The Sixer Sense
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Philadelphia 76ers top five biggest threats in Eastern Conference

Lucas Johnson|
Philadelphia 76ers logo (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
Philadelphia 76ers logo (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
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BOSTON, MA – MAY 9: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics and Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers reach for the ball in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on May 9, 2018 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – MAY 9: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics and Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers reach for the ball in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on May 9, 2018 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)

Boston Celtics

Of course the team that nearly swept the Sixers out of the playoffs in this past postseason would be included in this list. The worst thing for Philly is, that the Boston Celtics weren’t even close to full strength when the two clubs met in the playoffs last time. However, they are at full strength now with Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward returning from injury.

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Both Irving and Hayward are All-Star level talents and adding them to a lineup that all featured the young duo of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, as well as All-Star big Al Horford makes the Celtics starting five a deadly lineup to deal with. On top of that, the Celtics have an insanely deep bench as well.

Their bench unit includes: Terry Rozier, Marcus Smart, Marcus Morris, Robert Williams and Aron Baynes. That’s better than some teams starting five in the NBA. To top it all off they’re led by head coach Brad Stevens, who I believe should win Coach of the Year for this upcoming season.

Boston is without a doubt the toughest Eastern Conference opponent that the 76ers will have to face all season long. The Celtics are elite on both ends of the floor and unless they suffer several major injuries, the Sixers will have a very hard time defeating Boston.

It’s clear that the Philadelphia 76ers don’t have a cake walk through the Eastern Conference this upcoming season. There are several teams that could beat the Sixers in a playoff series if Philly doesn’t put in maximum effort while competing. If the Sixers want to make it to an NBA Finals this upcoming post season, then they will have to give it everything they have and then some.