PLAYOFFS: Rnd 2, Gm 1 – Sixers (0) @ Celtics (0) – 7:30PM, Mon, May 1, 2023

[The_Ghost_of_JB]

I’ve been saying it all week, I fully expect Embiid playing Game 1 tonight. No doubt in my mind

From what I'm reading Embiid is out. Probably not good news for Boston because if you look at the track record when the opposing team is missing a key player it isn't great.

I just hope Boston takes Philly seriously but who knows what this team.

[bigfoot_cryptozoology]

I’ve been saying it all week, I fully expect Embiid playing Game 1 tonight. No doubt in my mind

From what I'm reading Embiid is out. Probably not good news for Boston because if you look at the track record when the opposing team is missing a key player it isn't great.

I just hope Boston takes Philly seriously but who knows what this team.

With both Embiid and Harden hobbled, there is simply no reason for this series to go more than 5.

But never underestimate, with this current iteration of Celtics, their ability to play
down to a less talented opponent
or to implode in the fourth quarter and lose in overtime.

But still, it's hard to believe with the two Philly guys very limited, it's even going to be a contest.

I mean, if they really had the killer instinct they need to actually win the Championship, they should bury
these Rubes in 4.

Conservation of Playoff Energy and Injuries.
The less time you spend on the court, the more refreshed you are for future games,
and the less chance for an injury, unless you're watering plants...

[Ben-N1ce]

If the Celtics keep playing defense the way they have been they for sure can lose. One bad spam threes brick night is all it will take. Over the course of the series there is zero reason to lose the series.

I personally see if Harden can turn back the iso clock..just don't foul. I just don't see it over the long haul.

[The_Ghost_of_JB]

I’ve been saying it all week, I fully expect Embiid playing Game 1 tonight. No doubt in my mind

From what I'm reading Embiid is out. Probably not good news for Boston because if you look at the track record when the opposing team is missing a key player it isn't great.

I just hope Boston takes Philly seriously but who knows what this team.

With both Embiid and Harden hobbled, there is simply no reason for this series to go more than 5.

But never underestimate, with this current iteration of Celtics, their ability to play
down to a less talented opponent
or to implode in the fourth quarter and lose in overtime.

But still, it's hard to believe with the two Philly guys very limited, it's even going to be a contest.

I mean, if they really had the killer instinct they need to actually win the Championship, they should bury
these Rubes in 4.

Conservation of Playoff Energy and Injuries.
The less time you spend on the court, the more refreshed you are for future games,
and the less chance for an injury, unless you're watering plants...

On paper Boston should win this series pretty easily with two guys out/hobbled. The reality is you know Harris, Maxey and some other randos like McClung or Harrell will be completely unstoppable

[lon3lytoaster]

Derrick White is rolling on the ground into floaters and Tatum is bricking wide open 3s at shoot around this morning. It’s going to be a long night

[Hal14]

If the Celtics keep playing defense the way they have been they for sure can lose.

SMH. This narrative that the celtics played terrible defense vs the hawks is so dumb. The hawks had the #3 offense in the league.

They were simply a very good offensive team. they had all their guys healthy, they got even better and were clearly extra motivated and locked in with Snyder coaching them. And they had a couple of games where they went nuts, with every damn shot they threw up there going in.

Sixers had the #14 ranked offense. And their offense is built around Embiid, who's got a serious knee injury.

One bad spam threes brick night is all it will take.

Not really. This isn't a single elimination tournament. It's best of 7. If we have a really bad shooting game and lose 1 game, no big deal. That's just 1 loss. It would have to happen 4 times for us to lose the series.

[CelticsPride18]

AD gets clowned because he’s always hurt but Embiid is the one that is always hurt when the Sixers need him.

[Triple7]

Derrick White is rolling on the ground into floaters and Tatum is bricking wide open 3s at shoot around this morning. It’s going to be a long night

Well hopefully he decides to attack inside instead haha.

[Triple7]

I’ve been saying it all week, I fully expect Embiid playing Game 1 tonight. No doubt in my mind

I agree. He definitely playing game 1. If he does, we better run and harass him from the get go. Test those knees and conditioning.

[CeltsfanSinceBirth]

Sixers would be dumb to let him play, unless they know something we don’t (ie Embiid is likely to ask out this summer if they don’t win it all). I can’t think of any reason why an organization is willing to risk the long-term health of their franchise player to win in the second round. Think about how awful Rob looked in the Finals last year. Embiid looks even worse than that.

Think about it - if you saw Tatum or Brown limping like Embiid that last game, would you want them out on the floor? Hell no

[lon3lytoaster]

If the Celtics keep playing defense the way they have been they for sure can lose.

SMH. This narrative that the celtics played terrible defense vs the hawks is so dumb. The hawks had the #3 offense in the league.

They were simply a very good offensive team. they had all their guys healthy, they got even better and were clearly extra motivated and locked in with Snyder coaching them. And they had a couple of games where they went nuts, with every damn shot they threw up there going in.

Sixers had the #14 ranked offense. And their offense is built around Embiid, who's got a serious knee injury.

One bad spam threes brick night is all it will take.

Not really. This isn't a single elimination tournament. It's best of 7. If we have a really bad shooting game and lose 1 game, no big deal. That's just 1 loss. It would have to happen 4 times for us to lose the series.

I know you think Joe Mazzulla is a defensive mastermind but every single statistical indication will tell you we play very middle of the road defense at best in that Hawks series my guy.

The Warriors just played statistically the top ranked offense of all time, and are top 3-6 in every important defensive statistical category. But the Hawks just got hot was our problem, and were stoked to game up for a coach they went 13-15 with. Okie doke.

+1 for more condescending Hal. If you want to be positive, that’s great. Or even hyper optimistic. But a lack of objectivity is just.. bleh

[Hal14]

If the Celtics keep playing defense the way they have been they for sure can lose.

SMH. This narrative that the celtics played terrible defense vs the hawks is so dumb. The hawks had the #3 offense in the league.

They were simply a very good offensive team. they had all their guys healthy, they got even better and were clearly extra motivated and locked in with Snyder coaching them. And they had a couple of games where they went nuts, with every damn shot they threw up there going in.

Sixers had the #14 ranked offense. And their offense is built around Embiid, who's got a serious knee injury.

One bad spam threes brick night is all it will take.

Not really. This isn't a single elimination tournament. It's best of 7. If we have a really bad shooting game and lose 1 game, no big deal. That's just 1 loss. It would have to happen 4 times for us to lose the series.

I know you think Joe Mazzulla is a defensive mastermind but every single statistical indication will tell you we play very middle of the road defense at best in that Hawks series my guy.

The Warriors just played statistically the top ranked offense of all time, and are top 3-6 in every important defensive statistical category. But the Hawks just got hot was our problem, and were stoked to game up for a coach they went 13-15 with. Okie doke.

+1 for more condescending Hal. If you want to be positive, that’s great. Or even hyper optimistic. But a lack of objectivity is just.. bleh

Lack of objectivity? Hawks averaged 118.4 PPG in the reg season. They averaged just 115.8 PPG in the series vs us.

[Hal14]

Read on Twitter

[playa-hater]

I think our biggest challenge moving forward in the playoffs is our coach’s lack of experience. Spoelstra and Tibbs are both better coaches than Mazzula.

. I certainly agree, But Boston knew they were hiring somebody with a Lack of experience which will be very frustrating If we get so close and do not win it.

They weren’t hiring anyone really though and that’s why I give them a pass in the aspect of not having veteran guys on staff for mazz…most teams already have their coaching staff lined up already by the time he was ready to takeover. If they went into this year with this staff after a legitimate coaching search and hire I’d be pretty pissed

While I still have so many question marks with mazz and I don’t really like his personality- I believe going into next year his staff will look much more experienced. Believe we saw some of that selling going on with stevens and Silas being at our game a week or so ago.

Certainly agree that Boston/Stevens was put between a "Rock and a hard place" having to Hire Joe at the last second with the Ime fiasco. But just looking back at our team the last 2 seasons where clearly we had championship potential, we ended up hiring 2 first time HCs with no experience as a HC and not much NBA coaching experience at all with Mazz. I think in the regular season that can be overcome with a strong roster. But come playoffs, coaching "Can" matter and possibly a lot.

Just pointing out that is usually or never done in B2B years.

Whatever, a rookie coach can get it done (N Nurse). Just hoping it can be done again.

[lon3lytoaster]

SMH. This narrative that the celtics played terrible defense vs the hawks is so dumb. The hawks had the #3 offense in the league.

They were simply a very good offensive team. they had all their guys healthy, they got even better and were clearly extra motivated and locked in with Snyder coaching them. And they had a couple of games where they went nuts, with every damn shot they threw up there going in.

Sixers had the #14 ranked offense. And their offense is built around Embiid, who's got a serious knee injury.


Not really. This isn't a single elimination tournament. It's best of 7. If we have a really bad shooting game and lose 1 game, no big deal. That's just 1 loss. It would have to happen 4 times for us to lose the series.

I know you think Joe Mazzulla is a defensive mastermind but every single statistical indication will tell you we play very middle of the road defense at best in that Hawks series my guy.

The Warriors just played statistically the top ranked offense of all time, and are top 3-6 in every important defensive statistical category. But the Hawks just got hot was our problem, and were stoked to game up for a coach they went 13-15 with. Okie doke.

+1 for more condescending Hal. If you want to be positive, that’s great. Or even hyper optimistic. But a lack of objectivity is just.. bleh

Lack of objectivity? Hawks averaged 118.4 PPG in the reg season. They averaged just 115.8 PPG in the series vs us.

Well, you're not quite HAL 9000 but I'm convinced you're a machine learning algorithm that's still in training. Thank you for that 82 game, 29 team sample size vs. a six game, one team sample with a whopping 2.6 point differential. Clearly you're correct and we played an immaculate series.

[Parliament10]

Watch on YouTube

[zoyathedestroya]

Sixers poop. Celtics rule.

All you need to know.

[Parliament10]

Watch on YouTube

[Froob]

Morey and Doc could both potentially saving their jobs not playing Embiid. Apparently there's serious change of a re-injury.

Can't really see who it benefits limping him out there. I think 50-50 shot he tries game 3 and maybe just sits the rest of the way if it goes poorly.

[bigfoot_cryptozoology]

. I certainly agree, But Boston knew they were hiring somebody with a Lack of experience which will be very frustrating If we get so close and do not win it.

They weren’t hiring anyone really though and that’s why I give them a pass in the aspect of not having veteran guys on staff for mazz…most teams already have their coaching staff lined up already by the time he was ready to takeover. If they went into this year with this staff after a legitimate coaching search and hire I’d be pretty pissed

While I still have so many question marks with mazz and I don’t really like his personality- I believe going into next year his staff will look much more experienced. Believe we saw some of that selling going on with stevens and Silas being at our game a week or so ago.

Certainly agree that Boston/Stevens was put between a "Rock and a hard place" having to Hire Joe at the last second with the Ime fiasco. But just looking back at our team the last 2 seasons where clearly we had championship potential, we ended up hiring 2 first time HCs with no experience as a HC and not much NBA coaching experience at all with Mazz. I think in the regular season that can be overcome with a strong roster. But come playoffs, coaching "Can" matter and possibly a lot.

Just pointing out that is usually or never done in B2B years.

Whatever, a rookie coach can get it done (N Nurse). Just hoping it can be done again.

One of the issues they had in the Head Coaching procurement department,
is that they had to bring in someone who was approved by Tatum,
which the last two guys were. If someone like Thibs or the equivalent were available,
do we think that Tatum would want anything to do with them? Absolutely not,
so it eliminated a bunch of coaching candidates. That's the NBA today, the Superstars choose
their coaches for better or worse...