NBA playoffs don start, and one big match wey dey make noise na Boston Celtics versus Philadelphia 76ers. Dem go meet for TD Garden in Boston on Sunday, April 19, for Eastern Conference First Round. This na the 23rd time dem go face each other for postseason, and the rivalry don dey hot since.
Celtics finish regular season with 56-26 record, grab number 2 seed. 76ers manage 45-37, take number 7 spot after dem escape Play-In Tournament. For this 2-seed vs 7-seed matchup, Celtics dey heavy favorite to win the East. Odds dey show say Celtics get minus-900 chance to advance to second round.
Ticket prices don skyrocket because of the rivalry. For Boston TD Garden, Game 1 tickets start from around $150, with balcony seats dey near $200. If you wan go Philadelphia Xfinity Mobile Arena for Game 3, entry-level prices dey from $65. Secondary market dey hot as fans rush to watch the action.
Philadelphia 76ers dey without their star player Joel Embiid, wey dey recover from appendectomy surgery. Embiid absence go affect the team strategy plenty. Celtics get Jayson Tatum back from Achilles surgery, and he don dey play like himself again. Tatum return na big reason why Celtics dey favorite.
Sixers chances go depend on their backcourt. Tyrese Maxey, wey average nearly 30 points per game against New York two years ago, go need to shine. Rookie VJ Edgecombe, wey score 19 points and 11 rebounds for Play-In game, go be important for Sixers defense and transition play.
Celtics get advantage for rebounding. Sixers defensive rebounding no too good this season, while Celtics dey create second-chance opportunities. Andre Drummond go need to play well like wey he do against Orlando if Sixers wan compete.
Game 1 go start 1:00 pm Eastern time, and early afternoon start fit affect players routines. Some pundits dey talk say Celtics go win the series quick. Dem mention say Celtics get better players for every position, with Jayson Tatum, Jalen Brown, Derrick White, and Neimus Kaas dey lead the team.
Philadelphia get Paul George and Maxi, but dem no sure if dem fit match Celtics energy. History dey show say Celtics don dey win against 76ers for postseason, and dem believe say Celtics dey inside Sixers head. Even if Joel Embiid dey play, some analysts still talk say Sixers no fit beat Celtics.
Other Eastern Conference series dey happen too. New York Knicks go face Atlanta Hawks for 3-6 matchup. Hawks don win 10 of their last 14 games, with Jalen Johnson as their star. Knicks get pressure after James Dolan talk say dem suppose win championship.
Cleveland Cavaliers go play Toronto Raptors for 4-5 series. Cavaliers get Donovan Mitchell and James Harden, while Raptors depend on Brandon Ingraham and Scotty Barnes. Cavaliers dey favorite, but Raptors fit make am competitive.
For now, all eyes dey on Celtics vs 76ers. Fans dey buy tickets, analysts dey yarn predictions, and players dey prepare for the showdown. The series go test Sixers resilience without Embiid and Celtics dominance as top seed.
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