Tag: game preview

Three 76ers-Celtics questions with Sixers Wire’s Ky Carlin

We spoke with Sixers Wire editor Ky Carlin ahead of the Boston Celtics’ Jan. 9 road meeting with their Atlantic Division rivals, the Philadelphia 76ers.

The night after starting point guard Kemba Walker was ejected for the first time in his career, The Boston Celtics face the Philadelphia 76ers at home.

Ahead of the Boston’s Thursday night meeting with their Atlantic Division rivals, Celtics Wire caught up with Ky Carlin — the editor of Sixers Wire, our sister site — about the meeting between the two teams.

While both teams have been dealing with injury and illness of late, Philadelphia will be without Joel Embiid, one of the Celtics’ biggest obstacles to a win against the 76ers this season, and Boston is mostly healthy save for centers Robert Williams (hip) and Vincent Poirier (finger).

To find out what other issues might be coming to the fore in the third meeting between the teams this season (Philly winning the prior two), we asked Carlin to weigh in on tonight’s matchup.

Can you give me an overview of the Sixers’ season so far?

It’s been the ultimate roller coaster. This team possesses impressive wins such as the two over these Celtics, the Toronto Raptors, the Miami Heat, the Indiana Pacers, the Denver Nuggets, and a blowout over the Milwaukee Bucks. They also have lost twice to the Orlando Magic and own a loss to the hobbled Brooklyn Nets.

The Sixers overall have a ton of good talent, but it just has not meshed yet at all and it’s been a hindrance on the offensive end of the floor. It’s killing them.

How do the Sixers win Thursday’s matchup? How does Boston win?

They won’t be able to play true bully ball without Joel Embiid, but they can play fast which is the strength of Ben Simmons. This game screams “Ben Simmons offensive game” without Embiid. He will have to be aggressive and attack the basket using his elite size, strength, and athleticism to hurt Boston.

Boston will win if they use their speed and their quickness to get to the basket. Kemba Walker, Jayson Tatum, and Jaylen Brown can use their perimeter game to pressure the Sixers and put them on their heels.

Also without Embiid, the Celtics can get to the basket and finish up over the slower Al Horford.

What else should we know?

Philadelphia has changed the way they run things offensively. Simmons is now used as a roller in the pick-and-roll game with the Sixers wanting to use his size and athleticism around the basket. They’ve also inserted Trey Burke into the rotation as he’s given them an offensive spark late in games.

The two teams face off at 7pm ET at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, with Boston trying to break a two-game losing streak. They are currently a game behind the Miami Heat in third place in the East, and have won seven of their last 10.

Philadelphia is 2.5 games behind the Celtics to hold fifth place in the East, having won their last game and a less-inspiring four of their last 10.

With Embiid out, the odds should be more favorable for a Boston win, but even still the 76ers have the advantage with the subdued way Boston has played of late. Online bookmakers agree, giving Philly a -2.5 spread for the contest.

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Preview: Boston Celtics at Washington Wizards

The Boston Celtics try to take their win streak to four games on the road against the Washington Wizards. While currently stuck in twelfth place in the East, the Wiz are also are fresh off a win over the 24-11 Denver Nuggets.

The 25-8 Boston Celtics face the 11-24 Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena at 7pm ET as Boston tries to maintain its three-game winning streak.

The Wizards, losers of seven of their last ten games, will try to remain in the win column after beating the 24-11 Denver Nuggets on Jan. 4.

Boston has won eight of its last ten games and currently holds not only the No. 2 spot in the East, but the league’s second-best record overall; Washington is in sole possession of twelfth place in the East.

The second meeting of the two teams this season (Boston winning the first, a 140-133 win at TD Garden on Nov. 13), the Celtics will be without All-NBA point guard Kemba Walker (illness) and centers Robert Williams III (left hip bone edema) and Vincent Poirier (broken finger).

Rookie wing Romeo Langford (illness) is questionable.

The Wizards will not have center Thomas Bryant (foot) or forwards Davis Bertans (quad), Moritz Wagner (ankle) or Rui Hachimura (groin) available against Boston, and starting point guard John Wall (Achilles) and C.J. Miles (wrist) remain out for the season.

Starting shooting guard Bradley Beal (leg) and center Ian Mahinmi (finger) are questionable for a banged-up Wizards roster.

The Celtics should have little trouble winning the game so long as they play defense against a thin Washington franchise struggling to put healthy bodies on the floor, especially at the wing, where Boston is deepest.

Most online bookmakers strongly agree, with an average spread of -8.5.

However, the Nuggets loom as a fresh example of what this Wizards team can do to a franchise that doesn’t treat them with respect defensively.

Preview: Boston Celtics at Chicago Bulls

The 24-8 Celtics take on the 13-22 Chicago Bulls on the road Saturday — can they keep their two-game win streak going after a near-loss to the Atlanta Hawks?

The 24-8 Boston Celtics face the 13-22 Chicago Bulls at United Center at 8pm ET with Boston looking to continue its two-game win streak on the road.

The first meeting of the season for the two teams, Chicago has lost two straight and five of their last ten games, and currently sits in 10th place in the Eastern Conference, a far cry from the second-place Celtics, who have won seven of their last three contests.

The Bulls’ forward Otto Porter (foot) is a scratch for the tilt, while point guard Zach LaVine (ankle), center Wendell Carter (ankle) and reserve guard Ryan Arcidiacono (elbow) are all expected to play despite missing time recently.

The Celtics will be without point guard Kemba Walker (illness), who did not fly with the team for the game, as well as centers Robert Williams III (left hip bone edema) and Vincent Poirier (broken finger).

Enes Kanter (chin contusion) called himself a game-time decision after needing stitches during Friday’s win over the Atlanta Hawks, but is not on the team’s daily injury report.

Rookie guard Carsen Edwards was scheduled to join the team in Chicago after a stint with the Maine Red Claws, Boston’s G League affiliate, and should be available barring unforeseen changes.

The Celtics should be able to win this contest handily, but online bookmakers are judging it a close call, with Boston a slight favorite where there is one noted.

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6 surprising stats for the Eagles, Cowboys

6 surprising stats for Eagles, Cowboys

The Philadelphia Eagles (7-7) are playing another must-win contest, this time for the division against the Dallas Cowboys (7-7) at Lincoln Financial Field.

The game offers some interesting matchups, dynamics and surprising stats for both teams.

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1. Eagles defense dominant at home

When the Eagles are on the road, their defense looks like something out of the old Big-12 conference. They don’t travel well and apparently miss the home cooking.

In seven away games, the Eagles have held opponents to 29 points per game on the road. That figure drops dramatically to 17.9 and the Birds have allowed 11 fewer touchdowns at home as well.

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