Celtics fans can - and will- deride the Phildelphia 76'ers for their blatant tanking and "The Process", but we cannot deny that they have some fine talent and the capacity to give Boston some trouble. The pieces seem to be in place for both teams, and their first confrontation takes place tomorrow night at TD Garden.
Count this rivalry, at least for now, as a somewhat friendly one. It has none of the bitter explosiveness of the Cleveland-Boston feud. But both teams are loaded with talent, and it will come down to player-health, coaching and fine-tuned chemistry.