“We would like Boston” chants rained down from the rafters in Philadelphia right now because the Sixers secured a playoff berth towards the Magic. This would be the twenty third playoff sequence between the rival franchises. Boston has received the final 5. Do the Celtics have what it takes to advance to the subsequent spherical, and what challenges do the 76ers pose? Let’s speak about it.
What Boston must be scared about
The Sixers are notable for having one of the vital electrical backcourts within the NBA with rookie VJ Edgecombe and Tyrese Maxey. Each guards are able to taking part in high-speed basketball that requires hustle particularly in transition. Maxey particularly is a knock-down shooter from deep; 37% on 8.5 a recreation. What’s regarding is the intense conditioning of each gamers. Maxey led the league in minutes performed per recreation, sporting a spherical 38. VJ performs 35. That’s a very long time for the Celtics guards to play fast. I wouldn’t be stunned if we see the guards get gassed early and should look to Baylor Scheierman and Ron Harper Jr defensively greater than you’ll count on. Love these two however I don’t like the thought of them on Maxey. Mazzulla might want to institute hockey subs as a way to preserve the blokes contemporary for the onslaught of pace and sniping from the younger guard duo.
Is Embiid even taking part in?
A deciding issue within the end result of this sequence is the well being of former MVP Joel Embiid who recently underwent an appendectomy and didn’t seem within the Play-In recreation. He solely performed 38 video games this yr on extraordinarily restricted minutes but supplies extraordinarily beneficial rebounding and inside scoring. Embiid is notorious for drawing fouls at a excessive degree. Queta and Vucevic might want to play good as a way to preserve him off of the charity stripe in addition to power the ball out of his palms. I might even see Tatum swapping onto him with ease if actually wanted but I determine he can be assigned to Paul George. If Embiid performs, one other side of the Sixer’s offense turns into unlocked and offers the Celtics a trickier matchup defensively.
How will the Celtics win?
It’s going to return right down to hitting our photographs from 3 as typical. I’m not impressed by the perimeter defenders in Philadelphia; their greatest man is perhaps Edgecombe or Grimes; each don’t scare me. I’m predicting Mazzulla will counter the high-speed flurry of drives by a slower tempo, a standard incidence for the Celtics. Not solely is that this our bread and butter nevertheless it additionally provides the defenders an opportunity to catch their breath. The matchup I’m wanting ahead to is Paul George versus Jayson Tatum. I feel it’s going to be a massacre on either side of the ball. Each are formidable defenders and supply the same offensive toolkit.
If Embiid is out, search for Queta to go to conflict underneath the basket towards UConn legend Andre Drummond. Drummond is likely one of the biggest rebounders of our era, however Queta is extra athletic. It’s going to be a take a look at of elite prowess for the boards versus uncooked energy, and I can’t wait to see what occurs. I’m much less enthusiastic for Vucevic towards Adem Bona or Drummond. Each Philly facilities are extraordinarily bodily whereas Vucevic has felt virtually weak at some factors this yr.
My sequence prediction
Give me the Celtics in 5. I feel the Celtics might lose Recreation 3/4 in Philadelphia, however this staff doesn’t pose an excessive amount of of a menace to the Cs. If Maxey’s photographs aren’t falling the Sixers offense can really feel stagnant whereas the Celtics have a number of gamers who can provoke the offense. As a complete I favor the Boston bench; the Sixers bench has misplaced their spark since trading Jared McCain to the Thunder.
Recreation 1 in Boston is on Sunday, April nineteenth at 1:00 EST on ABC.
