“We want Boston” chants rained down from the rafters in Philadelphia today as the Sixers secured a playoff berth against the Magic. This will be the 23rd playoff series between the rival franchises. Boston has won the last five. Do the Celtics have what it takes to advance to the next round, and what challenges do the 76ers pose? Let’s talk about it.
What Boston needs to be scared about
The Sixers are notable for having one of the most electric backcourts in the NBA with rookie VJ Edgecombe and Tyrese Maxey. Both guards are capable of playing high-speed basketball that requires hustle especially in transition. Maxey especially is a knock-down shooter from deep; 37% on 8.5 a game. What is concerning is the extreme conditioning of both players. Maxey led the league in minutes played per game, sporting a round 38. VJ plays 35. That’s a long time for the Celtics guards to play quick. I wouldn’t be surprised if we see the guards get gassed early and have to look to Baylor Scheierman and Ron Harper Jr defensively more than you would expect. Love those two but I don’t like the idea of them on Maxey. Mazzulla will need to institute hockey subs in order to keep the guys fresh for the onslaught of speed and sniping from the young guard duo.
Is Embiid even playing?
A deciding factor in the outcome of this series is the health of former MVP Joel Embiid who recently underwent an appendectomy and did not appear in the Play-In game. He only played 38 games this year on extremely limited minutes yet provides extremely valuable rebounding and inside scoring. Embiid is infamous for drawing fouls at a high level. Queta and Vucevic will need to play smart in order to keep him off of the charity stripe as well as force the ball out of his hands. I could even see Tatum swapping onto him with ease if truly needed yet I figure he will be assigned to Paul George. If Embiid plays, another aspect of the Sixer’s offense becomes unlocked and gives the Celtics a trickier matchup defensively.
How will the Celtics win?
It’s going to come down to hitting our shots from 3 as usual. I’m not impressed by the perimeter defenders in Philadelphia; their best man might be Edgecombe or Grimes; both don’t scare me. I’m predicting Mazzulla will counter the high-speed flurry of drives by a slower pace, a normal occurrence for the Celtics. Not only is this our bread and butter but it also gives the defenders a chance to catch their breath. The matchup I’m looking forward to is Paul George versus Jayson Tatum. I think it’s going to be a bloodbath on both sides of the ball. Both are formidable defenders and offer a similar offensive toolkit.
If Embiid is out, look for Queta to go to war under the basket against UConn legend Andre Drummond. Drummond is one of the greatest rebounders of our generation, but Queta is more athletic. It’s going to be a test of elite prowess for the boards versus raw strength, and I can’t wait to see what happens. I’m less enthusiastic for Vucevic against Adem Bona or Drummond. Both Philly centers are extremely physical while Vucevic has felt almost weak at some points this year.
My series prediction
Give me the Celtics in 5. I think the Celtics could lose Game 3/4 in Philadelphia, but this team does not pose too much of a threat to the Cs. If Maxey’s shots are not falling the Sixers offense can feel stagnant whereas the Celtics have multiple players who can initiate the offense. As a whole I favor the Boston bench; the Sixers bench has lost their spark since trading Jared McCain to the Thunder.
Game 1 in Boston is on Sunday, April 19th at 1:00 EST on ABC.
