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5 takeaways from the Celtics shutting down the 76ers process

By Jeremy Lambert

PHILADELPHIA, PA - MAY 5: As Boston Celtics Al Horford, left, was doing a post-game interview, teammate Jayson Tatum jumped in and called him, "Playoff Al" before running away. The Philadelphia 76ers host the Boston Celtics in Game Three of the Eastern Conference semifinals at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on May 5, 2018. (Photo by Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - MAY 5: As Boston Celtics Al Horford, left, was doing a post-game interview, teammate Jayson Tatum jumped in and called him, "Playoff Al" before running away. The Philadelphia 76ers host the Boston Celtics in Game Three of the Eastern Conference semifinals at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on May 5, 2018. (Photo by Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) /
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What did we learn from watching the Celtics find fallacies in the 76ers process?

If the second round series between the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers was played on paper, the 76ers would have won in six games. I know because I sat down with my notebook and played out the series. Markelle Fultz turned into Allen Iverson. It was amazing.

Unfortunately for Philadelphia, my notebook doesn’t determine who moves on in the NBA Playoffs. Terry Rozier determines those things. And Rozier was like, “The Celtics are winning.”

Many backed the 76ers prior to the series based on how both teams looked in the first round. The Celtics didn’t win a road game in their first round series against the Milwaukee Bucks. Meanwhile, Philadelphia took the best shot from the Miami Heat and still won in five games.

With injuries to Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward, the Celtics looked to be undermanned. Philadelphia was healthy and had won 20 of their last 21 games dating back to the regular season. Plus, the Eagles just beat the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl (with Nick Foles). Everything was coming up Philly.

Until Game 1, when the Celtics ran the Sixers off the floor.

Game 1 set the tone for what was to come for the Sixers. Inexperience, premature confetti, and  Brad Stevens being Gandolf turned a Philadelphia victory (on paper) into a five-game gentlemen’s sweep for the Celtics. Here’s what we learned”

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