4. Jimmy Butler and the 4th quarter
When the Celtics eliminated the Sixers in five games last season, one player was notably missing: Jimmy Butler. The Sixers acquired Butler for this exact matchup — to edge Philadelphia closer to the Eastern Conference elites.
Depth is an issue, but Butler gives the Sixers a dynamic that was desperately missing in May. His ability to create dribble penetration, score in isolation and share the ball-handling burden will massively help the Sixers when it comes to cracking Boston’s defensive code.
If the game is close — which, for a primetime Christmas game, hopefully it is — we will also see Butler in the fourth quarter. Time and time again, Butler has established himself as one of the NBA’s best players in the final frame. He takes over games when it counts the most.
With two game-winners in his brief Sixers tenure, Butler’s ability to shoulder the burden late will help the Sixers keep pace with the Celtics’ explosive offense. Getting a Kyrie Irving vs. Jimmy Butler showdown in a tight game would be quite the Christmas treat.