3. Philadelphia 76ers – 6. Brooklyn Nets
Regular Season Series: Tied 2-2
I am absolutely intrigued by this series, perhaps more so than any other in the East. On paper, the Philadelphia 76ers should have a huge advantage with a much more loaded and proven roster. However, the Nets have been resilient and scrappy all season long and certainly can’t be counted out. They held their own against the Sixers in the regular season and I think they’ll do the same in the playoffs.
What adds an even further wrinkle is that the oft-injured Joel Embiid is once again ailing as he is now listed as doubtful for Game 1. Not questionable or probable, but it really does appear that he’s quite likely to not suit up for Saturday’s bout.
This will obviously help the Nets until he’s able to return to action, but the Sixers still aren’t a one-man team by any means. Jimmy Butler, Ben Simmons and Tobias Harris are all capable of lighting it up and will give the Nets all they can handle. And assuming Embiid gets back at some point in the series, I’m confident Philly will still have the edge.
That said, I love what the likes of D’Angelo Russell and Spencer Dinwiddie bring to the table. Joe Harris is a dead-eye shooter, and though Caris LeVert still isn’t back to where he was pre-injury, he could very well have a coming out party in the postseason. Lastly, with Embiid presumably out of action, rising young big man Jarrett Allen should feast in the paint for Brooklyn. There’s simply a lot to like and look forward to in this series.
Philadelphia is the heavy favorite, but the Nets aren’t about to roll over and I’m thrilled to see what savvy head coach Kenny Atkinson draws up in the playoffs to potentially shut down the non-shooter Simmons and hold the Sixers’ other prolific players at bay. However, while I expect him and the Nets to do an admirable job and produce a tightly contested series, in the end, I imagine the Sixers’ experience will win out.
Prediction: 76ers in 6