to create sufficient factors for the 76ers to maintain up with Boston’s dynamic offense. The Decide: Celtics -9