For approximately the billionth time in franchise history, the Sixers will be taking on the Boston Celtics in a playoff series. Philadelphia has the chance to beat their rival in the postseason for the first time since 1983. They’re 0-for-3 in the Joel Embiid era.
It’s safe to say the deck is stacked against them now. Not only are they the seventh seed in the East, but the chances of Embiid playing at all in the series are slim as he recovers from an appendectomy.
It’s been a while since these teams have seen each other — they’ve only met once since November. As Embiid’s status would indicate, both teams have gone through very different phases throughout the season as they’ve dealt with injuries and suspensions.
So I recruited some help to preview this series. I asked Noa Dalzell of CelticsBlog some questions to figure out what this series could look like for both teams. Celtics coverage is a hard thing to sell here, but Noa does a great job covering them for CelticsBlog and CLNS as well as covering the entire WNBA for SBNation.
LB: Both of these teams have gone through different identities over the season, especially since they’ve last played each other. How does that impact how you view this series?
ND: The Celtics were a completely different team when the two teams previously faced off. For one, they didn’t have Jayson Tatum — they’re obviously more dangerous with him back in the lineup, and he’s so central to everything they do. Three of the first four matchups were also in the first two months of the season, when both teams were coming into their own.
The Celtics started the year as a .500 team but have really settled into their identity of being the harder-playing team that also really limits rim attempts. Neemias Queta has also gotten a lot better. So, I almost look at the first three games in the series as a wash.
LB: What’s the difference in how the Celtics matchup with an Embiid-less Sixers team vs. one with him in the lineup?
ND: Well, Joel Embiid definitely makes the 76ers better! I think about when the two teams faced off last, on March 1. Queta was dominant with a career-high 27 points, battling Andre Drummond in the post. Embiid would have been a bigger challenge for Queta to deal with, and I think in his absence, Queta becomes one of the Celtics’ most important threats.
LB: How much of a chance do you give the Sixers in this series, given Embiid’s status? What is their path to winning games in this series?
ND: It starts with Tyrese Maxey and Paul George, the two players who have been there before. They’re the vets, and they’re both great talents — the kinds of players that don’t grow on trees. There’s also the question of how VJ Edgecombe fares in his first postseason — he’s impressed me a lot, but it’s a tall task to ask a rookie to be a major contributor in the postseason, and he’ll have to be.
Most of the burden falls on those three with the Celtics, but I think Kelly Oubre and Quentin Grimes are underrated X-factors. I’d be surprised if the 76ers advance, but I’ve seen crazier things happen in basketball.
LB: Paul George was not available for any of the four matchups in the regular season. How does his availability change the matchups and how do you think the Celtics deal with that?
ND: I think that’s a key difference! He’s Philadelphia’s best wing, and he’s relatively fresh going into the postseason. Whether it’s helping contain Tatum or Brown or providing a boost on the offensive end, he immediately makes Philadelphia far more formidable.
LB: To those who haven’t watched Jayson Tatum as closely since he’s returned, what are your expectations for him and what do you think he’ll look like in this series?
ND: Not too dissimilar from how he’s looked in years past. He’s been more of a facilitator, and he’s rebounding more than ever before, but he’s basically the same Jayson Tatum, in my view. We haven’t seen him go through as many stretches of offensive explosion, and Jaylen Brown is the Celtics’ primary scoring option right now, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Tatum has some quintessential Tatum games in these playoffs. The Celtics are 11-1 when both Tatum and Brown are fully available this year.
LB: You’re on record saying that Jordan Walsh could be the X-Factor in this series. Is there any Sixer you could see being an X-Factor as well?
ND: I think it’s Paul George. He’s obviously dealt with a litany of health issues, and was sidelined for the 25-game suspension, but somewhere in there is a former All-Star and MVP candidate, and if that comes out at the right time, Philadelphia becomes far more dangerous
LB: Who wins the series and in how many games?
