The Philadelphia 76ers split their first two preseason games, and will now head to Boston for their penultimate preseason contest against the Celtics.
Before the preseason began, head coach Nick Nurse said the plan was for the team’s key players to appear in two of the three exhibition games. After the starting five made its debut in Brooklyn the other night, it seems likely Nurse will sit some players on Saturday.
One of the game’s more interesting storylines will be Jaylen Brown’s return to Boston
after being traded this summer. While a preseason game doesn’t carry the same weight as a regular-season matchup, it’s still worth watching. The Sixers won’t face the Celtics again until November, and they won’t return to Boston during the regular season until the calendar flips. Brown played in the first two preseason games. We’ll see if he plays in his return to Boston.
Like Philadelphia, Boston enters the season with several new faces. Paul George now joins Jayson Tatum as one of the franchise’s cornerstone players, while veteran additions Mike Conley and Mitchell Robinson bring experience and depth. Robinson, in particular, could present an intriguing matchup against Joel Embiid once the games start to matter. Even after moving on from a former Finals MVP, the Celtics remain one of the Eastern Conference’s top contenders and a team the Sixers may cross paths with when the stakes are higher.
The Sixers looked sharp in the first half against Brooklyn, creating quality looks as the Nets struggled to account for all of their offensive options. That opened the door for players like VJ Edgecombe to find plenty of space and easy scoring opportunities. It’s still the preseason, and there’s only so much to take away from October basketball, but Philadelphia’s offense showed encouraging signs in their first game. Boston, a much stronger opponent on paper, should provide a better measuring stick — if the starters play.
The Sixers will also be keeping an eye on a few injury situations. Anfernee Simons, Dominick Barlow and Adem Bona are all expected to remain sidelined. In their absence, Jabari Walker has stepped into the backup center role and has put together a strong preseason so far. We’ve also seen some of their two-way players, Caleb Love and Rayan Rupert, step up and produce in limited time.
The Sixers have plenty to clean up. Joel Embiid looked healthy and moved well, but his eight turnovers were part of a larger issue, as Philadelphia committed too many careless mistakes throughout the night. The talent and potential are obvious. Now it’s about building chemistry, finding a rhythm, and developing consistency as the group settles in.
As the preseason winds down, the focus for Philadelphia will be on cutting down the self-inflicted mistakes, continuing to build cohesion, and getting through the game healthy. The Sixers showed encouraging flashes against Brooklyn, but Boston presents a much tougher challenge and should provide a better indication of where this group stands heading into the regular season. Preseason or not, though, a win over the Celtics is always welcome.
Game Details
When: Thursday, October 9, 8 p.m. ET
Where: TD Garden, Boston, MA
Watch: NBCSP, NBA TV
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Follow: @LibertyBallers
