With LeBron James leaving Cleveland to join the Lakers, ending his streak of eight consecutive seasons representing the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals, the door is open for a new power to rise. And the NBA is making it quite clear that it views the Celtics and 76ers as two of the teams most likely to fill the void.
Boston and Philadelphia will face each other in Boston in the Oct. 16 season opener at TD Garden at 8 p.m. as part of TNT’s season tip-off doubleheader that also includes a game between the Thunder and Warriors.