Cheesesteaks vs. Chowdah Part I - The Sixers/Celtics Series Thread

LondonSox

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It seems like a lot of the young guys (including Celtics youngsters too) have been playing much better at home and a lot worse on the road too. It wouldn't shock me if Embiid looks like a different player in game 3. Maybe the home/road split is something that wanes with more experience...esp in the bright lights of the playoffs.
I think that's probably true, as for a fight if the sixers get down in game 3 or 4 I could see. I doubt they go that way if they're playing better.
 

jmm57

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Embiid while not a rookie had 31 games before this season and 60 ish this year so his experience is rookie like.
Young inexperienced kids would have been more accurate but I think the point is little changed.

Embiid has so much to learn and hasn't even been able to practice and started late.
In hindsight I'm not shocked he's been confused. The Celtics have done a great job dragging him away from the rim.

His confusion on rotations etc is a bit odd as he's usually the general out there. I don't know if the mask is a minor issue here too (limited peripheral) but bottom line the Celtics have done a great job making him confused defensively.
Embiid was in the same draft as Marcus Smart, the longest tenured Celtic. Simmons has a case as a rookie, but Embiid is really extreme. They don’t have playoff experience,l agree....but rookie?
 

LondonSox

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Embiid was in the same draft as Marcus Smart, the longest tenured Celtic. Simmons has a case as a rookie, but Embiid is really extreme. They don’t have playoff experience,l agree....but rookie?
I was talking in terms of experience not age. I mean two years he couldn't practice or play, and he started playing late in life.
He's played one season ish worth of games with less practice time than that.
In terms of in game adjustments and seeing different things etc it's not exactly silly.

I am sure he had a game film advantage etc but on court he is RAW
 

DannyDarwinism

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Embiid was in the same draft as Marcus Smart, the longest tenured Celtic. Simmons has a case as a rookie, but Embiid is really extreme. They don’t have playoff experience,l agree....but rookie?
Yeah, he’s a day older than Rozier (who’s birthday is St. Patrick’s Day?!? C’mon, this dude was meant to be a Celtic) and ten days younger than Smart. He’s a playoff “rookie”, but so are lots of guys. Regardless of what happens, I think for him and Simmons, going up against a disciplined, battle-tested team in a playoff atmosphere has got to be good for the process.
 

DJnVa

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How many playoff minutes are required to not be a “rookie”? Embiid is around 170 minutes right now. Jaylen was at 200 when this postseason started.
 

terrynever

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Wonder what Bill Russell was thinking as he watched Embiid in Game 1. The Celtics were playing a similar cat-and-mouse game as his teams did with Wilt. Philly had a few teams with as much talent as Boston but somehow the Celts would overcome the odds, except for one time.

Embiid is a reasonable facsimile of the young Wilt, except Wilt could run the floor all night long. He ran track at Kansas and dabbled with the decathlon. Embiid's lack of stamina is a bit embarrassing.
 

caminante11

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Seen in YouTube comments of game 2 highlights:

What's the difference between Ben Simmons and a toothpick?

A toothpick has two points.
 

Big John

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Wonder what Bill Russell was thinking as he watched Embiid in Game 1.
Did anyone in the Boston media attempt to interview Russell before, during or after the game? He probably said "no interviews" but if Abby Chin Asked him very nicely I don't see how he could refuse.
 

benhogan

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Wonder what Bill Russell was thinking as he watched Embiid in Game 1. The Celtics were playing a similar cat-and-mouse game as his teams did with Wilt. Philly had a few teams with as much talent as Boston but somehow the Celts would overcome the odds, except for one time.

Embiid is a reasonable facsimile of the young Wilt, except Wilt could run the floor all night long. He ran track at Kansas and dabbled with the decathlon. Embiid's lack of stamina is a bit embarrassing.
According to one of his books, Wilt had legendary stamina.

Embiid's stamina wasn't the problem last night (20/14/5), he played over 37 mins.
I'd pin the 76ers loss on rookie playoff coach Brett Brown. He had some bazaar timeout usage in the first half:
-Brown called timeout at 8:19 of the 2nd Quarter up 40-24. 76ers had just opened up Q2 on a 8-2 run. C's offense was completely lost. Celtics put in Monroe during the TO.
-3:30 minutes left in Q2, 76ers up 20pts (53-33). 76ers proceed to fire up quick jumpers with Brown sitting on his hands till halftime.
-76ers go into the half up 5 points (56-51)

Hindsight is 20/20 but Brown committed head coaching malpractice right there. Have to use the timeouts on the road with a young team when it loses composure.

You can watch those 3:30 below. After Rozier lay-up at 2:29 (15-5 Celtic run) would have the obvious moment to slow things down and re-group.

 

terrynever

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Yeah, like I'm going to watch that 3:30 again! Bad enough the first time. Even the parquet floor gives me flashbacks.
Brett Brown was the only Philly person not calling for a timeout. He is stubborn about his in-game decisions and said he would do the same thing again. Seems to have full support of the owners because he did their bidding during the tanking years.
 

LondonSox

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Wonder what Bill Russell was thinking as he watched Embiid in Game 1. The Celtics were playing a similar cat-and-mouse game as his teams did with Wilt. Philly had a few teams with as much talent as Boston but somehow the Celts would overcome the odds, except for one time.

Embiid is a reasonable facsimile of the young Wilt, except Wilt could run the floor all night long. He ran track at Kansas and dabbled with the decathlon. Embiid's lack of stamina is a bit embarrassing.
I mean he finally played himself into shape late in the season after missing the offseason again, and then soon after had his cheek caved in, surgery and a concussion which meant he couldn't train.
It's not surprising he's a bit out of shape after playing 5 games (including this one)

I really don't care about people nitpicking rookie. As I already said I really meant inexperienced. Jaylen has played nearly twice as many pro games, more college games and then his whole life vs starting at 16.
(And he's a sophomore I get it)

I agree re brown criticism, he let the run get out of hand in 2q and as I mentioned to come out and shoot bad threes after the half after this run. Is pretty crap
 

Reverend

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Hopefully this is the sort of loss that crushes Philly's soul, but I have a feeling they'll come out strong. The strategy of banging Embiid and making him work definitely wears him down by the end of the game.
If they come out flat with their young guys, they need to be rethinking if there are some elements missing to their process; players' minds matter too.
 

benhogan

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Went back and dug this out from earlier this season

No excuses for Brown, since this played out just like the London game.

In that game the 76ers lead by 22 in the middle of the 2nd quarter and Celts made a late 2nd quarter run.

Glad to hear he isn't going to change his style.

 

wade boggs chicken dinner

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Tatum youngest ever to score 20+ pts in 4 straight playoff games. Previous holder = Kobe Bryant.

Amazing thing about watching JB & JT & TRoz & Simmons & Embiid (etc.): 20 years ago, they probably be playing in the Final Four, not the NBA playoffs.

 

luckiestman

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Tatum youngest ever to score 20+ pts in 4 straight playoff games. Previous holder = Kobe Bryant.

Amazing thing about watching JB & JT & TRoz & Simmons & Embiid (etc.): 20 years ago, they probably be playing in the Final Four, not the NBA playoffs.


And it looks effortless.
 

benhogan

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Watched a few minutes of Warriors vs Pels game...

I'm afraid something similar awaits us today in Philly. My hopes are just to keep it close throughout. Then have Celtics experienced players and Brad's coaching be the edge in a late/tight game.
 

wade boggs chicken dinner

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Watched a few minutes of Warriors vs Pels game...

I'm afraid something similar awaits us today in Philly. My hopes are just to keep it close throughout. Then have Celtics experienced players and Brad's coaching be the edge in a late/tight game.
Understand what you say and I'm sure PHI is going to come out sky high but from watching a bit of the Pels during this playoff run, there's one huge difference between NO and PHI: AD plays like his hair is on fire while Embiid plays like he's getting a massage.

Man AD is unbelievable.
 

Soxfan in Fla

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Understand what you say and I'm sure PHI is going to come out sky high but from watching a bit of the Pels during this playoff run, there's one huge difference between NO and PHI: AD plays like his hair is on fire while Embiid plays like he's getting a massage.

Man AD is unbelievable.
That and Simmons is not anything near playoff Rondo at this point in his career.
 

jmm57

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I think we at jumping the gun a bit here. Philly is a young team that got beat solidly game one on the road, and blew a big lead but still had a shot to win game two late. If Philly lays an egg in one of these home games I’ll be happy to join the piling on, but this is a very talented team. Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid are very good players. Boston held serve, but if they can’t take 1 of these games on the road we are in for a long, tough series.
 

DJnVa

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No one is saying the series is over. But the Celtics are now the favorites.
 

LondonSox

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Yeah if you weed through the trash talk the real posters are not counting any chickens tbf

But best case the sixers make it a best of 3 with two in Boston, so favourites they are.

Of course if the sixers play well and win or Rozier has a turnover or a missed shot in the 4th the narrative will change.
 

amarshal2

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At this point I’ll go Celtics in 5: L/W/W. This is assuming Brown looks like Brown by game 4. Smart probably won’t shoot as well again as game 2 but if you replace him with a healthy Brown it’s going to be a big problem for Philly.

As I said way up thread, I thought Philly was being a little overrated by many before the series started (still a huge threat long term). With a healthy Brown I would’ve predicted Celtics in 7. What’s changed is the non-Brown Celtics have exceeded my expectations, regardless of home court.

I think the biggest problem Boston faces is the deep bench lineups they have to throw out there sometimes. The Celtics starters have consistently outplayed the Philly starters but when it’s Larkin, Smart, Semi, Baynes, and Morris it’s a really rough go. Once Brown is at full strength hopefully this won’t happen again.
 
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jaytftwofive

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The record of the Celtics being 36-0 when leading 2 games to 0????? That must be in a 7 game series right???? Because in 1990 they blew a 2 to 0 lead to Knicks who then won 3 straight but that was a 5 game series. Some announcers across the country are saying it's in a 7 game series some are saying it's when leading 2 to to 0?? Just curious if anyone knows if it is a 7 game series which it has to be?
 

bankshot1

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Today seems to shape up as a war and a real physical/chippy game as the 76ers are lacing up for their must win game.

The cliche is hang in for the early barrage of emotion, 3s and Embiid pounding the boards and hang tough.
 

Soxfan in Fla

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The record of the Celtics being 36-0 when leading 2 games to 0????? That must be in a 7 game series right???? Because in 1990 they blew a 2 to 0 lead to Knicks who then won 3 straight but that was a 5 game series. Some announcers across the country are saying it's in a 7 game series some are saying it's when leading 2 to to 0?? Just curious if anyone knows if it is a 7 game series which it has to be?
7 game series.
 

amarshal2

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The record of the Celtics being 36-0 when leading 2 games to 0????? That must be in a 7 game series right???? Because in 1990 they blew a 2 to 0 lead to Knicks who then won 3 straight but that was a 5 game series. Some announcers across the country are saying it's in a 7 game series some are saying it's when leading 2 to to 0?? Just curious if anyone knows if it is a 7 game series which it has to be?
Here’s the more relevant statistic:
“NBA teams that go up 2-0 in a best-of-seven round are 278-19 in the series all-time.”

Boston is a huge favorite to win the series.

Note: I can’t find a home/road split. I assume road teams that go up 2-0 (like Cavs now, Pellys last round...flip side Bulls last year) have better odds and home teams a bit worse. Still, probably rare that the road team goes up 2-0 so I’d guess 9/10 Celtics win.

https://www.oddsshark.com/nba/nba-teams-down-0-2-playoff-series-have-brutal-history
 
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reggiecleveland

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Screamin' A rants about the Sixers and mostly Brett Brown:

Most hilarious part of this is "He is jump-shot away from being Lebron!"

Fun game to just add the most important and difficult skill to a guy.

JBJ is just a bat away from being Willie Mays!
Daniel BArd is just control away from being Goose Gossage.
 

Reverend

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So, do Celtics try to come out hard to match expected energy, or do they let the 6ers run run run and then wait until they're a bit over their skiis and then launch an energetic counter run?

Celtics games this year have had wild narrative structures that, as we have seen, have at times kicked the crap out of the Win% function. Once that happens a certain amount of times, we get to reject the null hypothesis and assume there is some other causal factor...

So what are they up to tonight?

(cross posting with gamethread)
 

snowmanny

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The record of the Celtics being 36-0 when leading 2 games to 0????? That must be in a 7 game series right???? Because in 1990 they blew a 2 to 0 lead to Knicks who then won 3 straight but that was a 5 game series. Some announcers across the country are saying it's in a 7 game series some are saying it's when leading 2 to to 0?? Just curious if anyone knows if it is a 7 game series which it has to be?
They said 7 game series on the telecast.I went to one of the games in that series. The Celtics won something like 160-70 (well not quite)* and then became a very old very slow team overnight.

But the broadcast definitely blew the graphic in game 1 when they said that ten times the winner of a Celtics-Sixers series went on to win the title, eight by Boston two by Philly - since Philly beat Boston en route to their first title in 1967 but not as part of the fo' fo' fi' (ed2:actually fo fi fo, of course)second championship run in 1983, and their third title is lol..

*Ed- turns out it was 157-128. You'll never see 157 points with 1-6 three-point shooting again.
 
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mt8thsw9th

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At this point the Bucks are a better team. Really good win and I really don’t see the Sixers in the Celtics’ league when they get Kyrie and GH back. ¯\(°_O)/¯
 

LondonSox

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Just so you guys know.
Yes I'm very sad. Yes the Celtics are better. Yes that was horrendous to watch.
No there aren't any excuses.

Now I'll respond to all you abuse at a later point because believe it or not it's my 40th birthday party today so I'm gonna go be depressed at it
 

DJnVa

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Just so you guys know.
Yes I'm very sad. Yes the Celtics are better. Yes that was horrendous to watch.
No there aren't any excuses.

Now I'll respond to all you abuse at a later point because believe it or not it's my 40th birthday party today so I'm gonna go be depressed at it
Sports joking isn't real life amigo.

Happy birthday.
 

riboflav

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Just so you guys know.
Yes I'm very sad. Yes the Celtics are better. Yes that was horrendous to watch.
No there aren't any excuses.

Now I'll respond to all you abuse at a later point because believe it or not it's my 40th birthday party today so I'm gonna go be depressed at it
I feel for you, man. Geez, the sixers are not close at all. Considering who is coming back for the Celtics next year. I mean, wow. This has to be incredibly sobering for you.

I don't mean this to be spiteful. Just wow. It has to be stunning to realize how FAR away your team is.

EDIT: Oh and Happy Birthday. 40 sucks.