The Boston Celtics are evidently public enemy No. 1 to Atlantic Division Rivals the Philadelphia 76ers.
While much could happen with the league’s currently-suspended 2019-20 regular season — on hold while the NBA tries to navigate a safe ending for the season in the midst of a pandemic — as things stand now, the 76ers would be Boston’s first-round opponent in the 2020 playoffs if the season were to end today.
Boston is firmly in the third seed, and Philly mostly so in the sixth, making the longtime foes likely opponents in the postseason unless whatever means the NBA devises to finish the season allows for enough play to see movement in the standings.
Despite that possibility, Sixers general manager Elton Brand revealed in a conference call with the media the team is treating Boston as their most-likely opponent, and are planning extensively for such a meeting.
“We’re talking about the Celtics as if that could be an opponent,” said Brand.
“Brett [Brown] and his staff have also prepared for other teams in case there is a regular season and odds change, but we have done a deep dive. As a fan, I want to see it, I want to see this team in the playoffs. I’ve said it many times.”
“That is what we’re built for so I want to see that, but … we are preparing as if we are going to go to the playoffs and play the Celtics,” Brand added.
It’s the most likely matchup for both teams, with Boston three games behind the Toronto Raptors and 2.5 ahead of the Miami Heat and the 76ers eight games ahead of the Brooklyn Nets.
The sole wildcard in the mix is the Indiana Pacers, technically tied with Philly but with a tiebreaker over the Sixers; a slide by Indy could spoil Brand’s well-wrought plans.
