The Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics are set to battle in front of Philadelphia’s rowdy crowd in what could be an intense season-opener for both teams.
It’s fun to call it a rivalry, but recent memory makes it silly. The Sixers simply can’t solve the Boston Celtics puzzle. After losing to them in the 2018 Eastern Conference Semifinals, 4-1, they again got kicked around in the following regular season, dropping all but one of the four regular season match-ups.
FRESH FACES ON BOTH SIDES
What’s encouraging for the Sixers, however, is that it will feel like a whole new ballgame this time. They have grown as a team, including stars Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, and added new blood. All-Star and 12-year veteran big man Al Horford tops that list, as he is bringing leadership, pain presence, and passing. Swingman Josh Richardson, who’s fresh-off averaging a career-high 16.6 points per game, is also now on board. He’ll be bringing in energy on both sides of the floor. Finally, Tobias Harris, the key acquisition from the 2019 trade deadline, will be continuing to build chemistry within the group. The sweet-shooting forward put up 18.2 points and 7.9 rebounds in 27 games with the Sixers last season, and he’s a valuable threat from inside and out.
The Celtics, on the other hand, have had a big overhaul. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen remain as the touted future, but gone from the rotation are Horford, Kyrie Irving, Terry Rozier, and Marcus Morris; in comes a handful of other talent.
All-Star and scoring machine Kemba Walker (career-high 25.6 PPG last season) headlined the Celtics’ list of acquisitions last off-season. He’s as dangerous as Irving is on offense while maintaining a much toned down personality. Should he welcome the Brad Stevens system with open arms, he’ll be poised for an even better offensive season. Enes Kanter is another signing that should provide a lift. The 6’11 bruiser is an offensively-skilled center that the team needs. He’s been averaging a double-double across the last two seasons (14.9 PPG, 10.4 RPG).
THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT
The kids in the Sixers and Celtics’ locker rooms are definitely alright, as both were lucky to swoop in talent in the last two drafts.
Philly got a steal in Matisse Thybule this year. The former Washington Husky led the NCAA in steals last season and won the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year award. He also looked good in the preseason and is slowly but surely gaining a role in the team’s rotation. Guard Zhaire Smith, an athletic freak who’s now healthy after missing 76 games last season due to a whirlwind of injuries, is also deemed to assert himself.
The feature rookie on the Celtics is Carsen Edwards, a high-scoring point guard out of Purdue University. The 5’11 speedster is basically an Isaiah Thomas clone and he showed his abilities in the preseason by chipping in 15.2 PPG despite just playing 18.1 MPG. In a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers this week, Edwards went berserk and dropped 24 points in the third quarter courtesy of eight three-pointers.
PREDICTION:
The Sixers take the win through a balanced attack. We can expect a more disciplined Celtics attack, though, which will be unlike the dreadful postseason showing they had against the Milwaukee Bucks in the recent playoffs.
