R2G5 - 76ers vs Celtics - May 9 7:30pm ET

[FlyingArrow]

I really thought Embiid only looked bad for like 8 minutes in the 4th. Towards the end of regulation and in OT, he picked it back up by playing smarter not harder.

I do agree Reed should be given more minutes though. Doc needs to do better at spacing out when Embiid and Harden sit so that we can have some minutes of Harden playing that 5 out style for the whole duration of when Embiid sits so the offense can make up for the defensive drop-off.

Let Melton set the offense when Harden sits though because Maxey has not done well at getting the offense set up this series, he's looked out of his element when he's been asked to do so in this series.

5-out with PJ or McDaniels as the center? Can we afford to go that small? Trez, Dedmon, and Reed are shooting 3s for us.

[Hipster Doofus]

Have followed this team for 20+ years, day in day out.

I have aged prematurely.

[Skates]

One of these next two games, hopefully the one in Boston, feels like a time for Melton to have an on fire game again from three. He really can be the X-factor in a game where we get regular season James and Embiid against this long and athletic Celtics squad.

Pulling Harris to rest when Harden goes out so that he can play the inside scorer on the Harden plus bench unit is a way to make the Embiid-less minutes work better, or go super athletic with House and McDaniels like they did in the first game along with Reed and at times during the season. Niang fits better with Joel in the game to backstop his defense.

[Sixersftw]

I feel like this is the Jo game. He's due a nuclear game against the Celtics

[ExplosionsInDaSky]

We've played them 4 times now in the last week. Each team knows what the other wants to do at this point. Boston is either going to blow our doors off in game 5 or we're going to hang with them until the end and pull it out. That's my prediction. We can't get complacent and just show up with the mind set that the series heads back to Philly one more time. They can clearly beat us on our floor. Beating them one more time in their building is doable, and it preferably needs to happen in game 5.

As far as rotations and what I'd personally like to see, well...I think Doc needs to trust Melton a little bit more than he has. Boston is flat out hunting Maxey when the game gets tight in the fourth. I know Max is out there for offense, but he's a major liability if his shot's not falling. I don't know why Doc keeps with him in those moments when we clearly need defense. Is it because of spacing? Ball handling? I don't know. Boston has pressed us full court the entire game and maybe that's why. We all know Melton can't handle the way Harden and Maxey can so that's really my only guess. Maxey is sure handed and doesn't turn it over. On top of that there's always the possibility he goes nuclear when you need it most. I still think Melton needs to see the floor in the final minutes IF he's needed.

We like to rip Doc and some of it is deserved, but he's handled this series well so far. Game two was an expected beatdown, game three was lost due to bad games from Maxey, Harden, and Tobias. We damn near had the full on Doc collapse in game 4 and honestly should have lost that game, but we didn't. That's truly the difference I see in this team this year. We aren't losing those type of games anymore...We're winning them for a change. This is essentially a best of three series. We've reset, the feeling out process is complete, we've beaten them twice and could have beaten them a third time with a little bit of help so I like where we are at with this. 2UP against a team that has owned not only us, but the entire league is something to be proud of. Neither team is giving up, neither team is going away.

This series reminds me of the 2006 semifinals matchup between the Mavs and the Spurs. Dallas had a 3-1 lead in that series and blew the next two games. By the time game 7 came around which was played in San Antonio, everyone had Dallas left for dead. They blew a 3-1 lead, the Spurs were the better team and now they had all the momentum. Dallas had been the little brother to the Spurs since the start of the 2000s. Game 7 rolled around and Dirk said "%uck this, and %uck you San Antonio and he took em down on their floor. I'll never forget watching that game. The dynamic between us and Boston has got a lot of similarities to that rivalry from the 2000s. I just don't think we're dead yet despite what all the negative douchebags of the world are saying. Some people live for only doom and gloom. I'm not expecting us to take game five from them, but it'd be nice. What I am expecting is for this to go 7 games. We've had a hell of a run this year. It's been so much fun watching these guys play. We're not done yet.

Sorry for the novel.

[cool93]

Yeah, this is THE game. If we lose this we won't win two straight. Go **** all in. THERE IS NO TOMORROW!

[Skates]

The weakness of this team is the same one it has had all year and why Rivers gets stuck in the Maxey/Melton dilemma. We lack a reliable fourth guard, specifically a ball handling guard. Melton is fabulous in a lot of ways, but especially in the half court he can at most be a connective passer, but a true ball handler. Hence Rivers keeps Maxey out there with Harden late in games to help bring the ball up and handle in the half court of Harden is sealed off. This is supposed to be Shake's job, but he was very up and down this season and all the more playing poorly late in the season (except in games where we are super short and he plays huge minutes). When Maxey is out Tobias becomes the next best ball handler paired with Harden as Melton looks to get rid of the ball like it is a hot potato when he is asked to run the offense even a little.

Doc also can't use timeouts to play offense/defense with Maxey and Melton because he has to use them to get Jojo and Harden rest during high minute games, and the Celts don't call timeouts on crucial possessions late game which prevents subbing Maxey out for Melton. The biggest advantage I see for the Celtics in this series is their wing/guard depth, especially White and Brogdon to go with the big three of Brown, Tatum and Smart. Any three of those five can play down the stretch and at least two are always one the court, allowing the others to rest and still have plenty of ballhandling that the Sixers lack.

[mjkvol]

I really thought Embiid only looked bad for like 8 minutes in the 4th. Towards the end of regulation and in OT, he picked it back up by playing smarter not harder.

I do agree Reed should be given more minutes though. Doc needs to do better at spacing out when Embiid and Harden sit so that we can have some minutes of Harden playing that 5 out style for the whole duration of when Embiid sits so the offense can make up for the defensive drop-off.

Let Melton set the offense when Harden sits though because Maxey has not done well at getting the offense set up this series, he's looked out of his element when he's been asked to do so in this series.

I feel like some of y'all are pretending like Melton can dribble. As poorly as Maxey has played, he's leaps and bounds above Melton when it comes to doing basic guard stuff.

On the offensive end. The reason Boston didn't call a timeout in overtime is because they were seeking Maxey out and didn't want Rivers to put his best 5 defenders out there. When you get a lead, play defense.

Agree. Mazzulla had the matchup he wanted on the floor, and they had probably discussed a last shot scenario. A timeout in that spot is only if you don't have the players you want on the floor or a play hasn't been called.

[Jailblazers7]

Tatum should be absolutely skewered for that final possession. He had Maxey on the switch and he passed out with 1 second left? No excuse for him not to shoot over Maxey for a chance at the win.

The way Tatum gets treated with kid gloves by the media is bizarre. Boston folks can talk about Mazzulla all they want but their faux MVP had our worst defender on him with the game on the line & he couldn’t even get a shot up.

[Bum Adebayo]

I see a victory guys, let's go Sixers!

[Hipster Doofus]

Tatum should be absolutely skewered for that final possession. He had Maxey on the switch and he passed out with 1 second left? No excuse for him not to shoot over Maxey for a chance at the win.

The way Tatum gets treated with kid gloves by the media is bizarre. Boston folks can talk about Mazzulla all they want but their faux MVP had our worst defender on him with the game on the line & he couldn’t even get a shot up.

It's ok, Tatum is learning and growing. Can't place all the blame on a 19-year old.

[phillynative]

Tatum should be absolutely skewered for that final possession. He had Maxey on the switch and he passed out with 1 second left? No excuse for him not to shoot over Maxey for a chance at the win.

The way Tatum gets treated with kid gloves by the media is bizarre. Boston folks can talk about Mazzulla all they want but their faux MVP had our worst defender on him with the game on the line & he couldn’t even get a shot up.

Idk I think he made the right play but just took too long to attack. Maxey was the initial defender but
Tobi and Embiid helped and Smart was left wide open.

[Murray_17]

Tatum should be absolutely skewered for that final possession. He had Maxey on the switch and he passed out with 1 second left? No excuse for him not to shoot over Maxey for a chance at the win.

The way Tatum gets treated with kid gloves by the media is bizarre. Boston folks can talk about Mazzulla all they want but their faux MVP had our worst defender on him with the game on the line & he couldn’t even get a shot up.

Brown trying to trap Embiid and leaving Harden alone in the corner was worse IMO. By the moment he went for the steal, Horford and Tatum had the possession controlled and at worst would ended with Embiid tying the game or Embiid forcing a pass for a PJ corner 3.

Tatum initiating the final action late was bad but also a shared issue with Mazzulla who should have called the TO when he saw the play was going to hell

[mjkvol]

Tatum should be absolutely skewered for that final possession. He had Maxey on the switch and he passed out with 1 second left? No excuse for him not to shoot over Maxey for a chance at the win.

The way Tatum gets treated with kid gloves by the media is bizarre. Boston folks can talk about Mazzulla all they want but their faux MVP had our worst defender on him with the game on the line & he couldn’t even get a shot up.

I don't get the whole timeout thing. A coach is going to call timeout if he needs to get the right personnel in or he needs to set a specific play, not just to provide the network with a couple of commercials and shake his fist at the team (although Ferry would probably endorse it for that, especially if a couple of players yelled at each other).

The Celtics had all the time they needed, the correct personnel on the floor, and as you said the mismatch they wanted for their 'superstar'. They didn't need a 3 - if Tatum is fouled it should be game over, and he has a guy he should own guarding him. That is 100% on Tatum, but the low information media has to exalt the anointed 'superstars'.

[Jailblazers7]

Tatum should be absolutely skewered for that final possession. He had Maxey on the switch and he passed out with 1 second left? No excuse for him not to shoot over Maxey for a chance at the win.

The way Tatum gets treated with kid gloves by the media is bizarre. Boston folks can talk about Mazzulla all they want but their faux MVP had our worst defender on him with the game on the line & he couldn’t even get a shot up.

Brown trying to trap Embiid and leaving Harden alone in the corner was worse IMO. By the moment he went for the steal, Horford and Tatum had the possession controlled and at worst would ended with Embiid tying the game or Embiid forcing a pass for a PJ corner 3.

Tatum initiating the final action late was bad but also a shared issue with Mazzulla who should have called the TO when he saw the play was going to hell

Oh Brown deserves to get flamed too. Two huge mental mistakes by the best players on the team for Boston.

But Tatum knew the time & score and could’ve risen up for a float or powered through Maxey on that drive. I just think any other player of his level gets destroyed for that decision but a lot of people have built up Tatum for years and are constantly finding ways to avoid criticizing him.

To be fair, I think Philly media has done the same thing with Embiid for years but the Boston media mafia is all over national coverage so it’s more noticeable for Tatum.

[Embiid P]

Tatum should be absolutely skewered for that final possession. He had Maxey on the switch and he passed out with 1 second left? No excuse for him not to shoot over Maxey for a chance at the win.

The way Tatum gets treated with kid gloves by the media is bizarre. Boston folks can talk about Mazzulla all they want but their faux MVP had our worst defender on him with the game on the line & he couldn’t even get a shot up.

Brown trying to trap Embiid and leaving Harden alone in the corner was worse IMO. By the moment he went for the steal, Horford and Tatum had the possession controlled and at worst would ended with Embiid tying the game or Embiid forcing a pass for a PJ corner 3.

Tatum initiating the final action late was bad but also a shared issue with Mazzulla who should have called the TO when he saw the play was going to hell

Oh Brown deserves to get flamed too. Two huge mental mistakes by the best players on the team for Boston.

But Tatum knew the time & score and could’ve risen up for a float or powered through Maxey on that drive. I just think any other player of his level gets destroyed for that decision but a lot of people have built up Tatum for years and are constantly finding ways to avoid criticizing him.

To be fair, I think Philly media has done the same thing with Embiid for years but the Boston media mafia is all over national coverage so it’s more noticeable for Tatum.

The number of times they were slobbering all over him yesterday with his "Ivy League Bball IQ" made want to vomit.

[mjkvol]

Brown trying to trap Embiid and leaving Harden alone in the corner was worse IMO. By the moment he went for the steal, Horford and Tatum had the possession controlled and at worst would ended with Embiid tying the game or Embiid forcing a pass for a PJ corner 3.

Tatum initiating the final action late was bad but also a shared issue with Mazzulla who should have called the TO when he saw the play was going to hell

Oh Brown deserves to get flamed too. Two huge mental mistakes by the best players on the team for Boston.

But Tatum knew the time & score and could’ve risen up for a float or powered through Maxey on that drive. I just think any other player of his level gets destroyed for that decision but a lot of people have built up Tatum for years and are constantly finding ways to avoid criticizing him.

To be fair, I think Philly media has done the same thing with Embiid for years but the Boston media mafia is all over national coverage so it’s more noticeable for Tatum.

The number of times they were slobbering all over him yesterday with his "Ivy League Bball IQ" made want to vomit.

One of many vomit inducing comments from those two, just dreadful.

[rocketsfan100]

Historically game 5 a of Aeschylus series has been the most pivotal . This is Harden and Embiid career defining and ultimately legacy games outside of a potential close out elimination game

[HardenGoat]

Historically game 5 a of Aeschylus series has been the most pivotal . This is Harden and Embiid career defining and ultimately legacy games outside of a potential close out elimination game

5 is a must win in my opinion. We have to approach it that way and go all out, I can see us being fully locked in from now on.

[M2J]

Tatum should be absolutely skewered for that final possession. He had Maxey on the switch and he passed out with 1 second left? No excuse for him not to shoot over Maxey for a chance at the win.

The way Tatum gets treated with kid gloves by the media is bizarre. Boston folks can talk about Mazzulla all they want but their faux MVP had our worst defender on him with the game on the line & he couldn’t even get a shot up.

I don't get the whole timeout thing. A coach is going to call timeout if he needs to get the right personnel in or he needs to set a specific play, not just to provide the network with a couple of commercials and shake his fist at the team (although Ferry would probably endorse it for that, especially if a couple of players yelled at each other).

The Celtics had all the time they needed, the correct personnel on the floor, and as you said the mismatch they wanted for their 'superstar'. They didn't need a 3 - if Tatum is fouled it should be game over, and he has a guy he should own guarding him. That is 100% on Tatum, but the low information media has to exalt the anointed 'superstars'.

Happy to explain. You're right that they didn't need a timeout. But they got the ball with a deficit, with 18 seconds. If they weren't going to call a timeout they should have gotten a shot with 5-7 seconds left on the clock. That way if they miss, they can either get an offensive rebound or file Philly and be down potentially at max 3 points. Have another possession to extend the game.

I'm not going to just blame Tatum, even though he should know better. It's not as if Joe was jumping up and down saying hurry up hurry up.....

They played the time and score as if they had a lead or it was a tie game. If they really knew what they were doing, they could have gotten two or three possessions in 18 seconds with two timeouts.