Boston Celtics: The formula on how to beat the Philadelphia 76ers
By Harry Wahl
The Boston Celtics will need to overcome a number of injuries and it won’t be easy, but there is a formula on how to beat the Philadelphia 76ers
It’s rare in the NBA Playoffs that a lower seeded team is a heavy favorite but that is exactly the case we have in the upcoming Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers match up.
The two seeded Celtics, through no fault of their own, have been the victim of a string of injuries all season long. From Gordon Hayward’s ankle, to Kyrie Irving’s knee and Jaylen Brown’s hamstring injury in game seven against the Bucks, Boston has had the worst case of the injury bug we’ve seen in years.
Conversely Philadelphia, the most injury plagued franchise the past three plus years, is the healthiest they have been all season. The 76ers dispatched the Heat in 5 games en-route to the second round thanks in huge part to their young stars.
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Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid, the fruits of “The Process”, will be the two best players on the court this next series as well and it won’t be close. The path to the Eastern Conference Finals is Philadelphia’s to lose, but don’t count out Boston just yet.
For the Celtics to advance here is what it’s going to take:
- Brad Stevens – Boston’s playoff run begins and ends with their coach. Stevens will have to out-coach a more talented roster to four wins out of seven. The good news is he just did this once. Can he do it again?
- Defend homecourt – One of the only advantages Boston has this series is homecourt. They have to protect it like there’s no tomorrow. The Celtics were 4-0 at home in their first-round playoff series.
- Al Horford – When the Celtics run their offense through Horford outside the arc they stretch opposing defenses and Al’s passing and vision helps find the open man. Taking Embiid away from the rim doesn’t hurt either.
- Defend the 3-point line – The only game Philadelphia lost in the first round was the only game they shot under 20 percent from downtown. Look for Boston to stay attached at the hip to J.J. Redick and Marco Belinelli.
The 76ers have been must watch television this postseason for good reason. Their talented young roster is trying to prove that their time is now.
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But the Boston Celtics are young and talented too and deserve to be here just as much as Philadelphia does. If the Celtics have proved anything this season, it’s to not count them out just yet.