![\"Stephen](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-2260113933_0c63c9-e1776540473543.jpg\")
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Stephen A. Smith says the 76ers won\u2019t beat the Celtics in the playoffs.<\/p>\n
As the Boston Celtics<\/a> and Philadelphia 76ers<\/a> get set to open their first-round playoff series<\/a>, a clear message is already echoing across the NBA<\/a> landscape \u2014 and it\u2019s not one Philadelphia fans will want to hear.<\/p>\n From national television to film-room breakdowns, multiple analysts are arriving at the same conclusion: Boston holds a decisive edge in this matchup.<\/p>\n Stephen A. Smith Warns 76ers Fans After \u2018We Want Boston\u2019 Chants<\/p>\n After the 76ers clinched their playoff spot, chants of \u201cWe want Boston\u201d rang out \u2014 a moment that quickly became part of the pre-series narrative.<\/p>\n During a segment on First Take, Stephen A. Smith made it clear<\/a> he doesn\u2019t believe that confidence will age well.<\/p>\n \u201cPhilly fans will regret saying, \u2018We want Boston,\u2019\u201d Smith said. \u201cYou\u2019re not beating the Boston Celtics.\u201d<\/p>\n Smith pointed to Boston\u2019s consistency, depth, and playoff experience as major advantages \u2014 especially with uncertainty still surrounding Joel Embiid.<\/p>\n His takeaway was direct: this isn\u2019t just a difficult matchup \u2014 it\u2019s one that heavily favors Boston from the start.<\/p>\n Jason Timpf Predicts Celtics Will Control the Series<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s just gonna be really difficult for them to keep up with the shot quality dynamic.\u201d A similar outlook came from Jason Timpf on Hoops Tonight, where he broke down the matchup from a schematic perspective.<\/p>\n \u201cI think Boston wins relatively easily. I\u2019m gonna pick the Celtics in five games,\u201d Timpf said.<\/p>\n Timpf highlighted what he sees as the core issue for Philadelphia \u2014 not just talent, but how that talent translates against Boston\u2019s system.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s just gonna be really difficult for them to keep up with the shot quality dynamic.\u201d<\/p>\n While the 76ers can generate offense, Timpf emphasized that Boston consistently creates cleaner, more efficient looks \u2014 particularly from beyond the arc.<\/p>\n \u201cPhilly is a good pick-and-roll scoring team, but not a great one,\u201d he added. \u201cAnd it\u2019s just gonna be really hard to compete with the quality spot-up opportunities Boston is gonna generate.\u201d<\/p>\n Why Celtics Enter Series as Clear Favorites<\/p>\n The gap between the two teams<\/a>, according to many analysts, goes beyond one or two factors.<\/p>\n Boston enters the series with:<\/p>\n Elite offensive efficiency and three-point shooting Philadelphia, meanwhile, faces key questions:<\/p>\n The health and availability of Joel Embiid Even in scenarios where the 76ers remain competitive early, many believe Boston\u2019s advantages will become more apparent as the series progresses.<\/p>\n Pressure Builds as Series Begins GettyJaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics drives to the basket against the Philadelphia 76ers during a game at TD Garden on March 1, 2026.<\/p>\n There\u2019s also an added layer of pressure surrounding this matchup.<\/p>\n Philadelphia didn\u2019t just draw Boston \u2014 they openly welcomed it.<\/p>\n Now, with Game 1 approaching, that confidence is being reframed externally as a potential miscalculation.<\/p>\n If the Celtics take control early, the \u201cWe want Boston\u201d chants could quickly become one of the defining storylines of the series.<\/p>\n And if the predictions from voices like Smith and Timpf hold true, it won\u2019t just be about who wins \u2014 it\u2019ll be about how inevitable the outcome felt from the start.<\/p>\n \n\t\t\tMaggie MacKenzie<\/a> Maggie MacKenzie covers NASCAR for Heavy.com. She previously worked for NASCAR.com, where she reported, wrote, and edited race-weekend coverage and traveled to key events throughout the season. She has more than ten years of experience in sports media and is based in Boston, Massachusetts. More about Maggie MacKenzie<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\tMore Heavy on Celtics\n\t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\tLoading more stories\n\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t
\n@_JasonLT<\/a> makes his prediction for 76ers-Celtics <\/p>\n
\nA versatile, switch-heavy defense
\nProven playoff continuity led by Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown<\/p>\n
\nHeavy reliance on Tyrese Maxey for shot creation
\nDifficulty matching Boston\u2019s depth and spacing across a full series<\/p>\n![\"Jaylen](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-2264424324-e1776540777577.jpg\")
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