76ers analyst has grim feeling about facing Boston Celtics in Game 7

Liberty Ballers’ Bryan Toporek has a grim outlook about the 76ers facing the Boston Celtics in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals’ No. 2-No. 3 matchup on May 12 — believing that a loss for Philadelphia could mean the end of the current era of Sixers basketball.

“But if the Celtics beat the Sixers on Sunday and knock them out of the playoffs for the third time in the past six seasons, it will likely have long-lasting ramifications,” Toporek wrote.

The 76ers have a major flight risk on their roster in James Harden, who is a free agent this summer and is heavily interested to be seeking a return to Houston to once again represent the Rockets. Harden was brought to Philadelphia by Daryl Morey, who worked with Harden during their shared time in the Space City, but the allure of being a No. 1 option on the franchise he became a star with may trump the max deal he can get with the Sixers. Who knows if that is even on the table for Harden considering the massive raise Tyrese Maxey is due for down the line.

The Boston Celtics have all the momentum heading into Game 7

Undoubtedly, the Boston Celtics are the franchise riding high with all the momentum heading into the deciding contest of their series with the 76ers. Not only did Jayson Tatum have a miraculous final four minutes in Philadelphia to force Game 7, but Jaylen Brown also made the All-NBA Second Team, giving the Celtics a better chance to sign him due to the massive extension he is now eligible for after making an All-NBA team.

With the Sixers knowing things could be imminently over with in terms of the current team makeup, there could be less incentive to win together than there is in a Cs locker room that is chomping at the bit to finally get over the hump together.