Last Word on Pro Basketball is giving you an NBA Playoffs preview for each series as it begins inside the bubble.<\/p>\n
The Boston Celtics<\/a> and Philadelphia 76ers<\/a> rivalry will be renewed on Monday. This will be the 23rd<\/sup> time that each team has met in the NBA playoffs. This is the most NBA playoff matchups ever between two teams. They last met in the 2018 NBA playoffs Semifinals, where a shorthanded Boston Celtics squad was able to defeat the 76ers in five games.<\/p>\n The frontcourt of the 76ers is extraordinarily strong even with the injury of Ben Simmons<\/a><\/strong>. Tobias Harris<\/a><\/strong>, Al Horford<\/a><\/strong>, and Joel Embiid<\/a><\/strong> are all great players in their own right.\u00a0 In the 2019-20 NBA season, Harris is averaging 19.6 points 6.9 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 0.7 steals, and 0.6 blocks.<\/p>\n Horford is not the player he used to be, but he can still put up some numbers. He is averaging 11.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, four assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.9 blocks per game.<\/p>\n The Celtics also have strong forwards, which includes Jaylen Brown<\/a><\/strong> and Gordon Hayward<\/a><\/strong>. Brown is averaging 20.3 points 6.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.1 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game.<\/p>\n This is while Hayward is averaging 17.5 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 0.7 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game. Looking at the production of the forwards, the Celtics have the edge. However, the edge of the frontcourt will be given to the 76ers after looking at the centers.<\/p>\n The 76ers\u2019 Embiid is averaging 23 points, 11.6 rebounds, three assists, 0.9 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game. One of his most notable games was scoring 49 points against the Atlanta Hawks<\/a> on February 24.<\/p>\n This is while the Celtics have Daniel Theis<\/a><\/strong>. He is averaging 9.2 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.6 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game. It is clear when comparing the two players that Embiid has the clear edge, which therefore gives the 76ers the advantage in the frontcourt.<\/p>\n MVP chants tonight for Joel Embiid<\/p>\n Career high 49 points \ud83d\udd25\ud83d\udd25<\/p>\n Most points by a Sixer since Allen Iverson 14 years ago — John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) February 25, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\nNBA Playoffs Preview: Boston Celtics vs. Philadelphia 76ers<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Frontcourt<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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