76ers prepared for Boston
The Philadelphia 76ers lost two preseason games to the Boston Celtics. In those games, Gordon Hayward played 23 minutes. 76ers center Joel Embiid did not play. Those facts alone suggest that this game is already heading to a different outcome.
But there is plenty of more reasons to back the Philadelphia 76ers in this one. These 76ers are now six games familiar with one another. They had an impressive outing in losing to the Washington Wizards. Now, they are even more familiar with one another.
This game feels like a win
Renew rivalry
There are so many subplots to the Boston Celtics versus Philadelphia 76ers this season. On one hand, there is Amir Johnson wanting to show his former team they erred in letting him go. On the other hand, there is first round draft pick Markelle Fultz with the same incentive to prove to Boston that he did deserve the first pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. And there is even center Jahlil Okafor, whose name remains tied to the Boston Celtics, who wants to prove his value as an NBA center.
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But most of all, there is that matter of the Philadelphia 76ers fighting for NBA respect. This indomitable Philadelphia 76ers knows that the road to the NBA playoffs goes through Boston.
Set your recorders for this game. It will be one worth watching later.