After enjoying a five-day layoff as they waited to discover their second-round opponents, the Philadelphia 76ers are finally ready to get back on the court for game one against the Boston Celtics on Monday night.

The C's overcame the Milwaukee Bucks in a gruelling seven-game series and set up an exciting matchup against this talented 76ers team. 

The Sixers dispatched the Miami Heat in five games to advance from the first round but they know they'll face a much tougher test against Boston. 

Unlike the Heat series, Philly won't have the luxury of home-court advantage this time around and they know they'll have to do what the Bucks failed to do and win at least one game at TD Garden to progress to the Eastern Conference Finals. 

Having won both of their road games against Miami, they're confident they can do the same against the Celtics but they know it'll be a much more hostile environment. 

"It's as loud as it gets for the playoffs," JJ Redick said, per ESPN's Chris Forsberg.

76ers veteran Ersan Ilyasova is certainly expecting it to be completely different to what they experienced at the American Airlines Arena against the Heat.

"When we were in Miami ... the gym was half-empty," Ilyasova said after the team's practice. "But when you go to Boston, you will feel it. Even in the regular season, you know when you play that team, the arena is full, and they're really committed fans."

Fans in South Beach have a bit of a reputation for not creating an intimidating atmosphere and making it easy for visiting teams. 

But the Philadelphia players are under no illusions about what's in store for them in Boston. 

"It's always tough to play at their place," Ilyasova said. "It's always crowded, and we have to come up with a lot of energy and edge to win the game."

For many in this young 76ers team, it's their first appearance in the postseason but the pressure of playing in one of the most famous arenas in the NBA will be important for their development. 

The Celtics may be shorthanded as they'll be without Kyrie Irving, Gordon Hayward and potentially Jaylen Brown but that won't make Philly's task any easier. 

But they are the favourites to progress as they come into the series with a healthy roster and playing arguably the best basketball in the east. 

With the direction the two franchises are heading in, this could be the start of many playoff meetings between them in the years to come. 

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