Finally, one of the nation best hard fought rivalries will renew featuring the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers. And what I expect to be a rivalry that should be sustained for years down the road.
The 76ers tip-off the second round series tonight at 8 o'clock in the loud and proud TD Garden, where the Celtics fans hope their team can come through with a conference finals appearance.
But let me assure you Philly fans, this time around there will be no deja vu from 2012.
The 2018 Sixers are a way different team compared to the Jrue Holiday and Andre Iguodala led 2012 squad. Let's be honest, in 2012 the 76ers were lucky they even made it to the second round. Now in 2018, the 76ers are legit championship contenders.
I don’t know any Sixers fan who wouldn’t want to play Boston in the second round. This will be an extremely fun series to watch because of the history between the two teams and their cities.
So here is why the 76ers will win the series:
Joel Embiid.
Now that Joel had one series to get used to the black face mask, he’s ready to take-off and be the 76ers star player. Embiid can defend the perimeter better than anyone this series, he creates matchup problems, he’s dominant on offense, opens passing lanes for his teammates, and has the swagger and confidence to be the star player he was before his injury.
Another fact to consider, the 76ers are shooting the ball over 35% from the 3 and scoring over 110 points per game. The entire team is on fire behind the arc with credit given to J.J. Reddick, Marco Belinelli, Robert Covington, and Dario Saric. The Celtics can definitely defend the Sixers better than anyone, but I don’t expect them to stop the Sixers when the pace of play is fast and the whole team is draining threes.
The benches lineup pretty well, and Philly’s bench has contributed and energized the team all season. So Boston may struggle against the toughness of this 76ers bench.
If you take a look at the matchups, the Sixers matchup well against Boston. Without Kyrie Irving, the Celtics main scoring is coming from Terry Rozier, Jayson Tatum, and Jaylen Brown. So when you throw Covington, Simmons, or Saric on one of those guys, I think the Sixers can really put a stop on their offense.
Expect Ben Simmons to keep evolving into the Magic Johnson like player that he is because he will be a huge factor in this series. When Ben Simmons is playing well, the Sixers are playing well.
Yes, Boston’s defense will create Sixers turnovers and create offense for the Celtics. And I recognize the fact that Boston has been a dominant team all season without Kyrie Irving, and has plenty of experience in the playoffs compared to the 76ers. Oh and don’t forget the home-court advantage Boston has after going 4-0 at home against Milwaukee.
But, let's not forget how hot and resilient this Philly team is playing currently. They just shut-out the historic, and toughbuilt Heat in their house. The city is vibing with excitement and confidence in this team, and you can feel the type of home-court advantage atmosphere at the Wells Fargo Center.
This Sixers squad knows the potential they hold, and are just as excited as the fans have been for this championship run.
Philly beat Boston last February during the Super Bowl. Now Philly will dominate Boston in the NBA Playoffs. The championship hopes will continue.
76ers win in 5.
#PhilaUnite