Likely lose game 3. Playing for a game 7 outcome. It’s like they are getting paid to throw the games
We'll see. A lot depends on how close to 100% Embiid is and can stay.
They will act cocky again. Jaylen will dunk early and do that stupid flexing
Well they absolutely had to have that win....and it showed.
Disagree. His early minutes he was super tentative and not himself and he still registered 5 blocks in that first half. If Embiid is not Embiid it may be a blessing for him to be on the floor with them encouraged to play through Harden with the ball moving better.
Maybe.
Not at all. His first game in many days was going to be a labor and a hurdle that had to be cleared. That happened in a non competitive game where they weren’t tempted into playing him too many minutes. There was a small percentage chance that the Sixers would have won tonight and that outcome would have likely been about the Celtics shitting the bed more so than the Sixers taking it from them. After losing a Game 1 home game the home team has won 15 in a row Game 2s now after Knicks win and Celtics win. They got the split they needed up in Boston and they got Embiid over that hump. This sounds crazy but despite losing by a million tonight wasn’t a bad outcome for the Sixers. Who cares how many you lose by? Great road trip result and now you ripped that Embiid band aid off. I would have hated a scenario with the Heat last night where they are close and they lose in the end and they likely have Embiid play 35-38 minutes on his first night back because it’s easy to get caught up in trying to win a playoff game.
Not when RW3 is on the floor or if Horford stays cold. They have answers they can turn to get offense with a less than 100% Embiid. Their rim protection in Game 1 was nonexistent and they gave up 66 easy paint points.
Of course more Embiid and higher quality Embiid is always going to be a plus. I’m pushing back on the idea that no Embiid is better than 60-70% Embiid.
Some Embiid is better than no Embiid in most cases... but Boston has a pretty good track record against the big man, and as we've previously discussed I think there are reasons for that.
Every home playoff game is the end all be all if you have championship goals. The Sixers were in this identical spot in 2019 with the Raptors coming home with the series knotted 1-1. Sixers won Game 3 and if I remember correctly it was a double digit victory. Then they shit the bed in a close game in Game 4. That was the series because it ensured that they would have to win another road game in a tough environment. Can’t let it happen again. The clear pathway to winning this series is winning Games 3 and 4. I don’t think they’re winning Game 5 or 7 in the Garden.
Was unable to say shit about this when Sixers are getting boat raced because that’s some weak ass sour grapes shit. Marcus Smart is next level dirty player because he knows how to do this shit and make it look like a natural ball play in basketball. In Game 1, it was the dangerous close out on Harden 3 pt attempt going underneath him and into his landing space. That should have been a flagrant 1 in Game 1 and officials didn’t even look at it. Marcus Smart is next level dirty player. Earlier this year, in the last regular season game Sixers vs Celtics he had 3 off the ball flop attempts in trying to close out that game for the Celtics offense and he actually tricked the officials into calling one of them. Thanks for bringing this because I couldn’t.
