NBA 2022/23, Week 1 on Wednesday, 10/19/2022
Finally the new season starts the way we are used to it – and that is in October! By the way, the opening game is Boston Celtics vs Philadelphia 76ers!
Mats Hummels is a well-known basketball fan and should he – as it looks like at the moment – not go to the 2022 World Cup, he can sit back and relax and watch the full NBA.
In my Celtics 76ers tip, meanwhile, I’ve taken a close look at what the starting positions of both franchises are this Wednesday and found that there can really only be one favourite.
The Celtics reached the NBA Finals for the 22nd time in their franchise history last year – and in the offseason that followed, it initially looked like Boston had already set the stage for an equally successful 2022/23 season.
After all, Danilo Gallinari and Malcolm Brogdon switched to the C’s. But then the franchise from the East Coast was rocked by some scandals and injuries that will draw it permanently.
Let’s start with Danilo Gallinari! The newcomer was on duty for Italy in the World Cup qualifiers and suffered a momentous injury!
The international will not play another game this season, while his new teammate Robert Williams III will have to rest for at least two months.
Now we come to another bang: Success coach Ime Udoka has been suspended by the Celtics for at least one year after he was proven to have had an extramarital affair with an employee of the Celtics organisation.
Now the guarantor of the C’s success will be replaced for the entire 2022/23 season by Joe Mazzulla, who will fill in for him on the sidelines as interim coach. The consequences of these serious absences and changes could already be seen on the floor.
Boston has won just two of its four preseason games against NBA franchises that are mediocre at best, and now faces a Philadelphia squad in the opener that is looking to make it count this year!
After failing to reach the Eastern Conference Semifinals again last season, Philadelphia’s focus for the new season has been on signing as versatile players as possible.
It is clear that James Harden and Joel Embiid will continue to be the centre of attention and with P.J. Tucker, Danuel House Jr, De’Anthony Melton and Montrezl Harrell many new players have been signed to help them perform even better in the future.
With this promising lineup, the Sixers are now looking to reach the Conference Finals by hook or crook for the first time since the 2001 season.
The reason I think the Sixers will win their opening game has to do, in part, with Tyrese Maxey, who developed into one of this team’s all-time performers last year.
After seeing spotty action in his rookie season, Maxey took over at the point guard position last year in the absence of Ben Simmons and has since emerged as one of the best offensive players in the NBA.
The stats improved abruptly: Maxey averaged only 8 points per game two years ago, but one year later this value already swelled to 17.5 – especially in the games against the Celtics the point guard showed his best side.
Last year, the Sixers were tied 2:2 after direct duels. However, the Sixers are clearly on the upswing at the moment, because unlike their upcoming opponents, they have won each of their four preparation games so far!
On the betting markets, however, the opinion has prevailed among the best bookmakers that the 76ers are merely the underdog.
Their odds of winning are 2.25, which is higher than those of the C’s, who are trading at around 1.70.
Conclusion: In my opinion, even top providers like Betway are committing an odds-technical error.
Because the Sixers are the clear favourite in my eyes. And not just because of the quality of their squad, but because they have already won each of their four pre-season games.
The C’s players, on the other hand, not only have to deal with some absences, but also with the highly unfamiliar situation of no longer seeing Ime Udoka on the sidelines.
My Celtics 76ers tip is therefore: Boston can’t stand the pressure!
