Baynes, Simmons ready to rumble
“He can get it going in a lot of ways but we’re not playing one-on-one. We’re playing five-on-five.
“They’ve got a number of great players that are playing really well, with freedom and good feeling.
“You’ve just got to make his shots as tough as you can every single time. That’s what my job is, to go out there and challenge.”
The intense Celtics-versus-76ers rivalry dates to the 1960s, when Wilt Chamberlain led the Philadelphia Warriors, and later the 76ers, against Bill Russell’s Celtics.
Larry Bird and Julius Erving picked it up in the 1980s.
Now two Australians, Baynes and Simmons, are set to play their part in one of the NBA’s most fierce rivalries.
After dispatching the Miami Heat in five games in the first round in their first post-season appearances, the 76ers’ youngsters will open the Eastern Conference semi-finals today (10am AEST) in Boston.
The franchises have met 19 times in the playoffs (though only three times in the past 33 years) and Boston hold a 12-7 edge. Two years after winning just 10 games, the rebuilding “process” is paying off for the 76ers.
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.
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 wins over Miami.
“They are super-talented,” Celtics coach Brad Stevens said. “That’s what happens when you’re in the NBA playoffs. It’s fun.”