ECSF: P1 | (2) Boston Celtics vs Philadelphia 76ers (3) | BOS 1-0

[Snotbubbles]

Just looked at the box scores from the PHI/BOS series this year.

Good lord, the Sixers had Bayless, Holmes, TLC, Booker and Stauskas coming off the bench for them. Hot garbage.

[Froob]

Philly outta win either series. Milwaukee is low on shooting and is pretty bad on the road. Boston will get hammered on the boards but, they do have Horford who is Embiid’s kyrptonite. Illusova and “Bellynelly” would probably be the difference makers.

[Hello Brooklyn]

If its Boston, Embiid will feast on the Celtics.

They don't really have anyone to guard him.

It's funny cause he's had 1 good game against us out of 4. So has Simmons and we're the best team in the league at defending the 3 point line(Smart is back which helps too).

Not sure why the regular season should be relevant.

Philly is completely different team than it was back then.

Also, you don't have Kyrie.

Also, its the playoffs.

[SmartWentCrazy]

If the Celtics advanced, the keys to the game will be turnovers and offensive rebounds.

If Philly is careless with the ball, the Celtics will punish the 76ers— far too much of their offense relies on capitalizing on the mistakes of their opponents.

If Boston is careless when defensive rebounding, the 76ers will punish the Celtics— Philly crashes the glass hard with Saric/Simmons/Illy and seclnd chance points typically kill the Celtics.

Hopefully the Celtics can close out the Bucks, very interested to see how Boston’s youth stacks up vs Philly’s youth in a playoff series. Would be nice to see the start of a renewed Celtics-Sixers rivalry for the next decade.

Also, it feels like Karma that Bostons backups should break the hearts of Philly fans after the superbowl.

[jonjames]

Bring on the Celtics, we beat the Patriots and we can beat the Celtics too.

You definitely have a shot with everything that has happened and the addition. If you don't beat us now and we're healthy next season it ain't happening. So you better hope you do it now IF we make it to the next round.

Impossible to know. Philly might add LeBron and Fultz, Simmons can shoot and win 68 games.

Lebron led teams are lazy and always under perform during the regular season so 68 wins won't be happening.

[knuckles862]

Hopefully the celtics win because i fill like the bucks would get swept by the sixers

[FlatearthZorro]

If its Boston, Embiid will feast on the Celtics.

They don't really have anyone to guard him.

It's funny cause he's had 1 good game against us out of 4. So has Simmons and we're the best team in the league at defending the 3 point line(Smart is back which helps too).

Not sure why the regular season should be relevant.

Philly is completely different team than it was back then.

Also, you don't have Kyrie.

Also, its the playoffs.

Our defense is still the same tho, so is our 3 point defense, which makes your point irrelevant. Also if you don't wanna take anything into consideration meaning facts it means you can say whatever you want but it's your opinion, not reality. Both Simmons and Embiid shot the ball awfully against us sans 1 game.

We will see. I don't expect anyone to pick us so I understand where you're coming from. We still have games vs the Bucks so too soon to talk.

[FlatearthZorro]

To me, people will call me crazy, but both MIL and BOS should be more worried about being able to handle guys like Reddick/Bellineli and Ilyasova. I think the spacing is what makes the 6ers good right now. Marco has always been good against the C's. Even the game before he got released by the Hawks- he was unconscious against us.

[GeorgeMarcus]

If its Boston, Embiid will feast on the Celtics.

They don't really have anyone to guard him.

It's funny cause he's had 1 good game against us out of 4. So has Simmons and we're the best team in the league at defending the 3 point line(Smart is back which helps too).

1 out of 3* and at least 2 of those games in the beginning of the season. He was coming off a year of rust (didn't play at all in the preseason) and we had nothing in the way of team chemistry. Now he knows how to play off Simmons and can rely on a better supporting cast.

[Snotbubbles]

It's funny cause he's had 1 good game against us out of 4. So has Simmons and we're the best team in the league at defending the 3 point line(Smart is back which helps too).

Not sure why the regular season should be relevant.

Philly is completely different team than it was back then.

Also, you don't have Kyrie.

Also, its the playoffs.

Our defense is still the same tho, so is our 3 point defense, which makes your point irrelevant. Also if you don't wanna take anything into consideration meaning facts it means you can say whatever you want but it's your opinion, not reality. Both Simmons and Embiid shot the ball awfully against us sans 1 game.

We will see. I don't expect anyone to pick us so I understand where you're coming from. We still have games vs the Bucks so too soon to talk.

Without Kyrie the Celtics aren't as good as Philly. Using what happened in the regular season is moot because Boston is different and Philly is different. The only game Kyrie missed, Boston lost and they were bad in that game.

[FlatearthZorro]

Not sure why the regular season should be relevant.

Philly is completely different team than it was back then.

Also, you don't have Kyrie.

Also, its the playoffs.

Our defense is still the same tho, so is our 3 point defense, which makes your point irrelevant. Also if you don't wanna take anything into consideration meaning facts it means you can say whatever you want but it's your opinion, not reality. Both Simmons and Embiid shot the ball awfully against us sans 1 game.

We will see. I don't expect anyone to pick us so I understand where you're coming from. We still have games vs the Bucks so too soon to talk.

Without Kyrie the Celtics aren't as good as Philly. Using what happened in the regular season is moot because Boston is different and Philly is different. The only game Kyrie missed, Boston lost and they were bad in that game.

That's your opinion. Which could true. We're not Miami tho. That's for sure. And they played you in some very close games. I trust we'd do better, if that's the best you got.

As I said nobody knows what will happen. Too soon, if we were to pass this round, I got us in 6.

[bebopdeluxe]

At full strength, Philly would be lucky to take it to 5 vs Celts. Just a bad, bad matchup for them. Boston has more talent, more experience, homecourt and is a tougher and deeper team with a far better coach.

No Hayward, Boston in 5 or 6.

No Kyrie or Hayward, not much would surprise me. Either way, East as it stands is as weak as I have ever seen a conference, and I have been watching since like 1981. None of these East teams matter in any way, shape, or form.

Ha.

Your best season in the last 17 years wouldn't crack Boston's top 50 tho.

Facts.

Wait - are you a Dallas Cowboys fan - living on past glory while your team hasn't done JACK over the past 20 years?

Oh...sorry. Just noticed you are a Cheatriots fan. My bad.

And just like Celtics fans, you can pull out every Lombardi you guys have won...but...hmmm...

THE 2018 WORLD F'N CHAMPION PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

(get the f outta here with that history ish)

GOD, I hope you guys beat the Bucks.

[Snotbubbles]

Our defense is still the same tho, so is our 3 point defense, which makes your point irrelevant. Also if you don't wanna take anything into consideration meaning facts it means you can say whatever you want but it's your opinion, not reality. Both Simmons and Embiid shot the ball awfully against us sans 1 game.

We will see. I don't expect anyone to pick us so I understand where you're coming from. We still have games vs the Bucks so too soon to talk.

Without Kyrie the Celtics aren't as good as Philly. Using what happened in the regular season is moot because Boston is different and Philly is different. The only game Kyrie missed, Boston lost and they were bad in that game.

That's your opinion. Which could true. We're not Miami tho. That's for sure. And they played you in some very close games. I trust we'd do better, if that's the best you got.

As I said nobody knows what will happen. Too soon, if we were to pass this round, I got us in 6.

Define close. Sixers won by 27, 20, 4 and 13 in the Miami series. Average margin of victory, 16 points.

[FlatearthZorro]

Without Kyrie the Celtics aren't as good as Philly. Using what happened in the regular season is moot because Boston is different and Philly is different. The only game Kyrie missed, Boston lost and they were bad in that game.

That's your opinion. Which could true. We're not Miami tho. That's for sure. And they played you in some very close games. I trust we'd do better, if that's the best you got.

As I said nobody knows what will happen. Too soon, if we were to pass this round, I got us in 6.

Define close. Sixers won by 27, 20, 4 and 13 in the Miami series. Average margin of victory, 16 points.

Close is that you basically won 1 quarter by 14 points. First game was crazy shooting. I said it I dunno what will happen, depends on whether we can shoot well enough. If we do I don't see a reason we can't win this. Not going to argue a hypothetical matchup.

Still game/s to be played before we or MIL get there.

[XDevilBoiX]

Bring on the Celtics, we beat the Patriots and we can beat the Celtics too.

You definitely have a shot with everything that has happened and the addition. If you don't beat us now and we're healthy next season it ain't happening. So you better hope you do it now IF we make it to the next round.

I know you guys are without your 2 best players, if you advance,this will be a fun way to start off the rivalry. Both team are young and it should be a really good series.

[GregB]

I just remember when last time people brings up regular season matchup they came up with a conclusion which tells them once Embiid's back there would be a guy called Whiteside who would crush Embiid and help Heats beat Philly ...

People never learn ... and if you think this is the same Sixers you guys beat several months ago then good luck

Whiteside has been a slug all year. Anyone predicting whiteside to make a difference is an idiot.

[Snotbubbles]

That's your opinion. Which could true. We're not Miami tho. That's for sure. And they played you in some very close games. I trust we'd do better, if that's the best you got.

As I said nobody knows what will happen. Too soon, if we were to pass this round, I got us in 6.

Define close. Sixers won by 27, 20, 4 and 13 in the Miami series. Average margin of victory, 16 points.

Close is that you basically won 1 quarter by 14 points. First game was crazy shooting. I said it I dunno what will happen, depends on whether we can shoot well enough. If we do I don't see a reason we can't win this. Not going to argue a hypothetical matchup.

Still game/s to be played before we or MIL get there.

Game 1: Won 3 of 4 quarters
Game 2: Won 3 of 4 quarters
Game 3: Won 3 of 4 quarters
Game 4: Won 2 of 4 quarters (tied one quarter)
Game 5: Won 2 of 4 quarters

So to recap, Philly won 13 of 20 quarters, lost 6 of 20 and tied 1 of 20. Philly literally played one bad quarter of basketball against Miami and it cost them in game 2. This series wasn't really that close.

[Triple M]

Game 1 of this series possibly Sunday or Tuesday depending on what happens on Thursday. I don't want to speak on the Sixers much because the C's aren't finished business but in a potential series vs. Philly they have to defend the 3 a lot better than they have shown vs. the Bucks. As for Embiid the Celtics did have some success in limiting him to under 39% from the field and while i don't expect them duplicate that degree of success i think they can limit Embiid for a few possessions or certain stretches. Where Philly scares me is their transition breaks especially the back breaking 3's in transition but if we are forced to double Embiid than the set threes will be a huge problem as well.

[oldschooled]

I'm going on record as saying I would prefer the Bucks. Think the Celtics would be even favorites.

No way the Celtics would be favorites w/o Kyrie and Hayward. Philly would still be the favorite but this will be a tough win in 6 by Philly. Tougher than anyone been saying here. Celtics still have Brad Stevens and will def make Boston play hard. Would be a great series and learning experience for the Sixers imo.

Bring back the Sixers - Cetics rivalry!!!

Watch on YouTube

[Hello Brooklyn]

It's funny cause he's had 1 good game against us out of 4. So has Simmons and we're the best team in the league at defending the 3 point line(Smart is back which helps too).

Not sure why the regular season should be relevant.

Philly is completely different team than it was back then.

Also, you don't have Kyrie.

Also, its the playoffs.

Our defense is still the same tho, so is our 3 point defense, which makes your point irrelevant. Also if you don't wanna take anything into consideration meaning facts it means you can say whatever you want but it's your opinion, not reality. Both Simmons and Embiid shot the ball awfully against us sans 1 game.

We will see. I don't expect anyone to pick us so I understand where you're coming from. We still have games vs the Bucks so too soon to talk.

I didn't say we shouldn't take anything into consideration.

I just think its stupid to act like regular season games matter, when both teams are completely different.

The Sixers are 10x better than the team that Boston beat 3 times. They didn't have Ilyasova, Bellineli, or event Fultz back then. Simmons wasn't nearly as good. Embiid didn't even play in one of those games.

Celtics had Kyrie.