FRESH CASTS renew rivalry between 76ers and Celtics.
WALTHAM, Mass. — Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid are about to find out what the NBA playoffs are really about.
After dispatching the Miami Heat in five games in the first round in their first career postseason appearance, the Philadelphia 76ers’ youngsters will open the Eastern Conference semifinals tonight in Boston against the Celtics.
All those banners hanging from the Garden rafters. All that history on the parquet floor. All that bad blood between the two cities.
A civic rivalry that dates back to the Revolutionary War era came of age on the basketball court with Wilt Chamberlain leading the Philadelphia Warriors, and later the 76ers, against Bill Russell’s Celtics in the 1960s. Larry Bird and Julius Erving picked it up in the 1980s.
Celtics forward Marcus Morris, a Philadelphia native, grew up watching the Allen Iverson-led 76ers that went to the NBA Finals in 2001 but lost to Paul Pierce and Antoine Walker’s Celtics in the Eastern Conference finals the next year.
He’s not expecting any favors from his hometown crowd.
“I’m expecting the same treatment as far as them not even caring that I’m from Philadelphia,” he said after practice Sunday, a day after the Celtics advanced by eliminating the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 7 of their first-round series. “I really don’t care either, when I’m competing against them.”
The franchises have met 19 times in the playoffs (though only three times in the past 33 years), with Boston holding a 12-7 edge.
Embiid, the third overall pick in 2014, returned after missing the first two games of the playoffs and averaged 18.7 points and 10.3 rebounds in three victories over Miami.
Simmons, the No. 1 overall pick in 2016 before missing all of last season, averaged 18.2 points and 10.6 rebounds against the Heat — both improvements over his regular-season numbers.
“They’re super-talented,” Celtics Coach Brad Stevens said. “That’s what happens when you’re in the NBA playoffs. It’s fun.”
Morris said he’s enjoyed watching the hometown Eagles win the Super Bowl, followed by Villanova’s NCAA basketball championship.
“Philly, we had a great year,” the Celtics forward said. “[Rapper] Meek Mill got out of jail — it’s funny, but it was pretty big for our city. A lot of people really appreciated it. You can tell that feeling when you get there, where it’s coming back. A guy that’s been there my entire life and not really seeing it at its peak. Right now Philly is at its peak with everything, sports, living out there. It’s coming back.”
The Celtics held Milwaukee and star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo to zero fastbreak points in Game 7 of their first-round series.
They know that transition defense will also be a key against Philadelphia, which was one of the best in the NBA on the break.
“In transition, they just make you pay,” Celtics center Al Horford said. “They just present a whole different challenge.”
Stevens said guard Jaylen Brown still had some soreness from a hamstring injury he suffered in Game 7 and is doubtful for Game 1 against the Sixers. Tests on Sunday were negative, the coach said.
“It looks like it could be something that allows him to play as the series goes on,” Stevens said.
The No. 3 overall pick in the 2016 draft, Brown averaged 14.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game this season. He said on Saturday he would be back.
“Whatever it takes, I wouldn’t miss this series for the world,” Brown said.
The Celtics are already without stars Gordon Hayward and Kyrie Irving, as well as Daniel Theis.
“We don’t think about what’s happened throughout the season,” center Aron Baynes said. “We have that ‘next man up’ mentality. We’ll miss Jaylen; he’s definitely hard to make up for. It’s just all being able to collectively do it.”
Utah was eliminated by Golden State.
Royce O’Neale started in place of Rubio and finished with four points and four assists. The Jazz haven’t said how long Rubio will be out, but multiple reports have indicated that it could be as many as 10 days. Joe Ingles had 15 points.
Clint Capela had 16 points and 12 rebounds for his third consecutive double-double for the Rockets. Paul finished with 17 points, 4 steals and 6 assists.