The 2019/20 NBA Basketball season started this week and on Wednesday night the Boston Celtics began their campaign with a game at Philadelphia 76ers. The atmosphere at the game, especially between the two sets of players gave the evening a playoff feel and there was certainly no love lost between the teams.
In total, there were more than 60 fouls during in the game and Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid was struck in the mouth with a stray elbow. It left him with a bloody mouth but he took out his revenge on the Celtics in the best possible way by scoring 15 points and 13 rebounds. However, the standout performance for the 76ers came from Ben Simmons who scored 24 points as the 76ers went on to win the season opener 107-93.
From a Boston point of view, it was not a great start to the season but there were some positives to take as they battle to finish top of the Eastern Conference. Kemba Walker scored 12 points on 4-of-18 shooting in his Boston debut but speaking after the game, Walker said, “Tough night for many of us, I wish I could have played a lot better for these guys.”
Walker certainly had a difficult night from the floor and the Celtics shot only 37 percent overall. Speaking after the game, Celtics coach Brad Stevens said, “All that means with Kemba and (Jayson) Tatum, there are a lot of good nights coming.”
Boston Celtic fans will be hoping that is the case as thoughts turn to their second game of the season. The Celtics host Toronto on Friday night in a match they will be expecting to win to give the home fans something to cheer about at the beginning of the new season.
Nothing much has changed in terms of NBA betting this season following the first round of games and Bet365 still have the LA Clippers as the favourites, with LA Lakers a close second. In terms of the Boston Celtics chances of reaching the finals and winning the NBA Championship, Bet365 have them in the running at +2500. As soon as they get their first win under their belt this season, the odds are sure to shorten as the Boston Celtics aim to clinch their first NBA Championship since 2008.
Many pundits believe Boston Celtics have a genuine chance of reaching the finals this season and they are definitely major contenders for the Eastern Conference.