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Boston Celtics face 76ers with flipped expectations

By Joshua Bateman

BOSTON, MA - JANUARY 18: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers passes the ball during the game against the Boston Celtics on January 18, 2018 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - JANUARY 18: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers passes the ball during the game against the Boston Celtics on January 18, 2018 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Boston Celtics are playing the 76ers with completely different expectations from the beginning of the season

The Boston Celtics are facing the Philadelphia 76ers, in what could be the most exciting playoff series in the Eastern Conference. Both of these teams have been pegged as the future of the East for some time now, but they both want to prove that they are ready to contend right now.

One fascinating aspect of this series is how the expectations have turned out. If you go back to the start of the season, even before Gordon Hayward got hurt, the Celtics were supposed to be true contenders in the East.

Their standard was a number one seed and an appearance in the Finals, and if they managed to stay healthy they would still have that expectation.

For the 76ers, they faced no such expectation to start the season. Especially with the Markelle Fultz situation, and the remaining difficulty in trusting Joel Embiid to stay healthy, there was uncertainty as to whether or not they would make the playoffs.

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Things came together for the 76ers in a way that few saw coming, and then they went on one of the best streaks to close the regular season, and were the most impressive Eastern team in the first round.

Somehow, the Celtics have gone from championship expectations, to feeling like they played with house money in the first round. The 76ers somehow went from lottery expectations, to a low key favorite to come out of the East.

Just having the lower seed be a favorite is strange enough, but the way the expectations have flipped in just one season for these teams is unprecedented.

The Celtics were supposed to be the team contending this season, while the 76ers were looking for valuable experience for their young players. Now, the 76ers have to deal with that extra pressure, and the Celtics can enjoy the luxury of house money, as many did not even think they could get past Giannis Antetokounmpo.

These expectations are not unreasonable. The 76ers have played well enough to earn the respect they are getting, and the Celtics have not looked like a team that can even make the conference finals with the injuries they have suffered.

These two teams have a fascinating dynamic with their balance of winning now and for the future, and this season has just further confused which of these teams is going to be in line to dominate the East.

What we can be excited about, is that no matter what happens with these teams in this series, neither are going anywhere. A second round exit would not change anything in the plans of these two teams and this should be the last season either of them have anything other than championship expectations.

Next: Boston Celtics top 5 players of the first round

The way this season has unfolded for both these teams has completely subverted what we are thinking about this series, but the bottom line is that this should be the first of many playoff series between these two teams, as they get ready to prove LeBron James‘ reign over the Eastern Conference is going to end.

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