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Celtics discuss impact of Joel Embiid's return in opening round
TL;DR
The Boston Celtics analyzed the impact of Joel Embiid's return during their seven-game playoff series against the Philadelphia 76ers. The Celtics initially dominated the series, but the Sixers made a comeback that shifted the momentum.
Key points
- Celtics and 76ers faced off in a seven-game playoff series
- Celtics won the first and third games convincingly
- Joel Embiid's return was crucial for the 76ers' performance
Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
Celtics discuss impact of Joel Embiid's return in opening round originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The opening round of the NBA playoffs between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Boston Celtics went the distance to a full seven games, with the seventh-seeded Sixers prevailing when all was said and done.
The series was certainly set to provide no upsets in the opening three matches, given that Boston took the opener, 123-91, and game three by an eight-point margin. Through the first three matches of the series, the Celtics were outscoring the Sixers, 328 to 302, something that had to change for Philadelphia if they wanted to stay in it, and something did.
What moved the needle in the Sixers' favor?
According to Celtics’ head coach Joe Mazzulla, the series changed when Joel Embiid returned in game four.
"What changed in this series is Joel Embiid came back, and they're a completely different team,” Mazzulla stated to the press.
It wouldn’t be entirely obvious immediately, as Boston still came out on top against Philadelphia in Embiid’s first game back, but that would change down the stretch. Out of his four appearances in the opening round, the Cameroonian would drop more than 30 points on two occasions, providing his team with the lift in crunch time to get them to the semi-finals.
Q&A
How did Joel Embiid's return affect the Celtics in the playoffs?
Joel Embiid's return provided the Philadelphia 76ers with a significant boost, contributing to their comeback in the series against the Celtics.
What was the outcome of the Celtics vs. 76ers playoff series?
The series went to a full seven games, with the seventh-seeded 76ers ultimately prevailing over the Celtics.
What were the scores of the first three games in the Celtics vs. 76ers series?
The Celtics won the first game 123-91 and the third game by eight points, leading the series 2-1 after the first three games.