For the Philadelphia 76ers to accomplish their postseason goals, players and coaches must step up their performance. However, there are five players in particular who will be the key to defeating the Boston Celtics in the first round.
"“I THINK THIS TEAM IS DESIGNED FOR THE PLAYOFFS.” — Brett Brown"
Brett Brown is officially coaching for his job. He declared that the construction of the Philadelphia 76ers roster will bring success in the playoffs. If this is the case, he must figure out his rotation and pinpoint which players are most valuable in this tough matchup against their longtime rival, the Boston Celtics.
Who will he have guarding Jayson Tatum and Kemba Walker? Will he depend mainly on Joel Embiid to generate offense, or will he find other players to step up should the Celtics relentlessly double team the All-Star center?
These are questions to ponder, so we will explore the players who are most critical in this first-round matchup against Boston.
5. Alec Burks
Some people scratched their head when Elton Brand traded draft assets for Glenn Robinson III and Alec Burks. Once the season restarted in July and the offense began sputtering, we now know why the deal was made.
In this series versus the Celtics, the 76ers will need someone other than Joel Embiid and Tobias Harris to score the basketball. No other player off the bench has been as productive as Burks. We have seen him put up impressive scoring numbers, considering that the 76ers won’t be getting playmaking contributions from Ben Simmons.
Burks gives the team an offensive threat who can get to the rim and finish or pull up for 3. What he lacks in passing, he makes up for a smooth shooting stroke from long distance. With the Celtics showing they can put up high scores in the eight seeding games, the Sixers will need a player like Burks to inject instant offense into their system.
Burks may not have worn a red, white, and blue jersey as long as his other teammates, but his bench scoring is one of the top five keys to the 76ers’ playoff achievements.
4. Matisse Thybulle
How can a rookie be in the top five of the most important players for a playoff team’s success? If we jog back our memories to opening night back in October, you will understand why.
In his NBA debut, Matisse Thybulle made astonishing defensive plays that had Sixer fans optimistically surprised and Celtic fans jealous. He frustrated his opponents, and he created a nice highlight reel for himself, pestering the likes of All-Star guard Kemba Walker. After that game, the NBA was on notice when it came to the defensive tactics of the Sixers’ newest addition. Speaking of Kemba Walker…
In this series, Kemba Walker will be thirsty for a playoff win. After suffering in Charlotte his entire career without playoff success, he knows that his best shot at a ring is in Beantown. That being said, the 76ers rookie out of Washington can make Walker’s life hell. We have seen throughout the year how Thybulle’s quickness and agility can disrupt any offense. When it comes to man-to-man defense, he is probably one of the quickest to recover if his man drives past him. Thybulle has a penchant for tipping the ball away from behind or blocking pull-up jumpers that are assumed safe to take from the same opponent.
In the playoffs, defense is always paramount for a team’s success. In Matisse Thybulle, he gives the 76ers a defensive edge that Boston must account for if they seek to advance.
3. Tobias Harris
Toward the end of the seeding stretch, Tobias Harris struggled to find his shot. When the playoffs begin though, his offensive consistency must find a way to be turned up another notch.
Ben Simmons’ absence may impact Harris’s game more than anyone, knowing that fast breaks were much more potent with Simmons running the show. Harris may get easy baskets in transition, but not at the same clip as when Simmons was playing. Therefore, Harris will probably have to create more for himself off the dribble and receive passes out of Embiid double teams to be most effective.
Being unable to run as much will put pressure on Harris’s perimeter game, but he has shown that his 3-point shooting has improved since last year. Should Embiid get into foul trouble or experience any new, random injury, Harris will have to carry the load as the team’s most offensively versatile player.
As the vocal leader for the Sixers, Harris has been an advocate for social change and a reliable, veteran figure for the younger players all year. In the playoffs though, Harris must show the true value in his game to help the 76ers advance to the next round.
2. Joel Embiid
Another player who has been visible and vocal, in many aspects of the season, is Joel Embiid. He has given multiple quotes about the disappointment from last year’s loss to the Toronto Raptors. He has been on record expressing dissatisfaction with the loss of former teammates Jimmy Butler and J.J. Redick. He has even professed an affinity for prolonging his Sixers tenure next to Ben Simmons.
After all of the podcasts, interviews, and endorsement ads, Joel Embiid’s time for action over speech starts now.
How sweet would it be for Embiid to be the leading force behind a Sixers triumph over the Celtics in the playoffs? If he dominates a smaller Celtics frontline (except for Tacko Fall), like he did against other teams in the seeding games, Embiid will wear a smile wider than Matisse Thybulle’s wingspan. For this to happen, Embiid must punish Enes Kanter and Daniel Theis down low. Should they give him room to face up, he can pull up and shoot his soft-touch jumper. If he pump fakes, we have seen the three-time All-Star drive to the lane and finish with power.
On the defensive end, Embiid must make his presence felt at the rim. Surely, blossoming stars like Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown will test the Sixers’ big man. Should Embiid establish the paint as his domain and rule it like the beast we have seen him at times, his share of blocks and rebounds could be the difference between a Sixers series win or a quick trip home from Orlando.
1. Al Horford
Celtics fans should feel bad for two reasons. First, they won’t be able to boo Al Horford at the TD Garden in the playoffs. Second, they won’t be able to stop their former center from sharing his knowledge of the team’s tendencies and inside information about Brett Stevens’ game-planning.
Inaside from these reasons, Horford could actually have a significant impact on the court, securing a series victory for the 76ers. His production, both tangible and intangible, could be the most important than any other Sixer. Here’s why.
We know that in two of the three games (both wins) he played against the Celtics this year, Horford scored over 16 points. That kind of offensive production will help alleviate inside scoring from Embiid. Horford also attempted multiple 3s in those games, which will space the floor for the Sixers’ offense. If Horford gets hot from beyond the arc, like he did early in the seeding games, his offensive contribution will pay dividends within Brett Brown’s offensive scheme.
Defensively, nobody on the 76ers knows the intricacies of the Celtics’ offense like Horford. Having played for Boston multiple years and learning the players’ strengths, weaknesses, and preferences, Horford can unroll a blueprint to help his current team tear down the Celtics’ walls.
Lastly, the little things that Horford brings must be seen as an asset. His screens, on-court communication, and his veteran experience will give the Sixers a boost that not many teammates can provide. As some have done in the past, don’t sleep on Al Horford.
Brett Brown’s game board has been knocked over many times since last summer. Trades, injuries, and suspensions have hindered any continuity he sought from day one. However, his moment to reset the chess pieces and strategize for a rigorous postseason is upon him. Should he think four to five steps ahead of the opposing coach, Brad Stevens, the Sixers can come out on top. The players mentioned earlier are primed to be placed in the most auspicious spots on the board. Can Brett Brown do it? A second-round matchup depends on it.