On Tuesday, the Celtics open a two-night road swing with a trip to Philadelphia, where they take on a Sixers team that’s poised to make the playoffs for the third consecutive season. Boston is the clear front-runner in the Atlantic this season, but the Celtics are about to get their first look at the one team threatening them.
Tuesday, Nov. 3, 7 p.m. ET (CSNE)
Wachovia Center, Philadelphia, Pa.
The Sixers mix young talent with veteran leadership to build a solid playoff contender in the Eastern Conference. Elton Brand and Andre Iguodala are leading the way, but the Sixers are also looking at a breakout season from point guard Louis Williams and steady improvement from a pair of young big men from recent draft classes, Marreese Speights and Thaddeus Young. This Philly team is on the rise.
76ers
Point guard: Louis Williams
Shooting guard: Andre Iguodala
Small forward: Thaddeus Young
Power forward: Elton Brand
Center: Samuel Dalembert
They are allowing 81.3 points per game this season, fewest in the NBA.
Rajon Rondo leads the NBA with 47 assists and 10 steals.
Kendrick Perkins has nine blocks, second in the NBA behind the Blazers’ Greg Oden.
Kevin Garnett is fourth with seven blocks.
Paul Pierce has made 13 3-pointers, second in the NBA behind the Knicks’ Danilo Gallinari.
Ray Allen has averaged 21.2 points per game in his career against the Sixers.
Rasheed Wallace has averaged 14.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.7 blocks against Philadelphia.
76ers
The Sixers were 6-10 against Atlantic Division opponents last season.
They are averaging 115.3 points per game this season, second-most in the NBA.
Marreese Speights is shooting 75 percent from the floor, the best in the NBA.
Elton Brand is a perfect 11-for-11 from the free-throw line.
Louis Williams is averaging 20.3 points per game, a career high.
Andre Iguodala is averaging 19.7 points, 8.3 rebounds and 6.7 assists.
Thaddeus Young is 1-for-11 from 3-point range against the Celtics in his career.
Samuel Dalembert averages 7.9 points and 8.4 rebounds against the C’s.
Bill Walker has been out since the beginning of October. He has undergone successful arthroscopic surgery on his right knee.
Glen Davis is out indefinitely with a thumb injury sustained in an altercation last week.
76ers
Jason Smith missed all of last season after tearing his ACL in an August 2008 workout. He is back with the team this season.
Elton Brand returns this year after sustaining a shoulder injury last December. The Sixers shut him down for the rest of the 2008-09 season on Feb. 5.
Doc Rivers reacted happily to the Rondo news.
The Celtics still have room to improve.
76ers
Eddie Jordan is still piecing these Sixers together.
The young team is having growing pains.
Louis Williams is flying high.
NBA
The Kings ruined Allen Iverson‘s Grizzlies debut.
Rudy Gay isn’t re-upping in Memphis.
Bill Walton retired from the broadcast booth.