Brett Brown Showed Joel Embiid, 76ers Video of Historic Rivalry with Celtics

Philadelphia 76ers head coach Brett Brown showed his team a video detailing the long-time rivalry between the Sixers and Boston Celtics ahead of Monday night's Game 1 Eastern Conference semifinals matchup. 

"Before we even got into X's and O's and scout tape, look at the history here," Brown said he told his team, per Ian Begley of ESPN.com. "Have a real kind of knowledge base of our two organizations. It's something historic, it's something very special. ... [The] series we're all about to play in, and compete in, there's a lot that's gone on long before us that's worth knowing about."

From Wilt Chamberlain vs. Bill Russell to Julius Erving and Moses Malone facing Larry Bird and Kevin McHale, the Sixers and Celtics have one of the league's longest-running rivalries. 

"There's a deep history between the two teams. Really two of the most storied franchises in NBA history," shooting guard JJ Redick noted. "It's obviously an honor to play in that rivalry."

The past is the past, however, and superstar center Joel Embiid believes the current iterations of the two franchise can forge a new chapter in the long-time rivalry.

"I think that when you look at the whole league and you talk about the future of the league, we're up there. They're up there," he said. "So it's going to be fun the next couple of years."

Certainly, the two teams appear to be the future of the Eastern Conference. The Sixers have a superstar pair in Embiid and Ben Simmons, a young supporting cast in Dario Saric, Robert Covington and Markelle Fultz and two first-round picks this summer and the cap space during free agency to add to their coffers.

The Celtics are loaded as well, with a core that includes Kyrie Irving, Gordon Hayward, Al Horford, Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum and a deep bench for head coach Brad Stevens to utilize. Irving and Hayward are currently hurt, of course—and Brown is doubtful for Game 1—meaning this year's series won't feature the Celtics at full strength. 

In the coming years, however, the two organizations will have the opportunity to create some iconic moments like those that past versions of the rivalry became famous for. One moment stood out to Embiid from the past.

"Dr. J and Larry Bird holding each other's necks," Embiid said, referencing the two superstars getting into a fight during the 1984-85 season. 

"These are the type of moments I live for, so I'm excited," Embiid added of getting face the Celtics.

The Sixers, at full strength, will be the favorites. The team is 20-1 since mid-March, making them arguably the NBA's hottest team. The Celtics did win the season series, 3-1, though their three wins included a healthy Irving and came before the Sixers added Ersan Ilyasova and Marco Belinelli in the buyout market, firming up a previously weak bench. 

Regardless of what happens, it will be the opening salvo in what should be a heated and renewed rivalry in the coming years.