The Philadelphia 76ers engaged in some pre-game psychological warfare, playing the song 'Why Can't We Be Friends?' by WAR during shootaround before their matchup with the Boston Celtics. This playful jab appeared aimed at Celtics star Jayson Tatum, the former teammate of current Sixer Jaylen Brown. The mind games came as the 76ers prepared to face the Celtics just days after a tough 101-123 loss to them on November 10.
As both teams warmed up at the Xfinity Mobile Arena, the 76ers' staff selected a classic 1975 tune with a pointed message. The choice of 'Why Can't We Be Friends?' was a clear, humorous reference to the reported tension between Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. Their relationship has been under scrutiny since Brown's offseason trade from Boston to Philadelphia, a move Tatum claimed he was unaware of. Brown's simple 'No Cap' emoji reply to that video sparked the public back-and-forth, setting the stage for a charged atmosphere.
The song selection is a classic NBA tactic to get inside an opponent's head before the ball is even tipped. It adds a layer of narrative to a game that already carries significant weight in the Eastern Conference standings. For the 76ers, who hold a recent form of three wins and two losses in their last five, every edge matters as they jockey for playoff position.
Jaylen Brown has been decidedly business-like when discussing the matchup. After leading the 76ers to a 127-121 road win against the Chicago Bulls on November 8, he downplayed the personal storyline. "It's nothing to talk about. I mean, he's on his side, I'm on my side," Brown told reporters. "Just playing basketball. Both of us are trying to win, so it's nothing to talk about. Just check the ball up."
His comments suggest a focus solely on team success rather than revisiting past partnerships. Brown and Tatum were teammates for nearly a decade in Boston, winning an NBA championship together. That shared history makes their current rivalry one of the league's most compelling subplots this season. The two teams are scheduled to meet two more times after this initial clash.
The 76ers enter this high-profile series with mixed results. They are coming off a solid 123-112 victory over the Toronto Raptors on November 12, which helped steady the ship. However, that win was preceded by the 22-point loss to these same Celtics. Their five-game run also includes a strong road win in Chicago and a disappointing 119-95 defeat to the Cleveland Cavaliers on November 6.
Consistency on both ends of the floor will be key for Philadelphia moving forward. Integrating a major star like Brown into the lineup takes time, and early-season games are about building chemistry. The team's offensive firepower was on full display against the Raptors, and replicating that against elite defenses like Boston's is the next challenge.
Immediate focus may be on the Celtics rivalry, but the schedule waits for no one. The 76ers' next test is a home game against the Indiana Pacers on November 15. It's the start of another important stretch where every conference win counts. Managing emotions after an emotionally charged game against Boston will be a test for the coaching staff.
Games like these early in the season reveal a team's character and resilience. How the 76ers respond to the Celtics' physical style and the external noise surrounding the Brown-Tatum narrative will tell us a lot about their playoff readiness. The song may have been a joke, but the competition on the court is very real.
