Loading...
Thursday evening means it’s time for NBA action on TNT. As always, there’s a doubleheader, but our focus is on the opening matchup. The struggling Philadelphia 76ers will face off against the defending NBA Champions, the Boston Celtics. Unfortunately, these two teams are heading in two separate directions, but there is enough star power in this game to keep things interesting.
Throughout this article, we will break down each team’s season while previewing this matchup.
The Philadelphia 76ers have encountered considerable difficulties this season, primarily due to injuries. Their star center, Joel Embiid, has been dealing with multiple ailments and is out for the rest of the season. In the offseason, the team added Paul George, but he, too, has been sidelined with injury issues. As a result, the 76ers find themselves ranked 12th in the Eastern Conference.
The team has been struggling recently, losing 12 of their last 14 games, with no signs of improvement. The injuries to both Paul George (at times) and Joel Embiid have placed a greater responsibility on Tyrese Maxey, who has been performing exceptionally well. Maxey is averaging just over 26.3 points per game and 6.1 assists, making him the team’s top scorer. However, he didn’t play in the 76ers’ most recent game due to a back injury.
If Tyrese Maxey does not suit up in this game, this one could get ugly quickly. Even when Paul George is on the court, he doesn’t look like the player we’re used to seeing. George is averaging just under 17 points per game, which is his lowest since the 2014-2015 season when he played in just six games. If the 76ers want any chance of making a run at this, we need to see George step up.
The Boston Celtics have had a successful season, sitting as the second seed in the Eastern Conference. Jayson Tatum has been the team’s standout player, leading in scoring, rebounding and assists. Where the Celtics thrive is in their significant depth. Alongside Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis, Derrick White and Payton Pritchard contribute more than 14 points per game.
Pritchard has emerged as a key bench player and is a strong candidate for the Sixth Man of the Year award. Plus, they have the veteran leadership in Jrue Holiday, who is still a key cog in the defense and running the offense. The Celtics aim for another deep playoff run, so the depth is key, with 10 players averaging at least 14 minutes per game.
The Celtics enter this matchup as heavy favorites, given their superior roster depth and the injury concerns surrounding the 76ers. Boston’s defense and offensive balance should dominate Philadelphia. Jayson Tatum has been playing at an All-NBA caliber level this season, leading the Celtics in virtually every major statistical category. With the 76ers struggling defensively and missing their rim protector in Joel Embiid, Tatum should be primed for a big game.
Boston’s defense and offensive balance should dominate Philadelphia. With the 76ers struggling on both ends and the Celtics riding high behind Tatum’s brilliance, Jayson Tatum scoring more than 29 points is our pick. He’s been hitting 30 or more points regularly this season and against a weakened 76ers team, he should have no trouble continuing that trend.
Dylan has had a love for sports since he was a kid. Four years ago, he decided to dive into the sports content-creating industry specializing in Fantasy Football, NFL and NBA. He has since had his work published on sites that include Fantasy Alarm, Fansided, and Fantasy Six Pack.