The Boston Celtics enter their first-round playoff series against the Philadelphia 76ers as overwhelming favorites, and for good reason. With a healthy Jayson Tatum and MVP-candidate Jaylen Brown leading the charge, the second-seeded Celtics boast a formidable lineup. The seventh-seeded Sixers, however, face a significant challenge, potentially missing their cornerstone, Joel Embiid, due to a recent emergency appendectomy.

While most analysts, including NBC Sports' Justin Leger, predict a Boston series win—Leger has them advancing in five games—there's a specific scenario where the Celtics' path could get rocky. The concern isn't about Embiid's absence but rather the explosive potential of Philadelphia's perimeter attack.

Leger points to the trio of Tyrese Maxey, Paul George, and rookie VJ Edgecombe as the X-factor. He notes that while Boston is superior in most statistical categories and will benefit from Tatum's presence—he missed all four regular-season matchups against Philly—their typically stout defense faces a unique test. If the Maxey/George/Edgecombe combination catches fire from the perimeter and drags the game into a tense fourth quarter, the Celtics "could be in trouble."

It sets the stage for a classic playoff dynamic: a top-seeded team's defensive discipline versus a lower seed's high-variance, star-driven offense. The series kicks off with Game 1 in Boston this Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.