Verdict in: Philadelphia 76ers Coach Brett Brown can win

Tougher 76ers advance to tougher competition

The Philadelphia 76ers entering round two are a much tougher team than the one which entered round one.  And by advancing, they have broken through the glass ceiling set for this team at the beginning of the year. So now the question if which team will be the next opponent? The Milwaukee Bucks or the Boston Celtics? Christopher Kline does a good job analyzing each opponent in a recent article.

In the four game series with the Celtics this season, Boston relied heavily on Kyrie Irving‘s 25.7 points per game average to pull out the wins. Center Al Horford had mixed results. Meanwhile, the 76ers perimeter shooters played better than their season average when facing the Celtics.  In four contests, Jerryd Bayless played significant minutes. The 76ers team is vastly improved with the signings of Ersan Ilyasova and Marco Belinelli, while the Celtics have lost Kyrie Irving. The Celtics are very physical, with Aron Beynes serving as a body checking center. Still, Embiid in the lineup will have both Beynes and Horford in foul trouble. And the 76ers perimeter shooting make a huge difference in this series.

Deer in the headlights

Milwaukee Bucks are also prospective opponents. But down 2-3 against Boston, they have their work cut out for them. While Boston holds home court advantage, the Bucks have no such higher vantage point. And much like the Miami Heat, the team’s split their games based on home team wins. The 76ers won the first contest when the Bucks did not have a healthy Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Bucks won the second game when the 76ers did not have a healthy J.J. Redick. The Bucks won the third contest at home, and the 76ers won the fourth game in a runaway game.

Next: Philadelphia 76ers Coach Brown loves defense, and it shows

Giannis is the key. When he scores in bunches, the Bucks win. He only scored 10 points in that fourth contest, and the 76ers won handily. The Sixers defense appears to be prepared to face the challenge head on. And in doing so, whether at home or on the road, are very capable of advancing even further in the NBA Playoffs.  But this never happens without the right head coach. No matter what the NBA decides, Coach Brett Brown is the NBA Coach of the Year in my book. And much like Eagles coach Doug Pederson, he may be overlooked for the award, but land the ultimate prize.