Jaylen Brown (hamstring) doubtful for Game 1 of Eastern Conference semifinals

The Celtics also have a good group of guards now that Marcus Smart is finally back from a thumb injury.

So much of the chatter before Boston’s first-round matchup with Milwaukee focused on who wouldn’t be on the court for the Celtics.

The Celtics were 27-14 in the Garden in the regular season. He’s averaging a terrific line of 24.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 6.7 assists in four playoff home games. Tatum had 20 points, five assists and six rebounds. It’s a staggering contrast, for sure. He outscored nine points in less than two minutes and put the game out of reach.

It took seven games but the Celtics got just enough from their healthy players to hold off Milwaukee with a 112-96 victory Saturday night. “He’s been great all year”. But Terry said he has affected the team off the court with his leadership. His “Scary Terry” persona and relentless energy feeds off the crowd. But it’s Bledsoe who would fire the first shot by pretending not to know who Rozier was. After splitting the first two games at home, the Sixers swept the next three games, which coincided with big man Joel Embiid’s return from a facial fracture.

To say the 23-year-old 6-foot-11 Antetokounmpo, appropriately nicknamed the Greek Freak, is a special talent doesn’t remotely do him justice.

“Can you feel that?!?” Two short point guards just going out there and having fun. “If it takes for us to go back and forth and jaw back and forth or battle, push each other, it’s whatever”.

“I thought the last email I saw that he still has some soreness”, said Stevens. “So with Giannis it was more of him going one-on-one and trying to go score”.

Stopping the Sixers could be an issue for the Celtics, as five Philly players, led by JJ Redick (20 points), are averaging 16.5 or more points in the postseason.

“They’re playing great. Got a great team, great coach”, said Stevens.

A roster full of lottery picks and key role players means the 76ers future is here, and, with the return of Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward in 2019, one thing is certain – the rivalry is back and is here to stay for years to come.

In Game 1 of their second round playoff series against the Boston Celtics, the Sixers learned a lesson the rest of the league has spent all season discovering: This resilient team can beat you on any given night no matter who’s in uniform.

Celtics coach Brad Stevens said Brown told him he is “feeling better” today, but Stevens is unsure if Brown will play tonight.

I remember how devastated Sixers fans were at that loss, even though the run to get to that point against a veteran Celtics team was already a dream in itself. He also said at the time that it was his goal to play in Game 1 against Philadelphia. After the game, Brown said, “I’m ready”, adding, when asked if he’ll go in the opener, “That’s my goal”.