NBA Playoffs Preview: Celtics vs. 76ers Game 1

The most wonderful time of the year is right now; the NBA Playoffs! The longer than usual regular season grind is over, and we’ve got our first-round matchups in the can.

For the Philadelphia 76ers, they’ll know that a loss in the first round to the Boston Celtics will mean an end for ‘The Process’ as we know it. This talented team full of promise has not delivered when it’s mattered most over the past five years, and a loss in this series will likely cost coach Brett Brown his job and raise question marks about the future of the tandem star duo of Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons co-existing on the same roster.

Boston have had a year of re-energizing. Away from the dark shadow of Kyrie Irving, who moved to the Brooklyn Nets in free agency last summer, the Celtics have returned to the type of team play that saw them exceed expectations as a young team that beat the Sixers on their way to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2018.

Both ball clubs have been intrinsically linked ever since the Sixers decided to trade with the Celts in 2017 to acquire Boston’s number 1 pick. Philadelphia would select Markelle Fultz, who went through personal struggles before eventually being shown the door at Philly. Boston would draft Jayson Tatum with the third overall selection. Tatum would go on to become an All-Star and future MVP candiadate.

Careers on the line, reputations at stake. So many sub-plots in this one to savor. The team at Dimers have taken the guess work out of where to place your bets for Game 1 of what promises to be one of the most exciting first-round contests in the East. Your first bet with BetMGM is risk-free up to $500! If you lose, get it back in bonuses! Join here.

Dimers' Suggested Plays

BEST: 76ers +5.5 (-110*)
Moneyline: Celtics (-220*)
Over/Under: Over 218.5 (-110*)