NBA: Philadelphia 76ers VS Boston Celtics Pick and Predictions 02/08/2023

Game: 7:30 PM ET,  Wednesday, February 8th, 2023

Venue:  Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

TV:  ESPN

76ers: 34-18, 3rd place Eastern Conference

Celtics: 38-16, 1st place Eastern Conference

BetMGM:  Point Spread: Celtics -4.5, O/U 224.5

PointsBet: Point Spread: Celtics -4, O/U 224.5

Fanduel: Point Spread: Celtics -4, O/U 224.5

76ers: PG James Harden, SG De’Anthony Melton, SF Tobias Harris, PF PJ Tucker, C Joel Embiid

Celtics: PG Malcolm Brogdon, SG Jaylen Brown, SF Jayson Tatum, PF Al Horford, C Robert Williams III

A much anticipated Eastern Conference battle between the 3rd place and 1st place teams… that may ultimately be decided by healthy bodies.  The Philadelphia 76ers almost had everything!... This team had committed to a full process of losing for high draft picks and then trading “good players” for more draft picks… until they had stocked the stockpile to an undeniable point… The plan was called the process and it WORKED… until it was punched in the gut at the finish line in 2017. New (then) 76ers GM Bryan Colangelo tried to finish the process by making a draft day trade of their #3 pick for the #1 pick!  They would pair Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons with a #1 overall kid by the name of Markelle Fultz and then they would soon be champions… Only that wasn’t how the process worked because it cost them a future draft pick as well.  AND they made that trade with the Celtics and the Celtics at #3 drafted the player they wanted the entire time, SF Jayson Tatum.  The end result for Bryan Colangelo’s work at the Sixers was total calamity.  The Celtics were the team that came out of the 2017 draft the big winners whether they had a future pick or not.  Years later Ben Simmons is gone, Markelle Fultz is gone… and neither are very good players elsewhere.  The Celtics on the other hand have a top-five star player in this league… and a well rounded roster to have made the Finals last year and could be there again this year.  If the Celtics had made that pick not only would they have Tatum playing with Embiid… but they also wouldn’t be overpaying for SF Tobias Harris… who is good but not quite as good as his salary.  C’est La Vie.  The great betting opportunity here is in deciding if the Celtics can really get over the Sixers by 4-5 points while both Horford and Williams are listed as Day to Day.. AND PG Marcus Smart is Out with injury.  Let’s check the recent trends.

The Philadelphia 76ers have won 8 of their last 10 games. They lost their last game 108-97 against the New York Knicks.  In that loss C Joel Embiid had 31 points & 14 rebounds… but watched as PG James Harden had a horrible shooting night as he logged 12 points, 8 rebounds, and 12 assists.  James ended the night 4 of 11 from the field and he had gone 0 of 4 from 3-point range. SF Tobias Harris had 14 points and 10 rebounds.  The Sixers ultimately fell to the force of Brunson and Randle… with a keen shooting night from SF Evan Fournier 6 of 11 with 5 made 3-pointers for 17 points in 23 minutes.  Fournier had fallen out of the rotation in New York but is getting minutes lately to be showcased for the trade deadline… Not too many teams outside of Indiana need a guy like Fournier… but maybe he catches someone’s eye.  Good shooting night aside, the Knicks would love to get rid of his salary.

The Boston Celtics have won 6 of their last 10 games.  They won their last game 111-99 over the lousy Detroit Pistons… easily covering the -8.5 spread.  In the win the Celtics got 34 points, 11 rebounds, and 6 assists from SF Jayson Tatum… 23 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists from SG Derrick White.  Ce Robert Williams III added 15 points & 15 rebounds.  PG Marcus Smart AND SG Jaylen Brown did not play in the game.  So they beat Detroit while missing two of their big three.  Detroit is no good through and through… but the depth of the Celtics at guard and wing was on full display.  Leaving some to believe they could afford a move at the deadline to add another big man in time for a Championship run. 

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The 76ers are 13th in scoring with 114.6 points per game, 28th in rebounds with 40.7 per game.  On defense they rank 4th while holding opponents to 110.9 points per game.  OK offense but real defense is at work here.  

The Celtics are 3rd in scoring with 117.6 points per game, 7th in rebounds with 45 per game.  On defense they rank 6th while allowing only 111.6 per game from opponents.  Great offense and real defense.  The Celtics can beat anyone.  They just need health going forward.

Our prediction for Wednesday, February 8th is….  Celtics 111 - 76ers 109

The Celtics would have to cover 4.5 points while they have had a revolving door installed on the injury list.  That means to me that win or lose you will make money off any close game on the 76ers… Plus you have a coin flip on whether the 76ers might win this game outright.  For those reasons: Bet on the 76ers.

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Philly is 3-1 ATS versus Boston at Boston the last 3 seasons.

Philly is 15-5 ATS after an UNDER this season.

The Celtics are 4-1 ATS as a home favorite of 6 points or less.

76ers: SF Tobias Harris.  Harris is the third most important piece on the Sixers roster.  He is not Embiid (the star) or Harden (the former MVP, assist leader)... but he is a top level NBA starter.  The Sixers have a trade deadline tomorrow… They should explore all options if they can’t beat the injury depleted Celtics tonight.

Celtics: C Robert Williams III.  Robert is VERY important to the Celtics success.  He is much needed on the glass and pretty impressive on defense.  His listing as Day to Day could end this game for the Celtics.  If the C’s do not have Williams on the floor?... Embiid will walk over whoever they do have out there.

76ers: Doc “I’m related through marriage to the Curry’s” Rivers

Celtics: Joe “Still basking in my sudden dream job” Mazzula