SI: Who has the better future

[TheSundanceKid]

Haven't seen this posted yet
https://www.si.com/nba/2018/05/08/nba-playoffs-76ers-celtics-series-brighter-future-ben-simmons-jayson-tatum

A number pick the Celtics but quite a few pick the Sixers simply due to the perceived ceiling of Embiid and Simmons. They are sure to be stars in the league but has this series not shown their significant weaknesses and how they can be exploited? One contributor notes that Simmons lack of a jumper is 'scary', which is a giant understatement at the point. It isn't just his jumper, it's his shot period.

On the other side the progress of Tatum is noticed but his ceiling remains the same. The fact that LeBron was the last rookie to have this kind of impact is the playoffs is lost on them. Also one writer claims Irving not to be in the top 10 in the nba which is news to me, when he was at Cleveland he was challenging LeBron for number 1 in the East according to some!!

Is this article simply the anti Boston bias coming out or am I not seeing what they are seeing?

[Celtics4ever]

They are wrong,  plain and simple.   Embiid is injury prone.  They both are nice players but Simmons right now has no jumper and I would wager he could wilt tonight.    Don't let the hype train derail you.

[Big333223]

I understand why someone would pick the Sixers. Embiid and Simmons do have the highest ceilings of anyone on either team and there's still a chance Fultz isn't a lost cause. Plus they have another lottery pick and cap space this summer. They're sitting pretty.

But I'm glad I'm a Celtics fan. All things considered, I think Boston has the brighter future. Fewer questions about their players where Philly has big, important questions surrounding every one of their building blocks. And Tatum could still wind up being the best, most complete player on either team when it's said and done.

[celts55]

I must have missed something. Looks like 3 of 5 picked the Celtics. Not that it matters what they say, because no one knows.
I personally like the way the Celtics are built. I agree with the guy who brought up the point that no other team would make conference finals without their top 2 players.
Still have to see how everyone meshes together. There's only one ball as they say, and they now have a lot of guys who can score. If they can share the ball and continue to play defense I think they are a championship contender.
Philly has two excellent players, 3 or 4 solid pieces, and a bunch of who knows. Looks like they will have a top 10 draft pick so that should help. Fultz might still turn out to be a player?
The best thing is that the Celtics- 76's feud is back.   

[ederson]

Talent wise i'd give the edge to Sixers because of embiid but not by much.

But the Celtics are build on much stronger foundations.

There is no hype around this team... Nothing has been given to this group for free. They learned to fight for every game and every possesion. You can't just install overnight this kind of culture

The organisation knows how to develop players. It is not a coincidence that Tatum barely touched the rookie wall and has a remarkably consistent season.

I don't know how many teams could keep their season on track with 2 of their top3 players missing the playoffs

[Celtics4ever]

I understand why someone would pick the Sixers. Embiid and Simmons do have the highest ceilings of anyone on either team and there's still a chance Fultz isn't a lost cause. Plus they have another lottery pick and cap space this summer. They're sitting pretty.

Even with Hayward and Irving coming back?   I don't think so.

[jambr380]

I think a lot of the questions will be answered after FA/trade season. If Philly signs Lebron and trades for Kawhi, then the pro-Philly people have a very real point. If Philly is only able to re-sign Redick or make a trade for somebody like DeRozan or McCollum, then we are comfortably in the driver's seat.

A lot of the Philly optimism has to do with what they 'could' do, not what they currently have.

[cman88]

I understand why someone would pick the Sixers. Embiid and Simmons do have the highest ceilings of anyone on either team and there's still a chance Fultz isn't a lost cause. Plus they have another lottery pick and cap space this summer. They're sitting pretty.

Even with Hayward and Irving coming back?   I don't think so.

yeah, pretty much. a team with a rookie Tatum/sophmore Jaylen is wiping the floor with the sixers. what happens when you add 2 all-stars? thats essentially what the celtics are doing this summer. People forget how good Hayward/Irving are.

Celts will be rolling out a starting lineup next year of Irving/Brown/Hayward/Tatum/Horford....thats a scary good lineup where everyone can shoot the 3, can drive to the hoop and can take over a game.

I also dont have much faith in Embiid staying healthy. Maybe he does...but at his age he already moves like an old man and has missed alot of time. He's just bigger than everyone on the court.

And im tired of hearing Simmons has a higher ceiling than everyone else. based on what? playmaking maybe. And he has put up some impressive numbers this year.

 But jaylen/tatum are already showing they have a much better offensive game than Simmons ever will develop. Donovan Mitchell is showing me more in this playoffs as a whole. But the media has decided to make Simmons their new "chosen" player.

[Roy H.]

Is this article simply the anti Boston bias coming out or am I not seeing what they are seeing?

You might be looking for slights, if you see an article where 4 out of 6 analysts pick the Celtics as an example of anti-Celts bias.

[ederson]

I understand why someone would pick the Sixers. Embiid and Simmons do have the highest ceilings of anyone on either team and there's still a chance Fultz isn't a lost cause. Plus they have another lottery pick and cap space this summer. They're sitting pretty.

Even with Hayward and Irving coming back?   I don't think so.

yeah, pretty much. a team with a rookie Tatum/sophmore Jaylen is wiping the floor with the sixers. what happens when you add 2 all-stars? thats essentially what the celtics are doing this summer. People forget how good Hayward/Irving are.

Celts will be rolling out a starting lineup next year of Irving/Brown/Hayward/Tatum/Horford....thats a scary good lineup where everyone can shoot the 3, can drive to the hoop and can take over a game.

I also dont have much faith in Embiid staying healthy. Maybe he does...but at his age he already moves like an old man and has missed alot of time. He's just bigger than everyone on the court.

And im tired of hearing Simmons has a higher ceiling than everyone else. based on what? playmaking maybe. And he has put up some impressive numbers this year.

 But jaylen/tatum are already showing they have a much better offensive game than Simmons ever will develop. Donovan Mitchell is showing me more in this playoffs as a whole. But the media has decided to make Simmons their new "chosen" player.

Whipping the floor?

[Phantom255x]

Inside the NBA talked about this two nights ago.

Charles asked and Shaq + Kenny BOTH said Celtics.

I think Shaq put it pretty well: "Celtics have a system in place while Philly is a team with individual talents and some spot up shooters, but no clear system. Also for PHI to struggle mightily against Stevens and a Celtics team that's depleted is quite telling"

I do think IF Philly adds Lebron, OR add BOTH George + Kawhi (or Kawhi + Lebron), I'd honestly say Philly. We'll see.

[Big333223]

I understand why someone would pick the Sixers. Embiid and Simmons do have the highest ceilings of anyone on either team and there's still a chance Fultz isn't a lost cause. Plus they have another lottery pick and cap space this summer. They're sitting pretty.

Even with Hayward and Irving coming back?   I don't think so.

I'm confused. Are you saying that Hayward or Irving have a higher ceiling than Embiid or Simmons? Or are you not actually responding to my post?

[celticinorlando]

1. Philly is not adding Lebron. Lebron is going west. He wants to be in LA to transition his career into after basketball. They are going to ask him who he wants to play with and they will get those guys.

2. Ben Simmons cannot shoot. Period. Philly has to surround these guys with a bunch of one trick Euro's in order to get anything from the outside

3. Reddick is going to command a big payday.

4. I actually see Philly striking out in the FA market unless they trade for someone.

But, no Philly will not be better than Boston when Boston is whole.

[Roy H.]

I understand why someone would pick the Sixers. Embiid and Simmons do have the highest ceilings of anyone on either team and there's still a chance Fultz isn't a lost cause. Plus they have another lottery pick and cap space this summer. They're sitting pretty.

Even with Hayward and Irving coming back?   I don't think so.

I'm confused. Are you saying that Hayward or Irving have a higher ceiling than Embiid or Simmons? Or are you not actually responding to my post?

I think he’s responding to your first sentence.

[wdleehi]

If there was no split, what would the point of the article be?   


Let be honest, the 76ers could get unbelievably lucky.   The Lakers pick could win the lotto this year and the Kings could win the lotto next year.   76ers end up with both number 1s and the Celtics end up with a pick in the high 20s. 

Little chance of it happening, but it could.



I still think the Celtics are in better shape based on depth of top talent, depth of support talent, depth of draft picks, coaching and front office vision.