Will the Sixers' playoff run end against the Celtics? Our writers weigh in on the second-round series. NBAPlayoffs
Inquirer columnist Mike Sielski
So the Celtics beat the Sixers in three of the teams’ four games this season. And the Sixers needed a nearly superhuman effort from Joel Embiid to win just that one time. And the Celtics were missing two of their top players that night. And a knee injury has hobbled Embiid for this series. And the Celtics have the personnel to give James Harden and Tyrese Maxey fits on the perimeter. To say this series will be an uphill climb for the Sixers does a disservice to hills.This is the end.
With a completely healthy Embiid, I probably would have talked myself into picking the Sixers in six, given what we saw out of the Sixers on the defensive end against the Nets. P.J. Tucker and De’Anthony Melton are huge additions for this team compared to last year. With Embiid in the paint, I think the Sixers were equipped to win a couple of knock-down, drag-out games in addition to a couple where all their shots were falling like Game 1 against Brooklyn.
It’s a shame, then, that I’m picking the Celtics to breeze. Whatever the reality of Embiid’s injury, the juju isn’t good. They are a team that always seems to take a couple of steps back when their big man is playing under this sort of cloud. If he doesn’t play at all, the series will be over by this time next week. If he really is injured enough to be considered doubtful 24 hours ahead of Game 1, I can’t imagine he’s healthy enough to be the player they need.
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