NBA: Brooklyn Nets vs. Philadelphia 76ers Game 1 Preview, Odds, Predictions

The Philadelphia 76ers and the Brooklyn Nets open the NBA playoffs at the Wells Fargo Center in Philly on Saturday night. They’ve closed the regular campaign and meet again shortly afterward. Philly ended third in the conference, having a solid season, yet showing some weaknesses which eventually placed them behind the Bucks and the Celtics, who overall looked stronger in head-to-head matchups. The Nets are a world apart from the start of the year, with the team looking completely different now than six months ago. No KD, no Kyrie, out of contention but looking quite exotic with an extensively deep roster. 

Preview

Brooklyn Nets (+280) come into the playoffs without any pressure, relaxed, yet full of confidence. The team built only recently, slowed solid quality and, despite all the predictions that it would lose the playoff berth, did the opposite. 

This team now has e new identity and a much more versatile attack. Spencer Dinwiddie is the brain on the floor, and we couldn’t avoid noticing his happiness upon return to Brooklyn. Dinwiddie played 26 games scoring 16.5 points yet dishing 9.1 assists with 4.1 boards.

Mikal Bridges is the muscle, scoring 26.1 buckets in Brooklyn in 34.2 points. Cam Johnson adds 16.6, while Nic Claxton stands as the only of the guys who were previously here, keeping his solid level of play. The center scores 12.6 points with 9.2 boards and 2.5 blocks each night. 

Philadelphia 76ers (-355) had a solid season in which Joel Embiid dominated. He will probably take the NBA MVP honors, even though he didn’t show up to face Nikola Jokic in Denver, in a game that should have decided who takes this year’s award. And yes, we will always mention that, like all other fans and analysts. 

But that can’t and won’t diminish Embiid’s incredible stats – 33.1 points, 10.2 boards and 4.2 assist in 66 games. The way the Process dominated his rivals was incredible, with all of them looking helpless against the Sixers’ giant. 

Of course, that was only possible with James Harden and Tyrese Maxey, who both averaged over 20 buckets a night. The BEard had 21 points, but 10.7 assists as well, while Maxey scored 20.3 buckets. 

Head to Head

The Sixers swept their division rivals this year, winning all four meetings. The first three were before Durant’s trade, and the most recent was a few days ago, when Philly dismantled the Nets in Brooklyn, 134-105. Though, we must add that neither side used their best guys, having the reserves or two-way players play most of the minutes. 

Prediction

Philly is in solid shape at Wells Fargo, winning 29 of 41 games. Their home defense ranks fifth in the league, with the offense being one of the best in three-point shooting. Even though we like the new Nets without superstars, they don’t look like the team that could be competitive on Saturday because of the above-written and the fact that they don’t have a player who might slow down Embiid. Claxton is good but won’t stand a chance against the Process. Especially at home, where the officiating criteria favors Embiid most of the time. 

Pick: 76ers win -285