3. Joel Embiid’s Interior Presence
It’s no secret the Boston Celtics lack size at the center position. Well, they can thank their first-round opponent for that considering Al Horford is now across enemy lines with the 76ers.
On paper, Joel Embiid should pose a matchup problem for the Celtics. Listed at 7-0, 280 lbs, he has a considerable size advantage over Daniel Theis and Robert Wiliams, who are each listed at 6-8. This was key in Embiid shooting an average of 10.3 free throws per game in their previous three meetings.
The bizarre performance where Embiid was limited to just 11 points on 1-of-11 FG (9.1%) and 0-of-4 3P (0%) naturally resulted in the 76ers’ lone loss to the Celtics this season. Boston surely will reflect on what went right in their game-plan to help slow him down again.
However, Embiid was quite impactful in the 76ers’ two wins over the Celtics this season with averages of 26.5 points (48.6% FG, 42.9% 3P, 72.7% FT), 13.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 2.0 blocks. He looked far more like the MVP caliber talent we are accustomed to seeing.
It seems far more likely that Embiid will produce much closer results to what he achieved in the 76ers’ wins. The individual matchups are quite favorable for him, but we will have to see what Brad Stevens has in store from a team-defense standpoint.
