Jaylen Brown isn’t pretending Tuesday’s matchup with the Celtics is just another night on the schedule, but he also isn’t lighting the fuse any more than it already is.
Boston and Philadelphia are set for a showdown that has plenty of built-in edge, especially with Brown and Jayson Tatum meeting for the first time since the blockbuster trade back in July. The storyline practically writes itself, and the temperature around it has only climbed because of what the deal meant for both sides.
Still, Brown didn’t spend the weekend turning the conversation into a full-blown shot at his old team. After the Sixers finished a three-game road trip with a win over the Chicago Bulls, he was asked about the upcoming clash and kept his comments measured.
“I think it’s gonna be a great matchup. They look great over there.
Well-coached, well-spaced. Should be a good matchup for us,” Brown told reporters, per CLNS.
That’s not exactly a peace treaty, but it is a clear nod of respect. And it fits the bigger picture here: the Celtics have stayed right near the top of the league even after Brown’s departure, while Philadelphia has surged into the No. 1 spot in the Eastern Conference.
The numbers back up the stage. The Sixers enter at 9-2, the Celtics at 8-2, and Boston has won three straight. Tuesday’s game in South Philadelphia has the look of a heavyweight meeting, not just a reunion.
Tatum has been central to Boston’s fast start. Through nine games, he’s averaging 27.1 points, 7.8 assists and 6.0 rebounds while shooting 42% from the field and 31.3% from deep. After playing only 16 regular-season games last season, he’s back producing like himself again following his recovery from a torn Achilles.
On the other side, Brown’s replacement in Philadelphia, former Sixers wing Paul George, has also logged nine games this season. He’s averaging 20.4 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.1 assists, while shooting 42.5% from three.
So yes, there’s plenty of drama hanging over this one. But Brown’s comments made one thing clear: he knows the Celtics still look dangerous, and he’s not ignoring it.
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Joel Embiid Just Gave The Sixers Another Brutal Health Scare
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Embiid has already been working through plantar fasciitis and recently tweaked his ankle, so any new stumble naturally sets off alarms for a team with limited depth behind him at center. His status is expected to be day-to-day, but for the Sixers, the bigger concern is how often they can keep absorbing these scares without it turning into something more serious. [Read more 🡒]
Joel Embiid Is Back In A Debate Sixers Fans Dread
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Bill Simmons added another layer to the conversation by criticizing Embiids reactions to injuries, a familiar and frustrating topic for a fan base that has heard plenty of outside commentary about its star. For the Sixers, the concern is less about the debate itself than the bigger picture around Embiids availability and how every minor scare seems to reopen the same conversation all over again. [Read more 🡒]
Sixers Face A Big Thursday Question With Two Stars Uncertain
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LeBron James is also on the questionable list because of back management, adding another layer to the nights uncertainty even before tipoff. The Sixers will also be without Adem Bona, who is sidelined by a cervical spine sprain, and Dominick Barlow, who is out with a back injury, while Toronto remains shorthanded too with Kawhi Leonard ruled out for at least another week because of knee issues. [Read more 🡒]