With Joel Embiid, their only clear advantage-generator against Boston, sidelined to start the playoffs, the Philadelphia 76ers are going to have to take a steep trek to mount an upset over the Celtics. A lot of things have to go right for them while trying to beat their opponents at their own game to even make their usual tormentors sweat.
The 76ers will be relying on their big guns to fill in for Embiid and put up huge scoring numbers, but one name that could very well swing the tides for them in this seven-game series is Kelly Oubre Jr. The veteran forward has become an even more vital part of the team this season, and he will especially be relied on to do a lot more against the Celtics.
Oubre has permanently rejoined the starting lineup, and while it has weakened the bench, the 76ers have fared better with him joining the starters in the opening group. And facing Boston, Nick Nurse and his staff will once again rely on his malleability on both ends to help give the squad a better fighting chance to upset their higher-seeded opponents.
Kelly Oubre Jr. will be the X-factor for the 76ers against the Celtics
Joe Mazzulla and the Celtics are pretty aggressive in attacking the other team's weak points, and among the starters (not counting Adem Bona), Oubre is definitely the most temperamental on some aspects.
This season, Oubre managed to drain 36 percent of his three-point shots, which is easily a career-best mark for him. Be that as it may, Boston will be content with letting him fire away from rainbow country as much as possible, so he has to punish the Celtics defenders for their likely game plan of sagging off of him to double down on the likes of Tyrese Maxey and Paul George.
Meanwhile, Oubre will also have his work cut out for him on the defensive end. He will most likely find himself guarding either Jaylen Brown or Jayson Tatum, being one of the rangeir defenders the 76ers can throw at those superstars.
For those reasons, it is not difficult to see how big of a difference Kelly Oubre can make for the 76ers in this particular playoff series. He has been a very positive presence for the squad this season, and it is now high time for him to prove that his game can translate well into high-stake situations.
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