Jonathan Geib
On Monday, our beloved Philadelphia 76ers begin their championship quest with a first-round playoff matchup against the Boston Celtics. This year was supposed to be THE year that the Sixers broke through and challenged the Milwaukee Bucks, LA Clippers, and the Los Angeles Lakers for NBA supremacy. After a disappointing regular season and a string of injuries, there is arguably more uncertainty around this team than ever before.
The 76ers can win the series against the Boston Celtics, but that does not mean they will. The Sixers are notably missing Ben Simmons for the remainder of the season and will rely on young guards to step up and support the veteran frontcourt of Joel Embiid and Al Horford. If there has been one consistent attribute of this team, it is a strong defensive presence. The Sixers are top 10 in the NBA in defensive efficiency (eighth), defensive rebounding percentage (fourth), steals (ninth), and blocks (ninth).
The young guards are crucial in this series matchup. Even with the team’s defensive prowess, star guards tend to light up the Sixers, as seen from Devin Booker, Damian Lillard, and most applicable, Kemba Walker. Even T.J. Warren torched the 76ers, although in fairness, bubble T.J. Warren was a different person. Matisse Thybulle and Josh Richardson are likely to draw the assignment of guarding Kemba in this upcoming series, and if their recent defense is any indication, the Sixers are in some trouble.
As I previously wrote about, Joel Embiid and Al Horford’s size are the greatest strength in this series for the Sixers, as the Celtics’ frontcourt is their weakness. This series could easily turn into the Celtics guards and Sixers big men both stuffing the stat sheets, which means the difference-maker will be defending those respective positions. If Richardson and Thybulle can guard Walker and Jayson Tatum better than Enes Kanter and Daniel Theis guard Embiid and Horford, we have a real chance of winning the series.
Philadelphia is 3-1 against Boston this year and I expect the confidence built from the regular season to carry into the playoffs. Losing an All-Start hurts any team, but this matchup is one where Ben is not the most important factor to winning. Granted he has played at a first team All-Defensive level this year, and his length would help against Walker, but I believe the Sixers can adjust.
Ultimately, the series will be impacted by game to game adjustments by Brad Stevens and Brett Brown. Brown knows his job is on the line so maybe this series will bring out his best coaching. I am optimistic it will and optimistic Embiid will show that he is a top five player in the league. Sixers in seven, book it!