7:30 PM EST, TNT – Line: Celtics -1.5, Over/Under: 210
One of the National Basketball Association’s classic rivalries adds yet another chapter to its lore as the surging Boston Celtics and the reigning Atlantic Division Champion, Philadelphia 76ers cross paths for the fourth time this season, with Wells Fargo Center serving as the backdrop tonight in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Though it may not have looked like it, the Celtics (33-25, 6th in Eastern Conference) underwent a soft reboot in the offseason, with the franchise undergoing some fairly significant changes; after spiraling to a disappointing 36-36 finish, their first at .500 or below in six years, and an equally disturbing exit in the first round of the playoffs, Boston parted ways with long time General Manager, Danny Ainge, who was replaced by (Head Coach) Brad Stevens, who effectively abdicated his position on the bench in favor of moving up within the organization. Of course, Stevens has presided over this era of basketball in Beantown, arriving to a side hitting the reset button for the first time in ages, and in turn rebuilt them in short order; the 45-year-old took his team to seven consecutive postseason appearances, including three conference finals, all the while developing the plethora of talent acquired via all the draft picks that Ainge had amassed over the years. His choice to succeed him would be Ime Udoka, who after cutting his teeth as a member of Gregg Popovich’s staff in San Antonio from 2012 to 2019, spent last season as Steve Nash’s chief lieutenant in Brooklyn. From a personnel standpoint, Stevens would quickly get to work in the offseason adding (veteran Forward) Al Horford (10.0 PTS, 43.8% FG, 29.9% 3FG, 84.4% FT, 7.5 REB, 3.3 AST, 0.6 STL, 1.3 BLK, 16.2 PER), (sparkplug Point Guard) Dennis Schroder (14.4 PTS, 44.0% FG, 34.9% 3FG, 84.8% FT, 3.3 REB, 4.2 AST, 0.8 STL, 13.9 PER), and (versatile Swingman) Josh Richardson (9.7 PTS, 44.3% FG, 39.7% 3FG, 85.9% FT, 2.8 REB, 1.5 AST, 0.8 STL, 0.5 BLK, 12.5 PER) in an attempt to inject some more playmaking and creativity into the rotation, bringing Horford back to the Northeast after a two-year stint away from the club that he had previously enjoyed some of his greatest years with (2016-2019). However, this cocktail proved to be a bitter one at first, as Boston stumbled out to a disappointing 17-19 start over the first two months of the campaign, struggling to build much of a chemistry on either end of the hardwood, with rumors of their two young star Swingmen, Jayson Tatum (25.7 PTS, 43.2% FG, 32.6% 3FG, 84.3% FT, 8.4 REB, 4.1 AST, 1.0 STL, 0.7 BLK, 20.3 PER) and Jaylen Brown (23.5 PTS, 45.5% FG, 34.2% 3FG, 77.6% FT, 6.6 REB, 3.2 AST, 1.1 STL, 17.9 PER), coming into conflict with each other. Fortunately for all parties involved, both All-Stars squashed whatever perceived beef there was, with the C’s unsurprisingly all the better for it, for Udoka’s troops have gone 16-6 since the turn of the calendar, averaging 108.9 points per game on a healthy 46.3% shooting from the field, including 34.7% from downtown, while dishing out 24.6 assists in comparison to committing just 13.5 turnovers. With that said, the biggest change has come on the defensive end, where they have rounded into one of the stingiest units in the NBA over this stretch, yielding just 98.0 points on 41.3% shooting from the floor, including 32.6% from beyond the arc, while outrebounding the opposition by a stellar 4.7 boards a night, and permitting 21.2 assists opposed to forcing 12.8 takeaways. Obviously, having Horford back in the rotation to organize the defense has given them not only one of the smartest players in the league but some sorely needed interior defense and physicality, which was a HUGE issue for them a year ago. Simply put, they couldn’t defend the rim at all in 2020-2021, and the big fella has been a huge component for a side that ranks second overall in blocks (6.0) and first in two-point field goal percentage defense (49.2%). Despite being owners of the league’s longest current winning streak at eight games, Stevens was VERY active at last week’s Trade Deadline, dealing away both Schroder and Richardson in separate deals with the Spurs and Rockets, reuniting with (former Center) Daniel Theis (8.4 TS, 46.9%, FG, 29.1% 3FG, 67.5% FT, 5.0 REB, 0.8 AST, 0.7 BLK, 10.9 PER) and welcoming in Derrick White (14.5 PTS, 38.5% FG, 29.4% 3FG, 80.0% FT, 5.0 REB, 3.5 AST, 1.0 STL, 0.5 BLK, 15.3 PER). While the former brings familiarity and toughness off the bench, the addition of the latter is a coup for the Celtics; spending his first five seasons in San Antonio, White is very familiar with Udoka, who has already begun to utilize his length and playmaking acumen to positive results. Affectionately referred to as Slow-Mo, the 27-year-old has the size and versatility to guard multiple positions, which is a must in Boston, while fostering more ball-movement on the offensive end of the floor, which is another thing that this group struggled with last year. Basically, Tatum and Brown were charged with creating for themselves and the rest of the team, and for all their growth and development over the past few years, facilitating the attack isn’t necessarily their strength, which is why Stevens went out and brought both Schroder and Richardson into the building over the Summer.
When we last saw the Celtics, they added another scalp to their collection via a 105-95 victory over the Hawks at TD Garden Sunday afternoon, overcoming an early 28-17 deficit to rally to their eighth straight victory. After trailing 55-45 at halftime and shooting a miserable 7-of-22 from the field (31.8%) in the first period, Boston swung momentum back into their corner in the third quarter, where they utterly hammered Atlanta to the tune of 42-23. We’d love to hear what Udoka told his charges at halftime, for they shot a torrid 13-of-18 from the floor (72.2%), including 5-of-7 from three (71.4%), while outscoring the visitors 11-0 from the free-throw line, with the tandem of Tatum and Brown outscoring their opponent on their own (27 points). In the end, the hosts smothered the visiting side, relinquishing a scant 36.6% shooting overall, while outrebounding them 54-48, and yielding just eighteen assists opposed to thirteen turnovers. Furthermore, they throttled them in transition, besting them 18-5 on the break, which helped lead to a considerable advantage in the paint (50-36). Tatum led the way with thirty-eight points on 13-of-27 shooting (48.1%), including 4-of-10 from beyond the arc (40.0%) and 8-of-9 from the charity stripe (88.9%), along with ten rebounds, three assists and a pair of blocks. Brown offered seventeen points, while (young Center) Robert “Time Lord” Williams (10.0 PTS, 73.2% FG, 69.3% FT, 9.7 REB, 2.0 AST, 0.9 STL, 2.2 BLK, 21.9 PER) made an impact on both ends with ten points and fourteen rebounds, six being of the offensive variety. And as for White, he was one of only two reserves to find the bottom of the net, adding fourteen points along with an all-round effort of four rebounds, five assists, and a pair of steals. And now it’s off to the City of Brotherly Love, where they’ll be facing a Sixers side that is a bit shorthanded after setting the Trade Deadline on fire with the biggest blockbuster of the season (more on that shortly). After narrowly edging them in an 88-87 victory at the Garden back in early December, they’ve lost their last two encounters with Philly, including last month’s 111-99 defeat at Wells Fargo. The visitors fell into a 32-14 hole that they never managed to dig themselves out of, shooting 6-of-18 in the first quarter (33.3%), before finishing the affair with as many turnovers as assists (20). Tatum and Brown combined for forty-one points, but were made to earn everything they got, together shooting 14-of-35 from the field (40.0%) and just 4-of-16 from downtown (25.0%), while accounting for a dozen of those turnovers. In sixteen career meetings, Tatum has struggled against their Atlantic Division rivals, averaging just 18.4 points on 41.2% shooting, including 33.3% from deep, with 7.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists to boot. With the All-Star Break looming, tonight’s trip to Philadelphia presents a golden opportunity for Boston to continue to advance themselves up the Eastern Conference pecking order; they trail the 76ers by two games in the standings, while sitting 4.5 games out of first place in what has suddenly become a wide-open playing field.
Meanwhile, no team made more noise at the Trade Deadline than the 76ers (34-22, 5th in Eastern Conference), who finally put to rest the longest running saga in the NBA, while also managing to position themselves as favorites within the East. After suffering an upset to the Hawks in last Summer’s Eastern Conference Finals, (All-Star Point Guard) Ben Simmons became the goat for said failure and instigated a lengthy standoff with the organization in which he willingly sat out the first fifty-six games of the regular season following a demand to be traded. This fascinating drama played out for months, as Philadelphia continued to fine the former no. one overall pick for every game that he missed, equating to roughly $23 million of his $30.5 million salary. While the argument could be made that they missed his services, particularly from a playmaking perspective, the Sixers nonetheless managed to march out to a 32-22 record, planting themselves in the thick of the race for the no. one seed thanks in large part to an MVP campaign courtesy of (All-NBA Center) Joel Embiid (29.3 PTS, 49.2% FG, 36.2% 3FG, 81.4% FT, 11.2 REB, 4.5 AST, 1.0 STL, 1.5 BLK, 31.8 PER). While he was nothing short of dominant last season, the 27-year-old has been even better this year, leading the NBA with a career-high 29.5 points per game on 49.2% shooting from the field, including 36.2% from beyond the arc, 11.2 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.0 steal, and 1.5 blocks. For the second consecutive campaign he has managed to stay largely healthy, putting the foot and knee injuries that plagued him throughout the early stages of his career behind him. With that said, there is always the possibility that the big fella finds himself on the trainer’s table, and for that reason the pressure was squarely on (Lead Executive) Daryl Morey to find him reinforcements. However, the crafty Morey refused to deal Simmons away for pennies on a dollar, resisting a slew of potential deals in an attempt to hold out for the acquisition of a superstar to pair with Embiid, and with less than an hour remaining before Thursday’s Deadline, hit a grand slam in acquiring the services of (2017-2018 MVP) James Harden (22.5% PTS, 41.4% FG, 33.2% 3FG, 86.9% FT, 8.0 REB, 10.2 AST, 1.3 STL, 0.7 BLK, 21.0 PER) in a blockbuster deal with the Nets that shook the foundations of the Association. Of course, Morey knew the three-time scoring champion from their time together with the Rockets, and once Harden let it be known that he would be in favor of a trade to Philly, while also making it clear that he would leave Brooklyn in Free Agency this coming Summer, the Sixers had all the leverage they needed to make the deal. In poaching the 10-time All-Star, Morey parted ways with Simmons, (sharpshooting Guard) Seth Curry (15.0 PTS, 48.5% FG, 40.0% 3FG, 87.7% FT, 3.4 REB, 4.0 AST, 0.8 STL, 13.8 PER), and (backup Center) Andre Drummond (6.1 PTS, 53.8% FG, 51.2% FT, 8.8 REB, 2.0 AST, 1.1 STL, 0.9 BLK, 19.8 PER) along with a number of draft picks, though managed to retain the services of a pair of their younger, more affordable players, such as (defensive dynamo) Matisse Thybulle (5.9 PTS, 50.8% FG, 30.6% 3FG, 71.4% FT, 2.3 REB, 1.1 AST, 1.9 STL, 1.1 BLK, 11.3 PER) and (sparkplug Guard) Tyrese Maxey (17.0 PTS, 47.5% FG, 39.9% 3FG, 86.0% FT, 3.6 REB, 4.7 AST, 0.7 STL, 0.5 BLK, 16.2 PER). Essentially, Morey turned a massive empty roster slot and a pair of supporting cast members into one of the most prolific offensive players that the league has ever seen, and with Harden immediately opting into his Player Option of over $40 million, he will be in Philadelphia for the foreseeable future. However, this deal isn’t without its potential pitfalls. How will Harden and Embiid fit together? The last time he played with an All-Star Center (I.E. Dwight Howard) their relationship was toxic to say the least before he ran the big man out of Houston. Will he manage to stay in shape? He was infamous for forcing his way out of Houston last season arriving to camp overweight and apathetic, while hamstring strains have dogged the 32-year-old over the last eighteen months. And what about the financial repercussions of the deal? While, picking up that option offers the Sixers some financial flexibility in the short term, the super max that he’s sure to command will likely become an albatross in the latter stages of the deal, when he will be in the twilight of his career. All that aside, this is trade is Morey and the 76ers going ALL-IN on maximizing Embiid’s prime, and in better position to bring the franchise its first Larry O’Brien trophy since 1983 than they were beforehand. Not long after the deal was made official, (Head Coach) Doc Rivers made it clear that he will be keeping Harden out of action until after this weekend’s All-Star Break, giving his new toy every opportunity to heal from a hamstring strain that has kept him out for the last six contests.
When we last saw the 76ers, they managed to bounce back after a spell in which they had lost three out of four games, stringing together back-to-back victories with a 103-93 triumph over the upstart Cavaliers from Wells Fargo Center last Saturday night. This one was decided early, folks, as Philadelphia torched Cleveland in the first quarter to the tune of 14-of-19 shooting from the field (73.7%), assisting on nine of their fourteen field goals, with Embiid utterly abusing the Cavs’ big men for fourteen points, five rebounds, and six assists, including one VERY fearsome dunk on All-Star Center Jarrett Allen. The big fella went for FORTY points when it was all said and done, netting 11-of-22 attempts (50.0%), including 4-of-5 from beyond the arc (80.0%), and knocking down more free-throws (14) than the visitors altogether (13), while adding fourteen rebounds and ten assists which was good for his second triple-double of the campaign. The lack of depth around wasn’t an issue in this contest, for apart from Maxey finishing with sixteen and (versatile Forward) Tobias Harris (18.9 PTS, 48.7% FG, 35.4% 3FG, 84.8% FT, 7.4 REB, 3.7 AST, 0.6 STL, 0.7 BLK, 17.8 PER) chipping in with eleven, there wasn’t another player on the team to score in double-figures. Then again, they didn’t need to, as Rivers’ troops handled Cleveland on the defensive end, outrebounding them 40-34, and relinquishing twenty-one assists in comparison to forcing seventeen turnovers, six of which were steals courtesy of Thybulle. And now it’s time for another encounter with the Celtics, whom they’ve bested in each of their last two meetings, including that aforementioned 111-99 victory back on January 14th. As we touched upon earlier, the 76ers’ defense killed this one off early on, forcing EIGHT turnovers in the first quarter alone, as Boston could never quite get back into the affair. Embiid finished with a routine twenty-five points, thirteen rebounds, and six assists, but Maxey really showed out with twenty-three points on 8-of-16 shooting (50.0%), including a torrid 5-of-7 from three (71.4%), with five assists, while Harris and Curry added seventeen points apiece. Over the course of his career, Embiid and the C’s have crossed paths seventeen times, with the seven-footer averaging 26.5 points per game on 45.5% shooting, 12.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.7 blocks, though it should be interesting how he gets on with his former teammate, Horford, who has traditionally done a solid job of defending him. One of five teams int he Eastern Conference within 2.5 games of first place, there is little doubt that the mandate from Rivers is to remain within striking distance heading into the All-Star Break, as they ready to unleash what they hope to be a healthy Harden for the stretch run.