Four areas the Sixers must shore up to beat the Boston Celtics in their second-round series

Before the 76ers even played Game 4 of their first-round playoff sweep of the Brooklyn Nets, Doc Rivers’ coaching staff compiled separate “books” to game-plan for both possible second-round opponents, the Boston Celtics and Atlanta Hawks.

That dual preparation became more important throughout this week, when the Hawks extended their first-round series against the Celtics to Game 6. But let’s be real. It has felt like the Sixers’ entire 2022-23 season had been building to this postseason matchup against the Celtics, which finally became official when they finished off the Hawks with Thursday night’s victory.

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On paper, getting past last year’s Finals participant looked like a daunting challenge before MVP front-runner Joel Embiid’s sprained knee made his availability for the series’ start uncertain. The Sixers lost three of their four regular-season games against Boston — and needed a Herculean 52 points from Embiid to clinch their only victory earlier this month, when the Celtics played without standouts Jaylen Brown and Robert Williams.

Even after rolling through the Nets, it’s safe to assume the Sixers will need to be much sharper to get past the Celtics. Assuming Embiid returns at some point during the series, here are some areas of emphasis as the Sixers aim to advance past the conference semifinals for the first time since 2001.

Embiid was relentlessly double-teamed by the Nets, resulting in his scoring average in the three games he played (20 points) dipping more than 13 points below his regular-season average (33.1 points) that led the NBA for the second consecutive season. Embiid, however, did average four assists in the series, often by passing to an open teammate when an extra defender arrived.

Perhaps that approach provided a blueprint, of sorts, on how to guard Embiid in a playoff series. Yet the Celtics boast the individual and collective defensive talent — including 2022 defensive player of the year Marcus Smart and Derrick White on the perimeter, and Williams and Al Horford inside — to deploy a variety of schemes. Boston ranked second in defensive efficiency during the regular season, with 110.6 points allowed per 100 possessions.

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The Sixers, meanwhile, were third in offensive efficiency during the regular season (117 points per 100 possessions), but twice failed to reach 100 points against Brooklyn. Rivers said the his team’s primary area to clean up following its first-round win was its floor spacing, which the coach called “horrendous” by Game 4 “and we got away with it.” He added that, during Tuesday’s film session, players began pointing out when a teammate drifted in because “it was just over and over and over.”

A crowded middle of the floor affects players who roll to the basket, such as Paul Reed and Jalen McDaniels. It also hampers James Harden’s options when he drives to the basket, which brings us to …

This was still an issue at the conclusion of the Nets series. Over the course of those four games, Harden went 4-for-17 at the rim and 3-for-13 from the non-restricted area. Compare that to his 42.9% shooting from three-point range (14-for-33).

“I had plenty of opportunities [at the rim],” Harden said following Game 4. “I just didn’t make them.”

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Better spacing for kick-out and dump-off passes would benefit Harden, who led the NBA in assists during the regular season at 10.7 per game. But if Embiid misses at least part of this series, the Sixers will need Harden and Tyrese Maxey to get downhill with the ball — and finish or draw the foul. Maxey’s struggles against the Celtics throughout his career could put even more scoring responsibility on Harden’s shoulders.

The dynamic shot-making All-Star wings Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are why the Celtics have traditionally been a difficult matchup for the Sixers. Defending them requires the length and athleticism to keep up, and/or the physicality and tenacity to play bully ball.

Given Harden’s and Maxey’s defensive deficiencies, the efforts of Tobias Harris, De’Anthony Melton, P.J. Tucker, and McDaniels on this end of the floor will be paramount.

The Sixers allowed Brooklyn’s Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson to catch fire in the first halves of Games 1 and 2, respectively, before locking down after the break. If Tatum and/or Brown get rolling, however, it likely will be much tougher to cool them off.

As the playoffs progress, rotations tend to shrink and each reserve’s minutes will become even more magnified.

If Embiid misses any time, the BBall Paul Experience must hit another gear. Behind Reed (who struggled in the regular-season matchups against the Celtics), would Rivers feel comfortable putting Montrezl Harrell on the floor even for five first-half minutes, as he did in Game 4 in Brooklyn? Or would he simply shift Tucker to center for a small-ball look when Reed is off the floor?

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Stretch forward Georges Niang, meanwhile, only shot six three-pointers in four games against the Nets (including two games with zero attempts) after making 40.1% of his 4.9 attempts per game overall during the regular season. This also could be a series when Niang’s lack of athleticism makes it difficult to keep him on the floor. He went 2-for-12 from beyond the arc in the four regular-season games against the Celtics, and did not score in either of their final two meetings.

If that’s the case, Melton and McDaniels (or perhaps Shake Milton and/or Danuel House Jr.) will be relied upon more to knock down outside shots when Maxey, Harden, and Harris are resting.