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The Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers are set to meet in what promises to be a thrilling second-round playoff matchup. The winner of this series will surely become the favorite to not only win the Eastern Conference but also become the likely front-runner to win the NBA championship.
The Celtics come into this series as the #2 seed in the East, and they have home-court advantage throughout the rest of the playoffs, thanks to the Miami Heat upsetting the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks in the first round. Meanwhile, the Sixers are the #3 seed in the East, and they are looking to continue their championship aspirations, but it could be potentially without one of their key players to start the series.
Joel Embiid, the likely 2022-23 MVP winner who led the league in scoring average at 33 points per game, suffered a LCL sprain in his right knee in the Sixers' first-round matchup against the Brooklyn Nets. His status is questionable to start the series versus Boston. Sixers head coach Doc Rivers said Embiid has a "50% at best" chance to be ready for Game 1.
On the other hand, Jayson Tatum, who led the league in total points and became the first Celtic to ever average 30 points per game, has been a scoring machine all season long. Tatum is looking to lead his team to the Finals once again, and with key supporting cast members such as Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart, Al Horford, and Derrick White, the Celtics have a strong chance to take the next step in that mission.
The Sixers, however, have their own weapons, even if Embiid is unable to play the majority of the series. James Harden, Tyrese Maxey, and Tobias Harris will be the key players for the Sixers in Embiid's absence, and with a stifling defense that ranked third in the league during the regular season, they are capable of shutting down even the most potent offenses.
If the series comes down to coaching, one thing to remember is that Sixers head coach Doc Rivers has been coaching for nearly 25 seasons. He has tons of playoffs experience that includes 2 trips to the NBA Finals and 1 Finals victory as head coach of the Celtics. Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla, on the other hand, is a rookie head coach that started the season with the "interim" label. Rivers' experience and Mazzulla's lack thereof could play a significant role in who ultimately wins this series.
The Celtics will need to improve upon their play from the first round if they want to win this series, especially if Embiid is able to play the majority of the series. The Celtics are currently the odds-on favorite to win the Finals, but they are not overwhelming favorites. This series will be a true test for both teams, and it will be exciting to see who comes out on top. It may be the fan in me and I could be wrong, but I'm taking the Celtics to win this one 4-2.
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