Boston Celtics: 3 reasons why the C’s will sweep Philadelphia

Philadelphia isn’t built to beat this Boston Celtics team

It’s a difficult reality that 76ers fans have to face: their team, on their best day, is not built to beat the Boston Celtics as they are currently constructed. With an elite defender like Simmons in the lineup, Philadelphia has a chance to slow down the likes of Walker, Tatum, and Brown.

Without the near-seven-footer, Josh Richardson, Shake Milton, and Tobias Harris are sitting ducks against a team with three elite drive threats (four when you include the injured Gordon Hayward). Even when the team goes small with rookie Mattise Thybulle, there isn’t enough playmaking and shooting at the other end to justify the defensive-heavy schemes Brown has concocted to slow down Brad Stevens’ offensive sets.

There aren’t any immediate answers for Brown to slow down the Celtics. If he goes big, the C’s can answer with different looks from post-master Enes Kanter (who has been flashing an improved free-throw line jumper and 3-pointer) the springy Robert Williams, and smaller but stocky fours like Grant Williams and Semi Ojeleye.

If he goes small, he is conceding to playing the style of basketball Boston prefers. There’s no winning for Brown right now, meaning there likely won’t be winning today either.