Maybe the Boston Celtics Broke the Philadelphia 76ers, Who Have Become Far More Entertaining off the Court Than on It

The Philadelphia 76ers looked as if they were on their way to taking a giant postseason leap last year when they faced the Boston Celtics. After sweeping the Brooklyn Nets in the opening round of the playoffs, the Sixers went into Boston and made a statement in Game 1 with a 119-115 victory, even without league MVP Joel Embiid able to suit up.

The Celtics eventually bounced back and rallied from a 3-2 series deficit to eliminate their Eastern Conference rivals from postseason play. Since then, the Sixers have been nothing but an embarrassment off the court.

The Philadelphia 76ers had their shot against the Boston Celtics

Things looked great for the Philadelphia 76ers after five games in last year’s postseason. Although Embiid injured his knee in Game 3 against the Nets in Round 1 of the playoffs, Philly took care of Brooklyn in four games, giving Embiid a chance to rest.

The Boston Celtics went six games with the Atlanta Hawks before advancing to face the Sixers. Even with Embiid on the bench, Philadelphia went into hostile territory and pulled out a Game 1 victory over the Celtics behind 45 points from James Harden.

Even though the Celtics bounced back to win Games 2 and 3, Philadelphia pulled off a thrilling 116-115 overtime victory in Game 4 and then went back to Boston to take Game 5 convincingly, 115-103.

Needing one win in the final two games to advance to the conference finals, the Sixers put up 86 points in Game 6, including just 13 in the fourth quarter, as Boston escaped Philadelphia with an ugly 95-86 win. Boston then sent Philly packing with a 112-88 win in a game Celtics star Jayson Tatum finished with 51 points.

Since then, it’s been nothing but a disaster for the 76ers.

The 76ers have been in the news for all the wrong reasons lately

The 2023-24 NBA schedule hasn’t even been released yet, but the Philadelphia 76ers are making plenty of noise. None of it’s good if you’re a Sixers fan.

Harden recently blasted Sixers president Daryl Morey, calling him a liar, during an appearance in China earlier this week.

“Daryl Morey is a liar, and I will never be a part of an organization that he’s a part of,” Harden said before repeating himself. “Let me say that again. Daryl Morey is a liar, and I will never be a part of an organization that he’s a part.”

The comment reportedly stems from Harden and the Sixers not being able to come to an agreement on an extension. The 76ers have ended talks with Harden and said they plan to bring him back at the start of the season, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer. Harden says he’s not showing up to training camp.

During an appearance on NBA Today, Ramona Shelburne said this is just the tip of the iceberg of the Philadelphia drama.

“Somebody said to me yesterday, ‘This is only the beginning,’ Shelburne said. ‘This is just the beginning of what James Harden is going to do to make life very uncomfortable for the Philadelphia 76ers going into training camp.'”

Welcome to the NBA, where the 76ers are making plenty of noise two months before the start of the season.