NBA 2022/23, on Thursday, 04.05.2023
What was going on? James Harden, that’s what was going on! That’s basically how to explain why C’s fans looked stupid the day before yesterday. Now it’s a matter of preventing a 2-0 deficit at all costs before the Series is shipped to Philadelphia.
The 2022/23 NBA Playoffs are entering the exciting phase! Personally, in my Celtics 76ers tip, I assume that the Sixers will make Boston’s nightmare scenario come true and actually go up 2-0.
Good reasons for this I have of course also ready!
It was certainly a game the day before yesterday at TD Garden that the Celtics should not have lost – and for several reasons.
Because Joel Embiid’s absence on the Sixers’ side was one of the main reasons why the sports betting providers had understandably lowered their BOS win odds to extremely low values around 1.30 shortly before the start of Game 1.
In addition, Boston had played 9 playoff games against the 76ers in the past 6 seasons, winning eight of them. Furthermore, there would be the home advantage to mention, but in the end all this did not help. Because Philadelphia won despite all obstacles with 119:115.
To make a good Celtics 76ers tip for Game 2, you have to draw the right conclusions from the opening game. Consequently, the first fundamental question that comes to mind is what went wrong for the Green and Whites!
After all, the C’s did a lot of things right, because shooting 58.7% from the field and 39 points from their superstar Jayson Tatum should usually be perfectly adequate for a win against Sixers who are shorthanded.
Especially since the game strategy was the right one! In fact, due to Embiid’s absence at the five, Boston kept attacking the opposing basket and dominated the Sixers there at will with a 66 to 42 ratio from the paint.
One reason the Celtics didn’t win despite that preponderance at the opposing basket has to do with sloppy defensive work that simply allowed too much. Another reason for the defeat is the explosion of James Harden’s performance.
The Beard scored more points in the final quarter alone (15) than the opposing superstar duo Tatum/Brown combined (10). In the end, the brawny guard even brought it to 45 total points, of which the last three-pointer was the most important.
With just 8.1 seconds on the clock, Harden sank a shot from beyond the arc that gave the 76ers the lead and must have taken a toll on Boston’s psyche. After all, the C’s never dreamed they could lose this game out back.
However, another conclusion has to be drawn with regard to Game 2 – namely that the Sixers are no longer dependent on Joel Embiid.
Because 76ers head coach Doc Rivers has made a special effort this season to form a powerful squad that is also prepared for the event that their center is not present.
In recent years, the team has rarely had an adequate response to that.
This year, the responsibility rests on several shoulders and, lo and behold, Philadelphia has a surprisingly positive record of 12-5 in games without Joel Embiid on the floor. The surprise against the Celtics did not come by chance!
Now bookmakers have set their Celtics 76ers odds based on the assumption that Joel Embiid will be out again. This helps explain the extremely lopsided win odds of about 1.20 to 5.00.
But on the one hand, Philadelphia already proved the day before yesterday that they can win without their center, and on the other hand, his use is not that uncertain.
From various reports one can hear the clear optimism about a prompt return of the brawny Cameroonian
Either way, I don’t think I need to stress that the current PHI win odds as part of a Bet365 sports bet are an absolute must for any profit-minded sports betting fan.
Of course, the victory of the 76ers the day before yesterday came as a bit of a surprise, but to increase the corresponding betting odds from about 3.50 to 5.00?
I would just say: Thank you, dear bookmaker – and I’ll take a free bet with me!
Conclusion: The Celtics really had all the advantages on their side in the opener to start this exciting series on the right foot. The fact that they failed to do so only plays into the opponent’s cards with regard to Game 2.
The Sixers have not only gained a lot of self-confidence, but will most likely also be able to look forward to the return of Joel Embiid.
But even if that doesn’t happen, Philadelphia has already impressively proven to be worth an away win bet even without the Cameroonian.
Especially with PHI win odds currently at 5.00, I’m happy to take the risk that Boston gets stuck with the 76ers again.
Thus, my Celtics 76ers betting tip is: Full risk, Philadelphia win!
