NBA Playoffs 2020: Round 1, Game 1 – Celtics vs Sixers – 6:30PM, Mon, 8/17/20

John-S · Post #21 » by **John-S** » Thu Aug 13, 2020 11:22 pm

OldCeltics wrote:Ma boiiiiiiiiis.

Celtics will sweep the Sixers. On to Toronto.

It will go 6 I think because Joel Embiid is clearly the most dominant player in the series when fit and Celtics might not have an answer.

zoyathedestroya · Post #22 » by **zoyathedestroya** » Thu Aug 13, 2020 11:24 pm

Dates are set. Every other day. No travel hehe.

Read on Twitter

Rest of NBA playoffs sched here...

Spoiler:

Tatumfor2 · Post #23 » by **Tatumfor2** » Thu Aug 13, 2020 11:28 pm

Did Philly low key tank to get us in round 1? How insulting! Crush them!

Post #24 » by **djFan71** » Thu Aug 13, 2020 11:49 pm

Tatumfor2 wrote:Did Philly low key tank to get us in round 1? How insulting! Crush them!

They may just high key suck.

But, this was the matchup I didn't want all along. I think Simmons makes a big difference on D, plus in the "lesser player filling those minutes" theory. But the one thing we struggle with is true length, and they still got it. Unfortunately, most of the teams in our path to a title do.

That said... Crush them!

24istheLAW · Post #25 » by **24istheLAW** » Thu Aug 13, 2020 11:52 pm

themoneyteam2 wrote:

Read on Twitter

Their defense definitely takes a big step back without him on the flip side

The Sixers haven't exactly covered themselves in glory using the short sample size post-Simmons, but I do think people are focusing too much on the names and not enough on the fit. Is Furkan Korkmaz a good all-around player? Probably not. But he can knock down open looks. Is Mike Scott a good all-around player? Hellllll no. But he can knock down open looks.

It's going to be very difficult to help on Embiid like we normally do, frustrate him and capitalize on his turnovers.

The help rotates to Embiid, he passes out to Richardson. Defender scrambles to close out Richardson. Richardson swings the ball to Harris. Defender closes out, Harris swings the ball to an open Ben Simmons. That's why you can aggressively help on Embiid. He's not good at passing out of it, and even if he does, if your defense is reasonably on-a-string, you'll never pay for it, because the ball ends up in Ben Simmons' hands.

That's why the offense is good with Embiid/no Simmons. It's not that Embiid is necessarily going beast-mode or anything. It's the ripple effect.

easyrider · Post #26 » by **easyrider** » Fri Aug 14, 2020 12:15 am

What’s the latest on Gordon leaving the bubble to attend the birth of his child? When is this likely to happen and can he get back in?

Romeiro Celtic · Post #27 » by **Romeiro Celtic** » Fri Aug 14, 2020 12:38 am

So this time we do sweep them, right?

Homerclease · Post #28 » by **Homerclease** » Fri Aug 14, 2020 12:40 am

Embiid dinged up, no Simmons, Celtics should win this series with little resistance. C’s in 5

captain green · Post #29 » by **captain green** » Fri Aug 14, 2020 12:53 am

I'll say again "I ain't scared of no philly team with Brett brown at the helm." That being said only other thing for to watch is horfords face when he realizes he messed up. Let's go Crack that bell.

Bill Lumbergh · Post #30 » by **Bill Lumbergh** » Fri Aug 14, 2020 12:56 am

ConstableGeneva wrote:Last time we met in the postseason... we still had the Dancing Bear.

Watch on YouTube

We're going to miss that atmosphere in TD Garden. Missing Baynes too. Philly has a dominant big inside but our team has more talent as a whole. They don't have enough to contain all three of our star wings even if they somehow slow down Kemba. Don't let them get hot from three. Force TOs, stay disciplined on defense, and run them to the ground. I wanna beat them in 5. Go Cs!

I have watched this video more times than is healthy. Smart is involved in almost every big play. The Celtics better never trade him. The two teams I like to beat the most are the Sixers and whatever team LeBron plays for.

TheMartian · Post #31 » by **TheMartian** » Fri Aug 14, 2020 1:46 am

24istheLAW wrote:
themoneyteam2 wrote:

Read on Twitter

Their defense definitely takes a big step back without him on the flip side

The Sixers haven't exactly covered themselves in glory using the short sample size post-Simmons, but I do think people are focusing too much on the names and not enough on the fit. Is Furkan Korkmaz a good all-around player? Probably not. But he can knock down open looks. Is Mike Scott a good all-around player? Hellllll no. But he can knock down open looks.

It's going to be very difficult to help on Embiid like we normally do, frustrate him and capitalize on his turnovers.

The help rotates to Embiid, he passes out to Richardson. Defender scrambles to close out Richardson. Richardson swings the ball to Harris. Defender closes out, Harris swings the ball to an open Ben Simmons. That's why you can aggressively help on Embiid. He's not good at passing out of it, and even if he does, if your defense is reasonably on-a-string, you'll never pay for it, because the ball ends up in Ben Simmons' hands.

That's why the offense is good with Embiid/no Simmons. It's not that Embiid is necessarily going beast-mode or anything. It's the ripple effect.

I think as long as we defend the 3 ball well, we'll be in good shape. Hopefully the Sixers don't fluke out on us this series and shoot ridiculously from 3.

zoyathedestroya · Post #32 » by **zoyathedestroya** » Fri Aug 14, 2020 2:06 am

Philly 3FG% w/ Ben Simmons on floor: 35.4%
Philly 3FG% w/ Ben Simmons off floor: 37.9%
(They get a huge bump in % on those corner threes.)

Philly 3FG% defense w/ Ben Simmons on floor: 34.3%
Philly 3FG% defense w/ Ben Simmons off floor: 36.4%

I think it'll be important for Theis to hit a couple of threes esp early in games. He shouldn't hesitate taking those threes from above the arc when he's left open. Gotta pull Embiid outside of the paint. Theis is shooting 38.7% (low volume) from three post-ASB. He can hit those shots.

zoyathedestroya · Post #33 » by **zoyathedestroya** » Fri Aug 14, 2020 2:17 am

Read on Twitter

John-S · Post #34 » by **John-S** » Fri Aug 14, 2020 4:11 am

CelticsPride18 wrote:Maybe I’m wrong but people are overrating Embiid in this series. Look at his playoffs stats the last 2 seasons he was very inefficient in both playoff runs.

Last year he was straight up dominant against the Nets. He struggled vs Gasol in round 2.

exculpatory · Post #35 » by **exculpatory** » Fri Aug 14, 2020 4:11 am

Not 1 of the games tomorrow means ANYTHING - since 4 VS 5 in EC & WC is meaningless in the Bubble.

I would much rather watch 60 minutes of Celtics practice.

exculpatory · Post #36 » by **exculpatory** » Fri Aug 14, 2020 4:22 am

I missed it.

What did Chuck, Shaq & Kenny say about Celtics v Sixers?

Triple7 · Post #37 » by **Triple7** » Fri Aug 14, 2020 5:27 am

Celtics in 5 max. We need to make sure we win game 1. That sets the tone, and will help us play relaxed.

Triple7 · Post #38 » by **Triple7** » Fri Aug 14, 2020 5:30 am

Some Raps fans in GB thinks the sixers can win this thing :lol:

I think they undoubtedly wishing for the sixers to beat us. The are obviously looking ahead scared!

fallguy · Post #39 » by **fallguy** » Fri Aug 14, 2020 5:36 am

MagicBagley18 wrote:I think the individual games will be harder than ppl think but celts in 6....let embiid score 40 a game shut down the others.

I think so too. Embiid can exhaust himself on offense (and we'll stick him in a bunch of PNR on the other side of the court). Keep their 'shooters' contained and we could wear them down really quickly.

GoGreen · Post #40 » by **GoGreen** » Fri Aug 14, 2020 6:47 am

Didn't want to see the 6ers, but no Simmons really does dissipate some of the concern. I wanna say Cs in 6, but we shall see