Sixers Eastern Conference Semifinal Showdown Set With Celtics: Schedule, Odds, Predictions

PHILADELPHIA, PA — For the fifth time in six years, the Sixers find themselves at an all too familiar crossroads: the Eastern Conference semifinals, the farthest they've progressed yet in their quest for a title during the Joel Embiid era.

They're up against an all-too familiar postseason foe, the Boston Celtics, with an all-too familiar pall cast over their championship dreams in the shape of an Embiid injury.

The status of the big man and 2023 MVP favorite is the storyline that will determine the storylines. Embiid suffered a knee injury in Game 3 of the Sixers opening round series against the Nets, and he's been listed as "doubtful" for game one. He's played through injuries in several consecutive postseasons, and Sixers fans can bet he'll do everything he can to be on the court for as much time as possible in the upcoming series.

While the Sixers finished off the Nets in the finale without Embiid to complete a four-game sweep, facing the team that is the favorite to win it all is an entirely different proposition.

The Celtics beat the Atlanta Hawks in the opening round, four games to two.

Here's what to know ahead of game one Monday night.

Schedule

Game 1: May 1, 7:30 p.m. at Boston on TNT
Game 2: May 3, 8 p.m. at Boston on TNT
Game 3: May 5, 7:30 p.m. in Philadelphia on ESPN
Game 4: May 7, 3:30 p.m. in Philadelphia on ESPN
Game 5 (if necessary): May 9, time TBD at Boston on TNT
Game 6 (if necessary): May 11, time TBD in Philadelphia on ESPN
Game 7 (if necessary): May 14, time TBD at Boston

History, recent and long past

The Celtics hold the advantage in both. All time in the postseason, the Sixers are 47-62 against Boston in 14 different postseason series, losing 10 of those matchups.

In the Embiid era, the Celtics have gone 7-1 across two series: the 2018 Eastern Conference semifinals, and the first round of the pandemic shortened 2020 "bubble" format.

The Sixers went 1-3 against the Celtics during four regular season matchups this year, although one game was effectively a toss-up. Embiid scored 52 in the fourth and final matchup, the Sixers lone victory.

As for the past several years, here's where the Sixers have finished up:

2018: lost to Boston Celtics in Eastern Conference semifinals, 4-1

2019: lost to Toronto Raptors in Eastern Conference semifinals, 4-3

2020: lost to Boston Celtics in opening round, 4-0

2021: lost to Atlanta Hawks in Eastern Conference semifinals, 4-2

2022: lost to Miami Heat in Eastern Conference semifinals, 4-2

2023: ?

Oddsmakers

The Celtics have been the general favorite to win the NBA Finals since Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo's injury, which precipitated the toppling of the east's top seed in the opening round.

Boston is a plus 130 favorite to win the Finals, according to FanDuel, ahead of Golden State (plus 500), Denver (plus 600), Phoenix (plus 600), and the Los Angeles Lakers (plus 1000). The Sixers are disrespected with just the sixth best odds to win, at plus 1100.

As for the Celtics-Sixers series, the Celtics are minus 9.5 point favorites.

Sixers chances at taking down Boston

Every season, fans have reason to believe it's "the" year for the Sixers, but 2022-23 might be their best shot at winning it all yet.

For one, Embiid, if he's healthy, is at the height of his prime. There's a chance he could get even better, but he's never been quite this great: a league-leading and career high in average points per game (33.1), and a career highs in assists (4.2). He's coupled that with elite rebounding (10.4 per game), and he averages a steal a game. He's the favorite to win a much-deserved first MVP award of his career.

As a team, the 54-win Sixers haven't won so many games since Allen Iverson's Eastern Conference championship team won 56 in 2001. And according to Basketball Reference, this is the best offensive team in Sixers history, with a 117.7 overall offensive rating (an estimate of points produced per 100 possessions).

And with James Harden, Tyrese Maxey, and Tobias Harris firing on all cylinders, Embiid has never had a more complementary and high-powered unit flanking him. And even without the big man, this is the best Sixers unit in a generation. The series will be long and brutal for both squads. Expect six or seven games regardless of the outcome.