The Boston Celtics take on the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. On a night where Joel Embiid was honored as the MVP, Boston’s solid defense and clutch shooting deflated the charged up Philly crowd enroute to a Game 3 victory. They’re now looking to take a commanding 3-1 lead back home to TD Garden on Tuesday. According to FanDuel Sportsbook, the Celtics are 2-point favorites.
Spread: Celtics -2
O/U: 213.5 points
ML: Celtics -130, 76ers +110
Featured Parlay:
Injury Reports
Both Marcus Smart (left ankle sprain) and Blake Griffin (lower back pain) have been added to the injury report. They are both questionable to play. Robert Williams III (right arm contusion) is available to play.
Joel Embiid (knee) is questionable, but there’s practically no chance he sits.
Projected Celtics Starters
PG: Marcus Smart
SG: Derrick White
SF: Jaylen Brown
PF: Jayson Tatum
C: Al Horford
76ers Projected Starters
PG: James Harden
SG: Tyrese Maxey
SF: Tobias Harris
PF: PJ Tucker
C: Joel Embiid
Boston Celtics Overview
There was a lot to like in Game 3, from Grant Williams’ defense on Joel Embiid to the big shots from Jayson Tatum down the stretch. The Celtics got good contributions from everyone, including Al Horford. Horford shot 5-7 from deep, including a clutch three to make the Boston lead 7 with under four minutes to go. Horford may be an elite shooter, but the Celtics have been waiting for this all Playoffs. Through the first seven games of the postseason, he was hitting at just 29.7% from three. When he’s able to space the floor like he did in Game 3, that creates a lot more space for Tatum and Jaylen Brown inside and adds another scoring threat for the Sixers to contend with. The Celtics should look to keep Horford involved and shooting more threes.
Something the Celtics can improve upon is winning the non-Joel Embiid minutes, something Joe Mazzulla has been harping on since the series began. The team’s point differential was only +2 in the eight minutes and change of no Embiid. It didn’t end up mattering too much in Game 3, but Embiid is only going to get better and better as the series progresses, so dominating those 6-8 minutes he’s resting becomes that much more important. Expect more aggressiveness, especially in the paint, from the Celtics second unit when Paul Reed is in the game.
Philadelphia 76ers Overview
The loss in Game 3 was tough, but it looks like Joel Embiid is back. 48 hours after looking rusty and banged up in Game 2, he dropped 30 points and 14 rebounds to go with 4 blocks, moving much smoother and showing off his full offensive range. He consistently got to the rim and knocked down a few mid range shots, obviously a big staple of his game that was missing in limited action on Wednesday. His ability to pass out of double teams immediately also was key for the Sixers offense, creating scoring opportunities for shooters and, sometimes, an easier bucket for Embiid when the ball came back to him. His conditioning needs some work — he looked absolutely gassed toward the end of the game — but a healthy Joel Embiid can singlehandedly transform the Sixers chances this postseason.
Still though, the success of the team this series ultimately comes down to James Harden. After a spectacular 45 point performance in Game 1, Harden is a combined 5-28 from the field and -40 overall. Beyond just stats, he looked completely flustered and indecisive in Game 3, passing up easy shots and looking just to get to the line. Harden’s ability to set teammates up is key for Philadelphia, and he ended the game with 11 assists, but he has to make himself a threat for this offense to operate at the highest level it can. Without that extra boost behind Embiid, it becomes that much tougher to hold a lead against this Boston team.
Prediction
This game could really go either way. If the Celtics offense gets a bit more production from the second unit, they can win big once again. If James Harden remotely shows up, this game becomes a lot more interesting. I’m predicting that today, Harden reverses course and turns in a nice game while Joel Embiid puts up his first true monster performance of the series. The Celtics going up 3-1 wouldn’t be a shock to me, but I think the Sixers have a strong chance to get the 2-2 series split they desperately need.
