The moment the city of Philadelphia has been waiting for all year has finally arrived, with the second round of the NBA playoffs starting tonight between the Sixers and Celtics.

76ers vs Celtics Playoff Schedule – Round 2

• 5/1 (Mon): 76ers at Celtics, 7:30 pm, TNT.
• 5/3 (Wed): 76ers at Celtics, 8 pm, TNT.
• 5/5 (Fri): Celtics at 76ers, 7:30 pm, ESPN.
• 5/7 (Sun): Celtics at 76ers, 3:30 pm, ESPN.
• 5/9 (Tues): 76ers at Celtics, TNT (time TBD).
• 5/11 (Thurs): Celtics at 76ers, ESPN (time TBD).
• 5/14 (Sun): 76ers at Celtics (time and channel TBD).

Before we even get into tonight’s Game 1 matchup, I think everyone needs to get on the same page in regards to the Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics “rivalry”.

Joel Embiid: “They always kick our ass. This is not a rivalry.”

Embiid, as usual, was correct years ago in saying that the Sixers and Celtics is no longer a rivalry. Maybe it was in the past, but it’s definitely not a rivalry as of late so let’s squash that headline before the series even begins.

The Sixers do however, have a great opportunity to change the narrative of “The Process” and advance to the Eastern Conference Finals after years of heartbreak and disappointment in the second round of the playoffs. 

There are a million storylines outside of the traditional “Sixers vs Celtics” rivalry that no one even gives a shit about thanks to years of playoff suffering in Philadelphia. 

Narrative Shift

• Joel Embiid’s second round / injury struggles
• Doc Rivers playoff performances.
• James Harden free agency.

Celtics Struggle vs Hawks, Sixers Sweep Nets

The Boston Celtics enter tonight after what turned into a tough first round match up against Trea Young and the Atlanta Hawks. The Celtics won 128-120 on Thursday night in Atlanta to advance to the second round of the playoffs.

As for the Sixers, they swept the Brooklyn Nets in the first round and haven’t played a basketball game since April 22nd.

Thanks to a Trea Young buzzer beater in Boston in Game 5, that extended the Celtics first round series and pushed Game 1 of the second round to tonight which of course, was good news for the Sixers as they yet again, have all eyes on Joel Embiid and his sprained right knee that he suffered in the third quarter of Game 4 in Brooklyn on April 20th.

Joel Embiid – LCL Sprain

At this point, I honestly have zero clue what to think anymore. Embiid didn’t practice all week and then yesterday, seemed to be in good spirits at practice while taking shots with James Harden in Camden. He then was pictured boarding the plane with the rest of his teammates as they headed to Boston yesterday evening, all while every video and picture released by the Sixers was almost purposefully hiding Embiid or blocking out any type of visual of his sprained right knee.

Earlier today, we saw a video of Embiid participating in warmups in Boston and all things considered, it looks like he’s getting ready to play tonight.

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We’ve Read This Story Before

Embiid is listed as doubtful and he’ll remain under that injury status until the final report is released an hour or so before game time. From there, the Sixers could upgrade him to questionable and say he’s a “game time” decision and leave Sixers fans in full panic mode until Embiid comes out for warmups.

Then, it’s decision time and after more than a week of speculation, we’ll finally know the fate of Embiid for Game 1 tonight.

While it’s certainly possible I’m just losing my mind and putting my brain into a blender, the entire week has been weird and very little information on Embiid has been released to the public.

Why the Philadelphia 76ers handle injury situations like this is beyond me, but that’s a post for another day.

Embiid or not, the Sixers have a Game 1 matchup tonight against the Boston Celtics.

Maxey, Harden, and Harris

It should go without saying that Embiid being ruled out tonight will leave a huge hole in the Sixers lineup. In three games against the Nets, the MVP frontrunner averaged 20 points and 11.3 rebounds per game.

Regardless of Embiid’s status however, all all eyes will be on the rest of the Sixers’ starting lineup, with James Harden, Tobias Harris, and Tyrese Maxey taking on bigger roles this series against the Celtics.

During the regular season, Harden averaged 25.5 points, 9.0 assists, and 5.5 rebounds over 4 games against the Celtics. Of course, those numbers come at the benefit of having Embiid on the basketball court.

No one on the Celtics can guard Embiid, and his numbers against Boston this year reflect that.

Embiid averaged 36.8 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 4.3 assists against the Celtics this season, which included a 52 point, 13 rebound, six assist masterclass back on April 4th.

The Sixers will be praying for a vintage Harden performance, and desperately need to light the Tyrese Maxey flame early and often tonight in Game 1.

While leading the Sixers in their first round matchup against the Brooklyn Nets, averaging a team-high 21.8 points per game (15-30 3PT), Tyrese Maxey has struggled against the Celtics this season, averaging just 10 points per game in four games in the regular season.

In three of those games, Maxey was held under eight points.

Even with Embiid on the court, Maxey needs to play significantly better than he did over the previous four matchups against the Celtics.

Tobias Harris rose to the occasion against Brooklyn averaging 20.3 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 2 assists per game against the Nets, including a 25 point, 12 rebound performance in Game 4 without Joel Embiid.

I’ve said it from the jump that Tobias Harris will be the x-factor for the Sixers in the playoffs and without Embiid, having him making quick decisions and exposing a weak Celtics interior defense is important if the Sixers want to steal one in Boston.

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Steal Game 1

Trust me, I am very aware that the Philadelphia 76ers face an uphill battle against the Boston Celtics and that isn’t even considering the health concerns of Joel Embiid.

If they are going to steal a game in Boston it better be tonight and I think it’s possible with our without Embiid on the court. If the Sixers can come out fast, punch Boston in the mouth early with a fast paced, motion-heavy offense while limiting the Celtic’s ability to spread the floor with a zone defense, they can surprise a lot of people tonight and jump out to an early1-0 series lead.

HAMMER IT.

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