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• #Sixers looked hungry for a sweep in game 1 series#

The Celtics are a complete team, ranking second in both offensive and defensive efficiency in the regular season, just the third team in 27 seasons to reach the top three on both ends of the floor. The Nets will be determined to banish the ghosts of last season’s first round sweep in the playoffs but will face an uphill battle.įresh from a surprise victory against the Miami Heat in the play-in tournament, the Atlanta Hawks will face the defending Eastern Conference champions, the formidable Boston Celtics. The Nets, meanwhile, have a 14-18 record since February, a month in which they also traded Kyrie Irving to the Mavericks and Kevin Durant to the Suns in February.ĭespite completely redesigning their roster, they rallied at the last moment, winning six of their last eight games to clinch the No.6 spot and make the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season. It will also welcome back stars James Harden and Joel Embiid, on this season’s MVP shortlist, after they were rested for the end of the regular season.Įmbiid’s form has been electric towards the end of the season, averaging an NBA-best 33.3 points per game over the last 18 games, a rate only matched by Shaquille O’Neal in 1999-2000.Įmbiid is widely regarded as this season's MVP frontrunner.

#Sixers looked hungry for a sweep in game 1 series#

These two teams played each other just last week when the Nets succumbed to a 134-105 defeat against the 76ers, although Brooklyn’s Mikal Bridges was the only starter to play for either team on that occasion so it will be a whole different line-up on Saturday.īut Philadelphia will still begin its first-round series as the overwhelming favorites after finishing the regular season 54-28, its best record for more than 20 years. The NBA playoffs begin this weekend, with 16 teams vying for the title, and four mouthwatering first-round matchups will tip-off on Saturday.īrooklyn Nets (6) v Philadelphia 76ers (3) After 82 regular season games each, and a play-in game for the Atlanta Hawks, it all comes down to this.