NBA Playoffs: Everything you need to know about Boston Celtics vs. Philadelphia 76ers

Key Question No. 2: Can the 76ers overcome the loss of Ben Simmons, or will the Celtics’ young core prove to be too much?

Heading into the NBA restart, there was a lot of buzz and excitement surrounding the 76ers, mostly due to Ben Simmons’ new jump shot that was on full display during his quarantine workouts and team practices. Simmons even knocked down a corner three in one of the seeding games.

Simmons was unable to put the outside shot on full display in the bubble before injuring his knee and knocking the wind out his team. Despite going 2-1 in the bubble games that Ben started, the Sixers had been struggling on both sides of the ball.

Their new starting lineup was still a work in progress, turning the ball over at an alarming rate (16.0 turnovers through the first three games). And with the switch of Shake Milton and Al Horford, the defense took a few steps back as well, allowing 118.3 points per game. A significant increase from 107.4 per game they allowed before the hiatus.

In the five games since Simmons’ injury, Philly is 2-3. Regardless of the record, the defense is surrendering fewer points per game (115.2) over that stretch and also cut down the turnovers to a more respectable 13.2 per game.

The improvement in the defensive numbers can be misleading due to a blowout victory over the Houston Rockets. Remove that game from the equation, and the Sixers are allowing an eye-popping 120.0 points per game in four games without their defensive stalwart.

Going up against budding stars Tatum, Brown along with All-Star Kemba Walker, the Sixers will sorely miss Simmons’ defense and playmaking ability.

Milton and Furkan Korkmanz aren’t good enough defenders to contain, let alone stop Walker. It would also be asking too much of Josh Richardson and rookie sensation Matisse Thybulle to contain all three over a potential seven-game series.

Let’s not forget the emergence of Javonte Green, who may have played his way into a spot in the playoff rotation. Or Gordon Hayward, who’s been averaging a quiet 18.7 points on 48.4 percent shooting with 7.7 rebounds in a team-high 34.1 minutes per game in the bubble.

Losing Simmons and his defensive versatility takes away from some of the schemes and looks that Brett Brown can deploy. It’s going to be all hands on deck on both sides of the ball, especially on the defensive end, where Boston has multiple proven scorers at various positions that can score from all over the court.

Tatum and Brown are having the best offensive seasons of their careers and are heading into the playoffs hot from downtown, shooting 44.9 and 38.6 percent from 3-point range, respectively. The Celtics as a whole are shooting 39.3 percent from long-range in the seven games that both Tatum and Brown played. This is especially bad news for the 76ers who have struggled with their perimeter defense since entering the bubble.

Sixers role players need to step up big time this series if they are going to have a fighting chance against the 48-26 Celtics.

The time is now for Tobias Harris to prove he deserved that max contract. For Horford to show 76ers fans why Elton Brand was right for offering him that egregious contract. For Embiid to prove he’s the best rim protector in the NBA, and for even Thybulle to show everyone once and for all why he was selected in the first round.