The NBA returns this Thursday for the sixth consecutive year to London with the dispute of the regular season meeting between two of the most exciting teams in the league: the almighty Boston Celtics and the ‘beardless’ Philadelphia 76ers (20:00 GMT).
The Celtics of Kyrie Irving, Al Horford, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum and company, who in the O2 Arena pavilion in the British capital will play their second regular phase game outside the United States after the one played in 2015 in Mexico, come to the duel with the second best record in the league (33-10) and after chaining six victories.
Brad Stevens’ team marches in first position in the Eastern Conference and, despite the well-known absence of Gordon Hayward, starts as a clear favorite to take the victory against the Sixers whom they have already defeated in their two previous meetings this season: 92 -102 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, in October; and 108-97, at the TD Garden in Boston, at the end of November.
“Thanks to the NBA I have been able to train in Madrid and Milan, travel to Johannesburg and now come to London. Without basketball I could not do any of this, “said Stevens, who also stressed the importance of foreign players in the US league.
“We have a player from the Dominican Republic, another from Germany, another from Australia, a Frenchman, one who was born in Egypt … It is very special to be surrounded by people from all over the world and to work towards a common goal”, continued the ‘coach ‘.
For their part, the young Sixers, led by center Joel Embiid, forward Ben Simmons and power forward Dario Saric, are ninth in the Eastern Conference, one place below the ‘play-offs’, and are planted in London in one of its best moments of the course, after winning its last four games: Nuggets (102-107), Suns (110-123), Spurs (112-106) and Pistons (114-78).
“I’m still feeling jet lag a bit, but I have time to recover. It’s exciting to be here and it’s going to be a lot of fun. But we want to win, and that’s what we’re here for, “said a confident Simmons.
Brett Brown’s team continues to see how the famous ‘Process’ (‘The Process’) that began with Embiid is paying off despite not having been able to count on point guard Markelle Fultz, number one of the last one for much of the season ‘draft’.
“It is a great opportunity to promote basketball outside the United States and, for me, it is very special because I am a foreign player and I think people feel more identified with me here,” said Embiid.
The colossal O2 Arena pavilion, which has once again hung the no tickets sign – 18,689 tickets were sold in less than an hour – will once again gather dozens of celebrities in the front rows, who will approach the banks of the River Thames to enjoy the best basketball in the world. EFE
The Celtics of Kyrie Irving, Al Horford, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum and company, who in the O2 Arena pavilion in the British capital will play their second regular phase game outside the United States after the one played in 2015 in Mexico, come to the duel with the second best record in the league (33-10) and after chaining six victories.
Brad Stevens’ team marches in first position in the Eastern Conference and, despite the well-known absence of Gordon Hayward, starts as a clear favorite to take the victory against the Sixers whom they have already defeated in their two previous meetings this season: 92 -102 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, in October; and 108-97, at the TD Garden in Boston, at the end of November.
“Thanks to the NBA I have been able to train in Madrid and Milan, travel to Johannesburg and now come to London. Without basketball I could not do any of this, “said Stevens, who also stressed the importance of foreign players in the US league.
“We have a player from the Dominican Republic, another from Germany, another from Australia, a Frenchman, one who was born in Egypt … It is very special to be surrounded by people from all over the world and to work towards a common goal”, continued the ‘coach ‘.
For their part, the young Sixers, led by center Joel Embiid, forward Ben Simmons and power forward Dario Saric, are ninth in the Eastern Conference, one place below the ‘play-offs’, and are planted in London in one of its best moments of the course, after winning its last four games: Nuggets (102-107), Suns (110-123), Spurs (112-106) and Pistons (114-78).
“I’m still feeling jet lag a bit, but I have time to recover. It’s exciting to be here and it’s going to be a lot of fun. But we want to win, and that’s what we’re here for, “said a confident Simmons.
Brett Brown’s team continues to see how the famous ‘Process’ (‘The Process’) that began with Embiid is paying off despite not having been able to count on point guard Markelle Fultz, number one of the last one for much of the season ‘draft’.
“It is a great opportunity to promote basketball outside the United States and, for me, it is very special because I am a foreign player and I think people feel more identified with me here,” said Embiid.
The colossal O2 Arena pavilion, which has once again hung the no tickets sign – 18,689 tickets were sold in less than an hour – will once again gather dozens of celebrities in the front rows, who will approach the banks of the River Thames to enjoy the best basketball in the world. EFE