Celts Get A Wet Willy In Philly! Loss vs PHI 4/4

[Green89]

Historic game by Embid...

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How long before he figures out we let him do it? Joe's plan to give them false hope is working perfectly thus far.
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[Triple M]

Whats going on with Grant Williams defense?

He cant stay infront of anyone. I understand Embiid is going to shoot over him but Embiid shouldnt just blow by him on drives

[return2glory]

Kornet is a regular season player. If we're being generous. I would not want to see him play a single minute in the postseason. Por favor.

That would mean all are games in the playoffs would be close.

I would want him to play almost every game in the playoffs, like the last 5 minutes of games. Hopefully, we would have lots of games were we end up winning by 15 or more.

[chrisab123]

Taking a cue from Bucks fans. Game doesn't count because Brown didn't play.

[playa-hater]

Whatever at this point. Everyone knows (or should) that the playoffs are a whole new season. That mythical turn on switch needs to happen.

Still extremely worried that Joe may not have the courage to make the tough decisions in the playoffs. We'll see.

[Jammer]

This is worth repeating.

...

I actually am a little more worried about Miami in the first than Philly in the 2nd. Don’t trust Joe against Spoelstra and a team that plays down is their wet dream. Philly is a bad matchup and either Doc will sink the ship or Embiid will run out of gas. Puncher’s chance but same could be said for most teams this season

The reason Spoelstra is such a danger is because his standard operating procedure is to play his 5 "Hottest guys" to close out any game. Doesn't care about reputation or what they did yesterday. Simply who's playing well TODAY.

On the other hand BubbleGum Joe is still hesitant to pull a guy who's off and sub him with a guy who's on. Leaving Brogdan or White on the bench to close out a game when they are "on", in favor of someone who's having a lessor day, could cost the Celtics a series.

[shackles10]

Sixers needed the win and we didn’t. Game on the road. Down two starters (at least starter quality if Rob isn’t really a starter anymore). We miss 4 free throws down the stretch. The White no call on the review didn’t make much sense. Tatum was fairly meh. Embiid couldn’t miss. We lose by 2 with a chance to win/tie at the buzzer. I’m ok with it, let’s just start the playoffs already.

[fallguy]

This is worth repeating.

...

I actually am a little more worried about Miami in the first than Philly in the 2nd. Don’t trust Joe against Spoelstra and a team that plays down is their wet dream. Philly is a bad matchup and either Doc will sink the ship or Embiid will run out of gas. Puncher’s chance but same could be said for most teams this season

The reason Spoelstra is such a danger is because his standard operating procedure is to play his 5 "Hottest guys" to close out any game. Doesn't care about reputation or what they did yesterday. Simply who's playing well TODAY.

On the other hand BubbleGum Joe is still hesitant to pull a guy who's off and sub him with a guy who's on. Leaving Brogdan or White on the bench to close out a game when they are "on", in favor of someone who's having a lessor day, could cost the Celtics a series.

I don't think Miami has the firepower to beat us but Spoelstra is at least twice the coach Joe is. It would be a mismatch on that front.

[ConstableGeneva]

Kornet is a regular season player. If we're being generous. I would not want to see him play a single minute in the postseason. Por favor.

That would mean all are games in the playoffs would be close.

I would want him to play almost every game in the playoffs, like the last 5 minutes of games. Hopefully, we would have lots of games were we end up winning by 15 or more.

Good point. *A single meaningful minute.

[zoyathedestroya]

Our record when point difference is 3 or less: 5-8 (worst among East top 8)
Our record in OT games: 4-7 (worst among East top 10)

A bit worried about Joe’s playcalling in game-winning situations ngl.

[Garbanzo]

This team always finds a way to let you down. It will be the same in the playoffs in due time.

We were without Brown and Rob and still had a shot of winning the game. Embiid played out of his mind and Tatum struggled with his shot and we still had a shot to win the game. On the road, btw.

Now if you want to talk about how Brad and Wyc and the Celtics organization isn't about winning titles anymore, then I'm with it.
The swing and a miss by Brad and Wyc at the deadline said it all. Muscala was great tonight, wasn't he?

We still have a chance at a title this year, if Rob has to be healthy. That's a big if. Brad and Wyc gambled on that by not getting a legit back up center all season.

Rob, Blake and Kornet aren't enough for you?
Jeez Louise

[Hal14]

Now if you want to talk about how Brad and Wyc and the Celtics organization isn't about winning titles anymore, then I'm with it.
The swing and a miss by Brad and Wyc at the deadline said it all. Muscala was great tonight, wasn't he?

We still have a chance at a title this year, if Rob has to be healthy. That's a big if. Brad and Wyc gambled on that by not getting a legit back up center all season.

*sigh*

1) You want a legit backup big? We have Rob and Al. That's 2 legit bigs. When this team is healthy, those 2 will get the majority of the minutes come playoff time. Al is the starter and Rob is the backup. With Rob, we literally have the best backup big in the league - and here you are complaining that we need a backup big lol.

You want another big beyond that? Ok, well in the offseason Brad signed Kornet, he signed Kabengele to a 2-way, he signed Vonleh, he signed Griffin. Then traded Vonleh. Then traded for Muscala. He's done a lot to try and add depth at that position.

I'm sorry if you don't like those guys, but Kornet and Griffin have both given this team plenty of solid minutes for a 3rd/4th string big man. Here's the 3rd/4th string big man for some other teams:

Nuggets: Deandre Jordan, Zeke Nnaji
Sixers: Dewayne Dedmon, Montrezl Harrell
Suns: Bismack Boyombo, literally nobody for 4th string
Kings: Alex Len, Richaun Holmes
Cavs: Robin Lopez, Isaiah Mobley
Hawks: Bruno Fernando and literally nobody for 4th string
Knicks: Jericho Sims, nobody for 4th string
Heat: Orlando Robinson, Udonis Haslem
Warriors: JaMychal Green and literally nobody for 4th string

Some of these teams don't even have a 4th string big man. We've got Griffin, Kornet and Muscala for 3rd, 4th and 5th strong, plus Kabengele for 6th string. And Grant can sometimes play the 5, which would be 7th string.

Call me crazy but I think Muscala/Kornet/Griffin stacks up pretty good vs the 3rd/4th string bigs that these other teams have.

2) You don't like Muscala. That's weird. You'd think after what happened with Derrick White (all the casual fans on here bashed him last season, then this season once he had a full off season and training camp with the team, and enough time to adjust to the new teammates, new system, etc. he's been awesome) that fans would be more patient with a new player who just got thrown onto a new team in the middle of the season. Instead of being too quick to judge him on the tiny sample size we have of him as a Celtic, why not look at the past 10 years of him being the most consistent shooting big man in the league? Why not look at his time in OKC, when he was part of the one of the league's most efficient PnR duos (Muscala + SGA) and rated as a highly effective interior defender and he's a quick ball mover who won't bog down our offense. He's a serviceable 3rd/4th string big man. He has been for a long time now. And we got him for basically nothing. He was very good his first few games here, then suffered a knee tendinitis injury and hasn't gotten much minutes since then.

3) I don't know what you expected Brad to do. But he can't force another team to trade a quality big to us and he can't force a free agent big to sign with us. There's only so much he can do, given the rules in the CBA and the limited assets at his disposal to use in a trade. He did well with what he had to work with, and he has built a team that has the #1 net rating in the NBA, the #2 record in the NBA and just destroyed the team that has the #1 record in the NBA on the road...by 42 points. So you can spare us the sob story about what Brad woulda coulda shoulda done.

[return2glory]

Now if you want to talk about how Brad and Wyc and the Celtics organization isn't about winning titles anymore, then I'm with it.
The swing and a miss by Brad and Wyc at the deadline said it all. Muscala was great tonight, wasn't he?

We still have a chance at a title this year, if Rob has to be healthy. That's a big if. Brad and Wyc gambled on that by not getting a legit back up center all season.

*sigh*

1) You want a legit backup big? We have Rob and Al. That's 2 legit bigs. When this team is healthy, those 2 will get the majority of the minutes come playoff time. Al is the starter and Rob is the backup. With Rob, we literally have the best backup big in the league - and here you are complaining that we need a backup big lol.

You want another big beyond that? Ok, well in the offseason Brad signed Kornet, he signed Kabengele to a 2-way, he signed Vonleh, he signed Griffin. Then traded Vonleh. Then traded for Muscala. He's done a lot to try and add depth at that position.

I'm sorry if you don't like those guys, but Kornet and Griffin have both given this team plenty of solid minutes for a 3rd/4th string big man. Here's the 3rd/4th string big man for some other teams:

Nuggets: Deandre Jordan, Zeke Nnaji
Sixers: Dewayne Dedmon, Montrezl Harrell
Suns: Bismack Boyombo, literally nobody for 4th string
Kings: Alex Len, Richaun Holmes
Cavs: Robin Lopez, Isaiah Mobley
Hawks: Bruno Fernando and literally nobody for 4th string
Knicks: Jericho Sims, nobody for 4th string
Heat: Orlando Robinson, Udonis Haslem
Warriors: JaMychal Green and literally nobody for 4th string

Some of these teams don't even have a 4th string big man. We've got Griffin, Kornet and Muscala for 3rd, 4th and 5th strong, plus Kabengele for 6th string. And Grant can sometimes play the 5, which would be 7th string.

Call me crazy but I think Muscala/Kornet/Griffin stacks up pretty good vs the 3rd/4th string bigs that these other teams have.

2) You don't like Muscala. That's weird. You'd think after what happened with Derrick White (all the casual fans on here bashed him last season, then this season once he had a full off season and training camp with the team, and enough time to adjust to the new teammates, new system, etc. he's been awesome) that fans would be more patient with a new player who just got thrown onto a new team in the middle of the season. Instead of being too quick to judge him on the tiny sample size we have of him as a Celtic, why not look at the past 10 years of him being the most consistent shooting big man in the league? Why not look at his time in OKC, when he was part of the one of the league's most efficient PnR duos (Muscala + SGA) and rated as a highly effective interior defender and he's a quick ball mover who won't bog down our offense. He's a serviceable 3rd/4th string big man. He has been for a long time now. And we got him for basically nothing. He was very good his first few games here, then suffered a knee tendinitis injury and hasn't gotten much minutes since then.

3) I don't know what you expected Brad to do. But he can't force another team to trade a quality big to us and he can't force a free agent big to sign with us. There's only so much he can do, given the rules in the CBA and the limited assets at his disposal to use in a trade. He did well with what he had to work with, and he has built a team that has the #1 net rating in the NBA, the #2 record in the NBA and just destroyed the team that has the #1 record in the NBA on the road...by 42 points. So you can spare us the sob story about what Brad woulda coulda shoulda done.

I know you like everyone, including every available player in the draft and overseas. I get it.

After getting Brogdon in the off season, the Celtics were and are ready for a title run. All they needed was a legit big when Rob isn't available. Dwight was available. They didn't go after him. He helped the Lakers win a title just a few years ago. All we needed was 15-20 minutes from him, on some nights, not all nights. We are fine with Al and Rob but Rob can't stay healthy. He has proven that. The Celtics gambled on Rob being healthy for the playoffs and didn't address that need.

Again, if we have Al and Rob, we are fine. When we don't, then we are going to have a hard time winning a title.

Kornet isn't that guy. He won't get any minutes in the playoffs. Same for Blake, but Blake might play if Rob can't go. Muscala isn't a center. He is 6'11 and plays like he is 6'7.

And I'm not sure why you are comparing a 12-15th man like Muscala to White. White was a starter for the Spurs. White took a month or two to adjust to the Celtics and played well in the playoffs. I said before this season started that White was going to have a bounce back year. I also said Brogdon is going to be the best combo guard the Celtics have had since DJ. Both have been balling all season.

[_Und3r][D4wg_]

The loss was whatever... My only disappointment is, as with quite a few other close games that we've lost regardless of which key player(s) we were missing, the win was always absolutely there for the taking down in the clutch, only to be given away on a silver platter due to any of poor play-calling, atrocious shot selection, inexplicable closing lineups, horrendous defense, missed FTs, or just plain low-IQ moments.

I could be mistaken, but we seem to have lost a good majority of these type of endgames. I hope the team starts growing balls of clutch in the postseason.

Celtics are 23-13 in clutch games this year which is the 2nd highest winning percentage in the entire league. Tell me more about how they suck at closing out games.

Our record when point difference is 3 or less: 5-8 (worst among East top 8)
Our record in OT games: 4-7 (worst among East top 10)

A bit worried about Joe’s playcalling in game-winning situations ngl.

Zoya's post to my point. Surely people weren't over-the-moon thrilled with those Ls and raving high-as-a-kite about them being fantastic almost-wins or exhilarating losses that only served to add heaps of confidence?

I'm certainly not one to be a negative Nancy, but I do think it's fair to express some disappointment over those recurring endgame debacles from a team with overt title aspirations, and to expect stronger performance in the clutch relative to other contenders/playoff teams we need to go through in order to finally snatch #18.

Anyway, the playoffs are almost upon us, so we can move on from those sorry losses that cost us the #1 seed. Like everyone (I think?) in here, I will be hoping & cheering for the Cs to be able to flip that mythical switch that will illuminate the path to #18.

Cheers!