The Boston Celtics are the defending Eastern Conference Champions.
After losing to the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals, many people think that the Celtics will return to the Finals this year.
Boston reloaded its roster with Malcolm Brogdon, and is a deep team once again.
The Celtics are currently 54-24 and 1.5 games behind the Milwaukee Bucks for the number one seed.
Boston has shown the ability to dominate the Bucks over the past few seasons.
They defeated the Bucks in the Eastern Conference semifinals last year.
In addition, the Celtics defeated Milwaukee by 41 points on Thursday.
Boston must be extremely confident if they want to meet the Bucks again in the playoffs.
But Fox Sports analyst Nick Wright believes that these two teams will not meet in the playoffs.
Wright thinks the Philadelphia 76ers will edge out the Celtics after the season.
Nick Wright doubts Celtics will advance in ECF
“I don’t think Boston can beat Philadelphia”
(Via @FTFonFS1 , pic.twitter.com/c4KNEbuX4d
— NBACentral (@TheNBACentral) April 1, 2023
“Boston has shown they are the worst matchup in the league for Milwaukee. … Boston knows they can go to Milwaukee and win. It’s nothing. But Milwaukee will still be the No. 1 seed. I Don’t think the Bucks will have to play the Celtics in the playoffs.” , @getnickwright pic.twitter.com/rEBKrrvkyY
— First things first (@FTFonFS1) March 31, 2023
Many fans think this is a crazy move, especially because the Celtics have 76ers this year.
Boston has won all three matchups so far and a fourth next week.
Boston is 3-0 vs. Philly this year, the 76ers don’t have the perimeter defenders to keep up with the Celtics.
Beyond the Data (@BeyondTheData) April 1, 2023
Absolutely Unbelievable People Think The Sixers Can Beat The Celtics
— BCU Eddie (@fox_duke) April 1, 2023
One thing the 76ers have going for them this year is that they have MVP favorite Joel Embiid.
He has been the most dominant player in the NBA this season and leads the league in scoring (33.0 points per game).
But the X-factor in the series could be the play of James Harden.
He is a former league MVP and will need to step up his game after this season.
As a sixes fan there is no way the sixes are going to beat boston unless there is superstar level strict play if he is not hitting his shots the celtics just start double teaming embide to triple Will do and it’s game over!!
— Reality🔨 (@carter92418) April 1, 2023
If Harden can’t play at an elite level, the Sixers could be in trouble.
Some Philly fans don’t even believe their team can accomplish it.
Bruh I’m a Sixers fan and we can’t even beat Boston to save our lives 😂🤦🏾♂️
— Chris 😒 (@youngchris_97) April 1, 2023
If we get the Celtics and 76ers in the second round, it will definitely be an interesting matchup.
So while Wright’s prediction may sound crazy to some, it’s certainly within the realm of possibility.
next:
Jason Tatum inches closer to Celtic history