Defying expectations, the Boston Celtics were knocked out of the first round of the playoffs by a resurgent Philadelphia 76ers. A big reason for that turnaround was the 76ers' star Joel Embiid. The Celtics have great players, but no answer for the Process. He straight-up took Boston apart.
It's quite possible that Embiid has the worst luck in the NBA. He's dealt with a lot of injuries in his career, but the kicker was him needing an appendectomy right before the 2026 Playoffs started. He ended up missing the first three games of the series, finally returning in game four.
By the end of that game, the Celtics were up three games to one with the expectation that they would put the 76ers to bed. Instead, Philly took the next three games and won the series four games to three. It was only the 14th time in NBA history that happened in the playoffs.
The Celtics' collapse was historic, not to mention a sign that their championship window is likely closed with this specific roster. While they have a lot of great players, they simply do not have anyone on the current team to have what it takes to face off against a guy like Embiid.
Embiid has reminded everyone in the NBA who he is
Frankly, it's been easy to forget exactly how good a basketball player Embiid can be when he's healthy. That's largely thanks to his long injury record. While game four was a bit rough for him and the 76ers, he came back in a big way in the next three games and owned the Celtics.
It didn't help that Jayson Tatum was injured and on the bench for game seven. Keep in mind that him being on court didn't prevent Boston from losing games five and six. What the Celtics were really lacking was a big man who could put up any real defense against a versatile big man like Embiid.
With him playing, the spacing changed and opened up more opportunities for Paul George, Tyrese Maxey, and V.J. Edgecombe to take advantage of. Embiid had three double-doubles in four games after his return in the playoffs. Plus, he's considered a great defender and elite rim protector.
Boston doesn't have a big man like Embiid. They have long relied on their three-point shooting to get them by, but that's just not enough anymore. If they want to stay competitive, the Celtics are going to need a versatile big man of their own, or another title will remain out of reach.
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