76ers vs Celtics Betting Odds Preview: A Litmus Test on Trade Deadline Eve

Eastern Contenders Face off With Potential Trades Brewing

Celtics Favored Amidst NBA Trade Deadline

With the NBA Trade Deadline tomorrow, the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers could make some deals to improve their rosters. While it seems unlikely they will, each contender could get a leg-up over the other by dealing for a potentially critical role player.

Currently, their second meeting this Wednesday could be a measure of where they stand. As it is, the 76ers vs Celtics betting odds favor the hosts by 4.5 points.

Philadelphia 76ers (34-18) vs Boston Celtics(38-16)

Date & Time:
Location: TD Garden, Boston


Can Philadelphia Get Better?

Philadelphia 76ers finds itself in an interesting position. On one hand, this team does not have any weaknesses. It has two superstar players: one in the frontcourt with Joel Embiid (questionable for this game with a foot injury) and the other in the backcourt with James Harden.

The two combine to score 54.4 of Philadelphia’s 114.6 points per game.

“The way they’re playing right now is unbelievable and I think any time you put two elite players in the pick-and-roll, that’s gonna command a lot of attention,”
“That opens up the floor for other guys. I think their willingness to sacrifice and play off each other has made them. They’re playing great basketball on both sides of the ball right now.” New York Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau spoke of Embiid and Harden following their game on Sunday.

Supporting Embiid is a strong cast led by Tyrese Maxey. The third-year player is averaging a career-high 20.1 points per game. Tobias Harris also chips in 16.1 points while De’Anthony Melton, P.J. Tucker, and Shake Milton round out the team’s rotation.

Most notably, almost everyone on the team is solid on both ends of the floor hence why the 76ers are in the top 10 in both offensive and defensive ratings. It’s also why they are fourth in the overall NBA standings.

The Sixers’ offense, especially on the road, has been elite. The team is averaging a 115.2 offensive rating, which is second in the league. It’s why the team’s totals have gone over on 15 of their 24 road games. Philadelphia has also won eight of its last nine road games and has evened out its record on the NBA point spread (12-12 against the spread (ATS)).

It’s hard to see how this team can get better. A bit more offense from its bench (23rd in scoring) could help. But even as underdogs on the 76ers vs Celtics betting odds, Philadelphia has what it takes to win.

Celtics Need to Bolster Frontcourt

Boston is also in great shape heading to the deadline. The Celtics are the best NBA team right now (38-16) although they could improve on their 51.9 percent cover rate (28-26-0). Still, like Philadelphia, is strong on both ends of the floor. In fact, Boston is the only NBA team to be in the top five in both offense and defense. And to think it’s doing all of this without stability in the frontcourt.

The Celtics currently have Robert Williams, Al Horford, and Luke Kornet playing the majority of the minutes at center. Jayson Tatum and Sam Hauser typically occupy the power forward slot with both Williams’s (Grant) also getting minutes in.

However, the bigger Williams (Robert) is typically injured while Grant is 6’6″ and sometimes too small for the position. Horford is 36 years old and while still serviceable, he does not have the same potency to defend the younger and more explosive bigs in that position. And Kornet, despite looking good in some advanced statistics, is not exactly a top-tier defensive anchor.

So if Boston is to make any deals, the team could find more insurance in the middle to spare Williams from a heavier workload (he only plays 23.6 minutes per game). Boston is five points better on defense when he’s on the floor and the team is 10-4 when he plays at least 20 minutes.

The Celtics will certainly need him in pivotal tilts against the top teams’ bigs like Embiid. While Williams can’t guard Embiid alone, his size, athleticism, and physicality is a feature they could use. Bank on him to make some type of impact on the 76ers vs Celtics betting odds.


Can’t get enough? Here’s more!

Back to top button

pointspreads

WHO WILL WIN?

Submit your vote and view the results
Hey Again

vote all you can

pointspreads

PS-email

PS-email

Robot_subscription sombras
Subscribe to get
get_expert_img
Thank you for subscribing subscribed_icon