2. Philadelphia 76ers at Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers started the season against each other, and although Boston came out with the win, neither of these teams are the same. Boston vs. Philly is a legitimate rivalry now, not just in basketball but in all sports, and now that the 76ers have Jimmy Butler this game will be even more intense.
The Celtics went through some growing pains to start the season, which was expected considering they were integrating two of their top three players into a lineup featuring Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Terry Rozier that led Boston past Philadelphia in the playoffs last year. But now, the Celtics are starting to figure things out, and it’s the 76ers who are now trying to fit in a player into their lineup.
This matchup has a lot of exciting pieces to it. Joel Embiid against virtually the only guy who can keep him in check, Al Horford. Ben Simmons going against Kyrie Irving, Butler against Tatum, every matchup on the floor will be an exciting one to watch.
This will be the first time Butler faces the Celtics in a 76ers uniform, and while he’s played the Celtics many times throughout his career, there will be a little added pressure now that he has teammates who he won’t yell at during practice…at least not yet. Not to mention there’s the whole Marcus Smart thing.
It might’ve been back when Butler was on the Chicago Bulls, but when the two got in each other’s face during a game it was clear there was some tension. It was made even bigger when Butler called Smart a “good actor” postgame and said he’s not tough, and “not about that life,” to which Smart laughed off the comments.
This game is going to be a good one, and it would’ve been at the top of this list except there’s an even better matchup out west.