10 NBA things to watch for on Christmas Day

HOUSTON, TX - APRIL 7: James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets handles the ball against Paul George #13 of the Oklahoma City Thunder on April 7, 2018 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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BOSTON, MA – MAY 9: T.J. McConnell #12 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks to pass against the Boston Celtics during Game Five of the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on May 9, 2018 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /

5. Can Philly’s reserves keep pace with Boston’s?

While the Sixers’ acquisition of Butler was a justifiable gamble, the decision to ship out both Robert Covington and Dario Saric has proved costly.

Since Butler’s arrival in Philly, the Sixers’ reserves are averaging only 32.2 points per game, the eighth-lowest mark in the league over that span. With Markelle Fultz still sidelined by his ongoing shoulder issues and rookie swingman Zhaire Smith having yet to make his debut, Philly has been forced to rely heavily on the likes of T.J. McConnell, Mike Muscala, Furkan Korkmaz and Landry Shamet.

That isn’t likely to end well against Boston, which touts one of the NBA’s deepest rosters.

Head coach Brad Stevens is still tinkering with his rotation, but his decision to move Marcus Smart into the starting lineup has paid dividends. Upon Smart’s arrival in the starting five, the Celtics promptly reeled off eight straight wins before suffering befuddling back-to-back losses to the Detroit Pistons and Phoenix Suns.

With Al Horford sidelined because of a left knee issue and Embiid antagonist Aron Baynes now out for the next month with a broken bone in his hand, frontcourt depth is the one area of weakness Philly may be able to exploit on Christmas Day. So long as Embiid doesn’t get goaded into hero ball or dumb fouls against Daniel Theis and Robert “Time Lord Williams, the big man could feast.

But if Philly’s bench can’t keep pace with Boston’s reserves, Embiid’s recent comments about needing to score 50 points and grab 25 rebounds for the Sixers to have a chance to win may prove prophetic.

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