On April 28, Beijing time, the Celtics defeated the Hawks 128-120 to advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals with an aggregate score of 4-2, against the 76ers who swept the Nets 4-0. Brown had 32 points, Tatum had 30 points, 14 rebounds and 7 assists, and Trae Young had 30 points and 10 assists. Embiid, who sprained the lateral collateral ligament in his knee, is expected to make a comeback in G1 in the Eastern Conference semifinals, while Harden may be the X-factor in whether the 76ers can advance. The 76ers and the Green Army's Eastern Conference semifinals schedule are also out.
The Green Army clearly has the advantage?
Looking at both history and this season's head-to-head, the dominant side seems to be the Celtics. Historically, the Green Army and the 76ers have met 21 times in the playoffs, winning 14 of the series.
For Embiid, the Greens also represent painful playoff memories. He faced the Greens in both the 2018 Eastern Conference semifinals and the 2020 Eastern Conference first-round, only to be eliminated 1-4 once and swept 4-0 on the other. In his playoff career against the Green Army, Embiid won 1-8, which is quite heart-wrenching.
The Green Army has also won three of the four regular season meetings this season, and indeed has a psychological advantage. Embiid played in all 4 games, averaging 36.8 points, 11.8 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game, shooting 61.2% from the field, which looks good, but the three-point shooting rate is low, only 18.2%.
Harden became the X-factor
In order to defeat the strong Green Army, in addition to Embiid's steady play, Harden needs to be in good enough form. In the four games against the Green Army in the regular season, Harden performed well, averaging 25.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 9 assists per game, shooting 47.5% from the field and 42.4% from three-point range, scoring and shooting above the season average.
The Greens are a nightmare for Embiid, but Harden has no psychological barriers to the Greens and even has some psychological advantages. The only playoff encounter with the Green Army was when Harden played for the Nets. In the first round of the 2021 playoffs, the Nets eliminated the Green Army 4-1, and in that series, Harden averaged 27.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, 10.6 assists, 2 steals and 1 block per game, shooting 55.6% from the field, 4 7.6% from three-point range, and 90.9% from the free throw line, which is the performance of a proper 180 club. Against the Green Army's G3, he scored 41 points.
If Harden can play the same level as he did with the Green Army in the playoffs two years ago, the 76ers still have a chance of toppling the team that reached the Finals last season.
The Green Army's win over the 76ers relies mainly on team play, and the personal data of the Double Reconnaissance against the 76ers this season is not very prominent. Tatum averaged 21 points, 9.8 rebounds and 6.3 assists and Brown averaged 21.7 points, 3 rebounds and 2.7 assists, both of which averaged below the season average.
As an established NBA powerhouse, the Green Army and the 76ers have the second and third highest all-time playoff wins, respectively. The Celtics have won 399 playoff games and the 76ers have won 246 playoff games. At the top of the list is the Los Angeles Lakers, who have won 461 playoff games.
76ers vs Green Army Eastern Conference Semifinals Schedule (both Beijing time)
G1: Tuesday, May 2, home of the Green Army
G2: Thursday, May 4, home of the Green Army
G3: Saturday, May 6, home to the 76ers
G4: Monday, May 8, 76ers home
G5: Wednesday, May 10, home of the Green Army (if necessary)
G6: Friday, May 12, 76ers home (if necessary)
G7: Monday, May 15, home of the Green Army (if necessary)