Philadelphia 76ers star big man Joel Embiid says the team doesn't have a rivalry with the Boston Celtics because the Celtics are always beating them. The Sixers lost to the Celtics on opening night by a final score of 105-87.
Embiid told reporters postgame the Celtics are always “kicking their a**” and that's why the matchup can't be deemed as a rivalry.
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Joel Embiid finished with 23 points and 10 rebounds in the loss to Boston. Going back to the 2018 playoffs, the Celtics are now 5-1 in their last six games against the Sixers.
Philadelphia had no answers for Jayson Tatum, who scored 23 points, picking up where he left off from his stellar rookie season. Gordon Hayward racked up 10 points in his first meaningful game since suffering that gruesome left ankle injury last season. Kyrie Irving struggled, registering only seven points, but that's how good the Celtics are. Their two All-Stars can play poorly and they still have so much depth to make up for it.
Many believe the Sixers and Celtics are on a collision course this season to meet in the Eastern Conference Finals. For that to happen, though, Philadelphia is going to have to address their lack of perimeter shooting. Other than J.J. Redick and Robert Covington, the Sixers don't have reliable 3-point shooters. The hope is that Markelle Fultz, who scored just five points Thursday, will gain more confidence in his outside stroke as the season moves along.
Until the Sixers can show they can defeat the Celtics, Joel Embiid is right: We can't consider this matchup a rivalry.
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