Boston Celtics Potential Playoff Preview in Philadelphia

Following a rough loss to the Nuggets Monday, the Boston Celtics will have to turn around for a potential playoff preview as they travel to Philadelphia.

After a productive 3-1 road trip and taking care of the first two games of their home stand, the Celtics had a battle with the Denver Nuggets, the Western Conference’s number two seed.  This was a great test to see the strides the Celts have made with becoming a cohesive unit and preparing for post-season play.

It’s also a huge test because Denver is very similar to the top teams in the Eastern Conference.  They have an All Star big man in Jokic that can pass like the best point guards in the league and is surrounded by shooters. Jamal Murray is definitely one of the up and coming shooting guards in the league and he dropped 48 on the Celts last time these two teams played.

The Celts lost by 9, but it was how the final minutes played out to me, which was the biggest takeaway.  They didn’t have the best shooting night (30.8% from 3 and 41.9% from the field), but they kept battling and playing tough defense until the final whistle.  They had four steals with under three minutes to go, Jaylen Brown having two of them.  They didn’t quit, which is encouraging, especially with the next game on the road in Philly.

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The game in Philadelphia Wednesday night is a game and possibly a preview of a 1st or 2nd round playoff battle.  As of now, the 76ers are currently the 3 seed and 2.5 games ahead of the Celts so any showdown they would have in April or May will be in the city of Brotherly Love.  This 76ers team definitely has not forgotten how the Celtics, minus Irving and Hayward, embarrassed them last year in the playoffs. Confetti flying down before Game 3 was over and then having to walk with their tails between their legs to their locker room with a loss. That still has to sting a little bit.

Joel Embiid still knows that Al Horford is his kryptonite, but the 76ers have added much needed veteran leadership and depth to their roster.  Jimmy Butler arrived this offseason with a huge chip on his shoulder after forcing his way out of Minnesota.  They also acquired Tobias Harris from the Clippers at the deadline, who was averaging over 20 points per game upon his arrival.

The Celtics have also started to gel over the last few weeks since their crucial west coast trip. Jaylen Brown’s play continues to be consistent off of the bench. Kyrie Irving has been flirting with triple doubles over the last few games. Al is Al, and continues to be the rock that this team needs.  Marcus Smart is a bulldog on defense and Marcus Morris still shows that he is the muscle of this team.  Hopefully Gordon Hayward can come back from his concussion and continue his improvement with his confidence growing in each game that passes.

With 11 games left in the regular season, this will be one of the last tests for the Celts as the calendar flips over to playoff season.  A few things to look for in the game Wednesday night:

Marcus Smart on JJ Redick – I’m a sucker for defense and I love watching Marcus Smart hound opposing guards.  JJ takes almost 8 three point shots per game, and it will be Smart’s job to put the pressure on him and keep him off balanced.  I think all Celtics fans would rather see him play top notch defense and let the rest of the guys take care of the offense.

Joel Embiid vs Al Horford – Embiid may be averaging close to 27 points per game vs. the Celtics this year, but he is also logging 38 minutes per game too.  Al works his tail off to make these battles difficult for him, as he pulls Embiid away from the paint and forces him to play defense on the perimeter.   Al and Kyrie’s pick and rolls are also a thing of beauty.

Jaylen Brown – How much playing time will he see off of the bench?  He only saw 20 minutes versus the Nuggets and had two steals, both of which came late in the 4th quarter.  How will Brad Stevens find him more minutes, and at who’s expense?  Will he match up against Jimmy Butler?  That would definitely be a fun match up to watch.

Kyrie Irving – If you’ve been watching, he’s definitely been playing better TEAM basketball since the west coast trip.  He didn’t have the best shooting game last night, going 10-23 from the field (2-8 from deep) but was a perfect 8-8 from the line. Most importantly, he’s protecting the ball and not throwing it away. He only had 1 turnover last night in 36 minutes, which is very important (in my opinion).

Gordon Hayward – If he plays, how will he be incorporated into the offense and how many minutes will he get?  He’s been playing better since the west coast trip so it will be interesting to see how he matches up against the 76ers.

Defense – Including the west coast trip, the Celtics have given up 115 points per game over their last seven games.  I know teams have improved their shooting this season, but they need to really buckle down on the defensive end.  Rotations looked better last night, and they need to be much better on Wednesday night and moving forward.

Postgame – Seeing these two teams could continue a rivalry for years to come and may meet in the postseason, I don’t want to see these guys hugging and exchanging jerseys.  This league has gotten way too friendly in recent years with everyone being “buddy buddy.”  You can always appreciate a good game and good plays, but there needs to be a line drawn.  Do you think Larry Bird would be hugging Charles Barkley or Dr. J after a game in the 80’s?  I don’t think so!

Ben Simmons – Will he take and hit a three-pointer?  How much space will they give him on the offensive end? Will he make the Celtics pay?