The long and winding road of the regular season is behind us. Now, a new journey awaits the 16 remaining teams. They’ll battle it out for the next two months to determine a new champion. Annual heavyweights the Philadelphia 76ers enter the postseason with high expectations, whereas the Brooklyn Nets are a pleasant surprise given how their campaign almost got derailed.

The NBA odds don’t have much hope for the Nets in Game 1, as Philly is a tall -8.5 favourite. The total is 214.5.

Nets vs. 76ers NBA Playoffs Betting Odds

There is value in assessing how clubs match up based on what transpired during tilts in the lead-up to the playoffs. In the case of the Brooklyn-Philadelphia series, it was a clean four-game sweep for Doc Rivers’ ensemble. In fairness to the Nets, one game was decided by four points and another by only three.

Jacque Vaughn’s Nets head into the playoffs with a respectable 45-37 win-loss record. It might not sound like much, but considering the whirlwind events of the past three months, the coach has done a commendable job at steering the ship as far away from rocky waters as possible. They certainly aren’t the heavyweights they were predicted to be at the start of the season, but nor are they pushovers. One of the more interesting stats, especially if this series goes the distance, is their 22-19 away record. Spreads have been tricky as of late, with the team only 5-5 in its last 10 opportunities.

The Sixers were a very strong team throughout the regular campaign. James Harden ended the year with the highest number of assists and MVP candidate Joel Embiid is the NBA’s top scorer (33.1 per tilt). They were a force all year, although fell short of overcoming both Boston and Milwaukee, which is the constant knock against them. They’re always very good, never great. Philly hasn’t been any better than Brooklyn with spreads lately, also going 5-5 in its most recent 10 tries.

Brooklyn Nets

It goes without saying that this is not the same Brooklyn squad that’s been to the playoffs the past few seasons. There is no James Harden, no Kevin Durant, and no Kyrie Irving. Moreover, Harden is a 76er.

No, Brooklyn heads into battle with Mikal Bridges, Spencer Dinwiddie, Nic Claxton, Dorian Finney-Smith, Royce O’Neale, etc. While this group has never played together in the postseason, several of these guys were either on the Nets roster the past few seasons, or in Dallas and Phoenix. The latter two had nice runs in 2021 and 2022. It’s not a bad roster and it features decent playoff experience. The biggest challenge for this group will be finding ways to score. The 76ers can rely on the third-best defence in the NBA with regard to points conceded per game (110.9). Brooklyn’s offence is way below in 20^th (113.4). Philly does give up a somewhat high field goal efficiency (47.3 per cent), so if the Nets can get Claxton and Bridges to earn some jumpers or somehow get to the rim, they’ll have a fighter’s chance.

Philadelphia 76ers

Another playoff run commences with high expectations in the City of Brotherly Love. This is far from this group’s first rodeo, yet they haven’t gone past the second round of the playoffs.

Apart from Embiid and Harden, the 76ers can rely on spry player Tyrese Maxey, who finished the regular season with a solid 20.1 points per game average. Tobias Harris averaged 5.7 boards per night, which served as nice support to Harden’s 6.2 and Embiid’s amazing 10.2. There are no two ways about it. Philadelphia is a very strong squad and should, in theory, go deep in the playoffs. The question, as every year, is “will they?” It seems doubtful that the Nets will be the team to knock them off their perch. Then again, fans remember how the new kids on the block Hawks took them out two years ago in the second round.

NBA Playoffs Prediction: Who Will Win Nets vs. 76ers?

NETS

Away

105

76ERS

Home

110

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Predictions

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