Game 59 - 76ers vs Celtics - Feb 25th 8:30pm ET ABC

[Embiid P]

Low key turning point in the game: when Smart went out in the third due to foul trouble and White came in and started their run.

[Arsenal]

By the way those uniforms look awful. A disgrace, especially after how good they were last year.

[Iverson Armband]

The Sixers won the season series against them last year so it's not like the team has lost 5 straight season series. Most of the games have been close.

You’re still on your “we’re right there with them” crusade huh

[Ferry Avenue]

I think we have multiple guys who can defend Bos wings on single coverage that all they have is settling for pull up jumpers.

Al is slowing down and they dont have anyone who can defend Biid on single coverage

Celts deathball or their best unit involves Robert Williams, and they can’t play much of that if they want to get Biid outside the paint

Brogdon is lowkey dragging down the Celts. Their offense is bad when he’s on the court.

What we just need is to have a very good bench, which im emphasizing lately. We got an edge, and in this game a big edge, with the starter battle to start and end games. But we’re handicapped with how Maxey is playing and with how Derrick White-Brogdon off the bench.

Maxey has been awful vs Boston. We can’t count on him in this matchup.

Our bench will be the death of us.

I been saying this and I also wouldn't count on Tobias playing as well as he's played across a series with them. Niang was also a no-show. I think you bring in a Barton to give you another option he has a enough size and athleticism to give a look.

The only way this team beats Boston is if both Embiid and Harden score 30+. That's the only way you overcome the margin of error established by the inconsistency elsewhere on the roster. And even that may not do it.

[76ciology]

This is TODAY’S NBA. And Melton defended that shot almost perfectly. That shot was highly contested. Maybe the law of average just kicked in with all the misses Tatum had against Melton.

If there’s a bad defensive sequence, its when Tucker helped on that Tatum drive that lead to an open Al Horford 3.

[HardenGoat]

I think we have multiple guys who can defend Bos wings on single coverage that all they have is settling for pull up jumpers.

Al is slowing down and they dont have anyone who can defend Biid on single coverage

Celts deathball or their best unit involves Robert Williams, and they can’t play much of that if they want to get Biid outside the paint

Brogdon is lowkey dragging down the Celts. Their offense is bad when he’s on the court.

What we just need is to have a very good bench, which im emphasizing lately. We got an edge, and in this game a big edge, with the starter battle to start and end games. But we’re handicapped with how Maxey is playing and with how Derrick White-Brogdon off the bench.

Maxey has been awful vs Boston. We can’t count on him in this matchup.

Our bench will be the death of us.

I been saying this and I also wouldn't count on Tobias playing as well as he's played across a series with them. Niang was also a no-show. I think you bring in a Barton to give you another option he has an enough size and athleticism to give a look.

Barton would help us a lot this year. Niang is not able to be played unfortunately. We just don’t have that wing that can help us defensively and create their own shot in big games. It’s the missing piece. Maxey is also not making an impact in these games like hoped. He just lacks size and aggression. He has been a bit better defensively, you can tell he is putting in the effort there. Morey might need to trade him for a better impact wing next year if the opportunity arises.

[blargh]

I think we have multiple guys who can defend Bos wings on single coverage that all they have is settling for pull up jumpers.

Al is slowing down and they dont have anyone who can defend Biid on single coverage

Celts deathball or their best unit involves Robert Williams, and they can’t play much of that if they want to get Biid outside the paint

Brogdon is lowkey dragging down the Celts. Their offense is bad when he’s on the court.

What we just need is to have a very good bench, which im emphasizing lately. We got an edge, and in this game a big edge, with the starter battle to start and end games. But we’re handicapped with how Maxey is playing and with how Derrick White-Brogdon off the bench.

Maxey has been awful vs Boston. We can’t count on him in this matchup.

Our bench will be the death of us.

I been saying this and I also wouldn't count on Tobias playing as well as he's played across a series with them. Niang was also a no-show. I think you bring in a Barton to give you another option he has a enough size and athleticism to give a look.

I think if they watch the film, our bench guys hesitated on too many threes that were makable, particularly when Time Lord was in and they were happy to have us drive into his rim protection. Niang was guilty of this a couple of times. Maxey needs to get back to shooting 3’s at volume, to open up everything else

[Ferry Avenue]

This is TODAY’S NBA. And Melton defended that shot almost perfectly. That shot was highly contested. Maybe the law of average just kicked in with all the misses Tatum had against Melton.

If this team has the mettle and the ability to win a series against Boston that game is a convincing win at home on national TV that makes a statement, and any single shot at the end becomes irrelevant. The Sixers needed to win this one by 6 or more points without any nail-biting at the end. That makes the statement that the team can play with them. Instead Boston made the statement -- "we're better, and you ain't beating us in a 7-game series."

[76ciology]

Maxey has been awful vs Boston. We can’t count on him in this matchup.

Our bench will be the death of us.

I been saying this and I also wouldn't count on Tobias playing as well as he's played across a series with them. Niang was also a no-show. I think you bring in a Barton to give you another option he has an enough size and athleticism to give a look.

Barton would help us a lot this year. Niang is not able to be played unfortunately. We just don’t have that wing that can help us defensively and create their own shot in big games. It’s the missing piece. Maxey is also not making an impact in these games like hoped. He just lacks size and aggression. He has been a bit better defensively, you can tell he is putting in the effort there. Morey might need to trade him for a better impact wing next year if the opportunity arises.

Hmm..

For now im still in a wait and see.

But we need a microwave scorer off the bench than an “impact wing”.

[NYSixersFan]

I don't care if we win the rest of our regular season games, because we ain't beating Boston or probably the Bucks with this roster and this coach.

Yea, sure it was an exciting game, but anyone feeling positive about this team making it past the 2nd round needs to be drug tested.

Melton on Tatum was genius by Doc....How about Tucker doubling Tatum at the 3 point line with 1:40 left to leave Horford open for 3?

Maxey needs to start.

Niang is unplayable against the top teams in the playoffs unless it's with Embiid. You can't be putting out the Reed/Niang combo.

We just lost twice to the Celtics with Tatum putting up sub 20 point games.

Fire Doc! Fire Morey!

[brannigan73]

I don't get some of the takes. When Milwaukee is healthy they might be better then the Celtics. Imo, Celtics and Bucks both clearly better then the Sixers. The Bucks would never be up 13 at home halfway through the third quarter and then by early in the 4th be down 10 points. Do some people really believe without homefield advantage we could beat the Bucks? The Bucks might finish with the best record in the east it could very well be the Celtics we play in the second round anyway. I don't how some people can continue to give this team the benefit of the doubt. The Sixers are a really good team maybe as good as 3rd or 4th best team in the league but unfortunately the two best teams in the league are in the Eastern Conference. Its time for a reality check this was a test and they failed it typical fashion blowing a lead and tons of bad coaching by Doc. The Celtics didnt even play particulaly well.

[brannigan73]

I don't care if we win the rest of our regular season games, because we ain't beating Boston or probably the Bucks with this roster and this coach.

Yea, sure it was an exciting game, but anyone feeling positive about this team making it past the 2nd round needs to be drug tested.

Melton on Tatum was genius by Doc....How about Tucker doubling Tatum at the 3 point line with 1:40 left to leave Horford open for 3?

Maxey needs to start.

Niang is unplayable against the top teams in the playoffs unless it's with Embiid. You can't be putting out the Reed/Niang combo.

We just lost twice to the Celtics with Tatum putting up sub 20 point games.

Fire Doc! Fire Morey!

Also, regardless of who was on Melton how about running a second guy at Tatum late. He was not going to pass the ball.

[76thBearCub]

I told my wife they'll hit a 3 and we'll get the ball with 1.5. Ended up being 1.3.

Idc that was entertaining at least.

[brannigan73]

The Sixers won the season series against them last year so it's not like the team has lost 5 straight season series. Most of the games have been close.

It would help if you were correct. We went 2-2 against them last year and the last game against them last year they humiliated us at home by like 40. This is our fourth straight loss against the Celtics. Why would you continue to gin up the benefit of the doubt for this team they don't deserve it. Have you every played competitive league sports? You know when a team is better then you and has your number and it makes it very tought to beat them. You actually saw that tonight. The Celtics were playing horrible and down 13 and they decided we are going to win this game. And they did! The Sixer record against the Celtics with Jaylen Brown, Horford, and Tatum is horrific. The Sixers should have those three guys names tatoo'd on there rears. I'm not trashing the Sixers they are a really good team maybe the 3rd or 4th best in the league. Unfortunately there are two great teams at the top of there conference.

[phillynative]

The Sixers won the season series against them last year so it's not like the team has lost 5 straight season series. Most of the games have been close.

That was before the Celtics found their identity. The celtics were struggling earlier in the season than they made the neccesary adjustments and roster moves to get back on top. The sixers were handed a blow out loss after that.

[Embiid P]

The Sixers won the season series against them last year so it's not like the team has lost 5 straight season series. Most of the games have been close.

Close means nothing. Whenever it counts we’ll find a way to lose to these guys.

zzzzz wake me up when the Celtics win something.

Sadly I don't see any team (both East and West) beating them in the playoffs at this point barring a major injury. The only team that can potentially hang with them talent-wise are the Suns who despite having a tough big 3 lack depth and need time to gel.

[phillynative]

This is TODAY’S NBA. And Melton defended that shot almost perfectly. That shot was highly contested. Maybe the law of average just kicked in with all the misses Tatum had against Melton.

If there’s a bad defensive sequence, its when Tucker helped on that Tatum drive that lead to an open Al Horford 3.

It doesn't matter how well he stayed in front of Tatum. Melton is still 6'1 and Tatum is 6'8 probably closer to 6'9. He shot right over Melton and Melton didnt have the same help defense like he had all night because all the defenders were occupied. It doesn't make any since.

[76ciology]

This is TODAY’S NBA. And Melton defended that shot almost perfectly. That shot was highly contested. Maybe the law of average just kicked in with all the misses Tatum had against Melton.

If this team has the mettle and the ability to win a series against Boston that game is a convincing win at home on national TV that makes a statement, and any single shot at the end becomes irrelevant. The Sixers needed to win this one by 6 or more points without any nail-biting at the end. That makes the statement that the team can play with them. Instead Boston made the statement -- "we're better, and you ain't beating us in a 7-game series."

It can go different ways.

We could also beat them and we’ll say Celts were just sleep walking the entire game and this was just a regular season game.

Im considering how both teams roster matched up on paper, how we've played the entire season and some about this game. I can even say we were in command most of the game until Biid let the game close by leaving Al wide open for like 4-5 times.

We also probably could have won this if Tucker didnt send help on that Tatum drive that left a wide open Al in crunch time.

[NYSixersFan]

Tobias had no rebounds in 38 minutes. Embarrassing.

[SixthStreet]

Just finished watching. Good game to watch. I think we showed we are right there and are one of the best teams in the league. Disappointed that in effect that this loss means we have to beat both the Bucks and the Celtics but no loser mentality here. We can beat both of them even without homecourt. I'm excited for the conclusion of the regular season into the playoffs. This is the best team of the Embiid era no question.