Playoffs!?

[Iverson Armband]

Both Smart and Brogdon are outplaying Maxey, that’s really the difference in the series. We wont win if that doesn’t change.

[hookshot199]

We're gonna have to out-shooting them, they have the best spacing on the entire league and with Embiid parking they're basically gonna just take a stupid amount of 3s.

The issue is the same as always, Tobias, Melton and Tucker overhelp too much and this is a match up were you just cannot go overhelp, again, Boston has the best spacing on the entire league. This is in part why zone worked so well the second half of the first game.

Still, you're a victim of variance on cases like this, Boston is 27-2 when they shot over 40% from 3 and something like 29-27 or similar when they shot below 40%. You have to commit to good contests and stay glued to shooters, leave the worst one open by design if necessary.

The problem right now is not the defense, it's actually the offense, IMO.

Obviously, Embiid is not 100%, but that makes playing Tucker more difficult. If PJ comes from the corner to screen for Harden, Boston is gonna involve him on the play and stay on Harden so he has to make the pass to PJ. If Joel isn't aggresive on offense that reduces our spacing by virtue of already having a nonthreat in PJ on the floor.

To me it looked pretty obvious Boston prepared their game plan for Joel previous to the series, they had a lot of pre-planned rotations and tactics in place, he not playing the first game probably throw their entire game plan away. For example, they tried several possessions by putting Smart on Joel when he was closer to the wings so after the ball rotated you could not get a switch.

Harden also needs to attack Brown more often if he's gonna be his primary defender, tire him at least. What you cannot allow is Brown effectively defending you and then also being great on offense

Just some reflections to add to yours:

1) Robert Williams has been exceptional as a rim protector. He’s taken away Harden’s and Maxey’s drive and floater game, just like Embed has done to Tatum and a lesser degree Brown. No need to overreact regarding Maxey. He's is still a superb young player. He just needs to make an adjustment when Williams is in the game.

2) Embiid needs to stop shooting so many mid-range jump shots. He’s not close to being in mid-season form. Pass out to someone else.

3) Tobias has played excellent perimeter defense, although his offense has been lacking. But it looks to me as if Paul can also play defense on the perimeter if Tobias is out. I see no reason not to play Paul occasionally with Embiid. He adds length and athleticism and has proven to be a pretty good finisher.

The Celtics are a better team. I still don’t expect us to win the series. On the other hand, if we keep them off the three-point line - and that means everybody: Brogdon, Brown, Smart, Horford, Tatum and White - we have a chance. Make them shoot twos. Easier said than done, of course.

And by the way, I don’t normally complain about officiating. But yesterday was pretty bad. Embiid got mauled a couple of times and they didn’t call obvious fouls. And of course the calls and non-calls in overtime were outrageous.

[mjkvol]

If I had to limit it to one key for the Sixers, it would be to run them off the 3-pt. line at any cost. The Celtics live by trading 3 for 2, so force them to accept 2's as their only option.

Turn the game into a halfcourt slog, which favors our ... deliberate ... offensive approach. Keep the game in the 90's and we have a legit chance.

[Jailblazers7]

That temper is going to get Jokic into some serious trouble one day.

[Ferry Avenue]

Harden this series
28.8ppg 7.5apg 6.3rpg 1.8spg 47FG% 41% from 3

The average is certainly great, but it doesn't tell you the variation in scoring involved. The issue of course is that Harden is prone to wide swings in scoring, and when he does very well the Sixers squeak out a win, whereas when he does poorly they get beaten soundly.

The production is going to have to come from elsewhere, in addition to Harden.

[sodmoraes]

That series is gonna cost Maxey some money...

[76ciology]

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[eyeatoma]

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To be fair to Embiid, he's had 30 or over for 2 of the 3 games of this series. He was triple teamed against the Nets. He's brining it defensively, and his offense has gotten far better the last 2 games, even though he disappeared in the 4th.

[hookshot199]

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To be fair to Embiid, he's had 30 or over for 2 of the 3 games of this series. He was triple teamed against the Nets. He's brining it defensively, and his offense has gotten far better the last 2 games, even though he disappeared in the 4th.

But he's been terrible with his jump shot. He missed a total of 15 shots last night. Check the link below since I don't know how to attach a screen shot and use the filter for Embiid.

https://www.espn.com/nba/game/_/gameId/401545114

[Mik317]

its almost as if you probably need healthy knees to jump or something. Feel like him looking better than expected has made some people forget that his knee is not healthy. So there is probably going to be some moments when his lift leaves him more than normal. Then there the fact that he is actually going all in on defense and wearing himself out more.

Again...this offseason he needs to slim down especially if he is going to be more of a mid range guy IMO.

[Ferry Avenue]

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That might as well be a "dog meter" -- a measurement of the degree to which players have the Jordan-esque ability to ratchet up their games when it matters.

[Stanford]

Honestly, that's the most likeable thing Jokic has ever done.

Major sports teams should be owned by the public. In the current model, owners shouldn't even be allowed to attend games.

[76ciology]

its almost as if you probably need healthy knees to jump or something. Feel like him looking better than expected has made some people forget that his knee is not healthy. So there is probably going to be some moments when his lift leaves him more than normal. Then there the fact that he is actually going all in on defense and wearing himself out more.

Again...this offseason he needs to slim down especially if he is going to be more of a mid range guy IMO.

He was a lot better in OT. But he looked like a 80 year old guy down the stretch in the 4th

[LeonJordanJr24]

Sell high on Maxey and Tobias expiring for Beal. Resign Harden.


We need a bail out like Beal to compliment Embiid and harden as the set up man. Jaylen brown then becomes a neutral or negative. We are the most dominate team in the east for the foreseeable future after that move barring injuries .

[eyeatoma]

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To be fair to Embiid, he's had 30 or over for 2 of the 3 games of this series. He was triple teamed against the Nets. He's brining it defensively, and his offense has gotten far better the last 2 games, even though he disappeared in the 4th.

But he's been terrible with his jump shot. He missed a total of 15 shots last night. Check the link below since I don't know how to attach a screen shot and use the filter for Embiid.

https://www.espn.com/nba/game/_/gameId/401545114

As Mik says he's still hurt. Even though he is probably playing at 80% of his MVP form, you do need your legs and knees to be in good shape to constantly jump up and down lol. Hopefully it continues to get better, he's progressed in every single game, so fingers crossed we see true MVP Embiid next game, or at some point this series.

[HardenGoat]

My hope is Embiid shakes the rust and can dominate at least the first 3 quarters and Harden keeps the switch flipped. I think we will win. Think of the series as one really long game. We are entering the 3rd and 4th quarter now. We took their best shots and we are tied. I feel we have the heart and will to win this thing. That will be the difference just like we have shown in the most meaningful 4th quarter games we have had. If you watched the Celtics this year, they have had trouble winning close games. Their wins were mostly offensive blowouts, and plenty of examples of 4th quarter collapses.

[Negrodamus]

Knicks weren't ready for this... Heat?

[Skates]

Sell high on Maxey and Tobias expiring for Beal. Resign Harden.


We need a bail out like Beal to compliment Embiid and harden as the set up man. Jaylen brown then becomes a neutral or negative. We are the most dominate team in the east for the foreseeable future after that move barring injuries .

Beal was always overrated and now he is just awful, no way he puts anyone over the top and his contract is toxic. No thanks.

[76ciology]

NBA players in the clutch this playoffs Min. 10 shots

Fox: 6/17 (35%)
Jokic: 6/17 (35%)
Curry: 7/15 (55%)
Butler: 6/12 (50%)
Smart: 7/11 (63%)
Young: 4/11 (36%)
Maxey: 7/11 (63%)
Brunson: 6/10 (60%)

[Sixteen]

Shout out to Reading, PAs Lonnie Walker coming up big late in that game. I was once a Red Knight myself...