Philadelphia 76ers: Potential conference finals matchup against Bucks

The Philadelphia 76ers have a potential matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks in the conference finals, if the Sixers can get past the Toronto Raptors first.

In a way, Philadelphia 76ers fans should be thanking the Milwaukee Bucks for making quick work of the Sixers division rival, the Boston Celtics. The Bucks won their series against the Celtics in five games and are now waiting to face the winner of the 76ers and Toronto Raptors series. However, if Philly does win their next two games then they will face Milwaukee in the Eastern Conference finals.

Between the Bucks and the Celtics, the Bucks are the much better matchup for the Sixers if they can get past the Raptors. In the past two seasons, including last year’s playoffs, Philly has gone 3-10 against the Celtics. Boston has caused issues for the 76ers recently, so not having to worry about the prospects facing them should take some mental edge off their minds.

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In the same stretch, the Sixers have gone 3-4 against the Bucks. That’s much better odds and, outside of Giannis Antetokounmpo, no other of Milwaukee’s players can carry the team on their shoulders. Boston has a few player like Kyrie Irving, Jayson Tatum and even to a less consistent basis Gordon Hayward.

Against the Bucks, the Sixers can force Antetokounmpo to become an outside shooter by putting Joel Embiid on and staying home on the other four shooters the Bucks have on the court. Allowing one player in Antetokounmpo having to score 40 or 50 points and not letting Milwaukee’s role players beat the Sixers is a much easier task for the 76ers than having to worry about the multiple perimeter threats that Boston has.

Embiid is one of the few players in the NBA that has the strength and length to defend Antetokounmpo effectively. Then the Sixers have long defenders in Jimmy Butler, Ben Simmons and Tobias Harris to cover the Bucks floors spacers. Yes J.J. Redick isn’t a plus defender, but head coach Brett Brown can put Redick on the least threatening offensive player to hide his faults.

Offensively, the Sixers will need both Simmons and Embiid to play at a higher level than they are currently playing against the Raptors, if they want a chance to win that series and to win a potential series against the Bucks. Both players are performing well below their season averages and it’s simply not enough for the Sixers to get past the Raptors or possibly the Bucks.

As of now, the Bucks are second in points per game (116.9) and third in points allowed (101.6) during the playoffs this season. On the same note, the Sixers are seventh in points per game (110.2) and 10th in points allowed (107.5). If the Sixers can win the next two games and can get to the East finals, it won’t be an easy task to defeat the Bucks four times out of seven chances.

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Obviously, before the Philadelphia 76ers even let the thought of the Bucks creep into their minds, they have to take care of business and win the next two games against the Raptors. The Sixers are down 3-2 and can’t afford to be distracted by a future opponent. However, if they do get past Toronto, Philly is in a better position in facing the Bucks rather than the Celtics.