Getting you ready for a first-round NBA playoff clash between the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers
Records:
Philadelphia: 51-31
Brooklyn: 42-40
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Regular Season Series:
Tied 2-2
Avg. Score: Nets 121, 76ers 117.75
Summary:
The Philadelphia 76ers enter the playoffs in win-now mode as they traded for Jimmy Butler and Tobias Harris over the course of the season. They do have a banged up Joel Embiid which could be a big factor in later rounds but shouldn’t be against the Nets.
As for Brooklyn, they are one of the league’s biggest surprises and are led by D’Angelo Russell. Russell and the Nets completely changed this season and both are much more respected than they were.
Stats:
PPG
76ers: 115.2
Nets: 112.3
OFF RTG
76ers: 112.6
Nets: 109.7
Pace
76ers: 101.6
Nets: 100.8
OPP PPG
76ers: 112.5
Nets: 112.3
DEF RTG
76ers: 110.0
Nets: 109.7
FG%
76ers: 47.1
Nets: 44.9
3FG%
76ers: 35.9
Nets: 35.3
EFG%
76ers: 53.2
Nets: 52.0
Tov%
76ers: 12.9
Nets: 13.0
X-Factors
76ers: Joel Embiid
Embiid dominated the Nets this season as he scored 16, 32, 33, and 39 in the four meetings with Brooklyn. He also had at least 12 rebounds in each of those four games as well as four or more assists.
Going into the playoffs, Embiid is not fully healthy as he’s dealing with a knee injury that’s making him day-to-day. As long as he plays then the 76ers should make it to the next round easily. It’s not yet known if he will play in game one.
Nets: Joe Harris
Harris was the NBA’s leader in three-point shooting percentage this season at 47.4%. Out of the top four scorers on the Nets, Harris is the only one who doesn’t attempt more than 12 shots per game(He averages 9.8). For the Nets to have a chance to pull the upset they will need a aggressive Joe Harris. Harris averaged 14.0 PPG vs Philadelphia in the regular season while shooting 10-18 from 3-point range.
Prediction: 76ers in 5
The Nets are one of the NBA’s best stories this season but they are running into a team that has four all-star caliber players including one that is arguably a MVP candidate this season. The Nets season ends here.