76ers (0-0) at Celtics (0-0) Round 2 Game #1 5/1/23

[celticinorlando]

Depends if Embiid plays a lot in the series or not. If he does, Boston will throw Grant, Al, Rob, Brogadan, Smart at him.

If he does not play a lot then Boston will be able to play Hauser more because Philly is not very big after Embiid. It would become a wing game.

[johnnygreen]

I'm not sure if Embiid misses the game tonight, if that's a positive for the Celtics. How many times this year have the Celtics lost a game, where their opponent was missing one of their best players? Just look back to game 5 against Atlanta, where Murray was suspended.

I do expect the Celtics to win tonight and the series. I'm just concerned that the Celtics may take tonight's game for granted if Embiid is out.

[Roy H.]

I'm not sure if Embiid misses the game tonight, if that's a positive for the Celtics. How many times this year have the Celtics lost a game, where their opponent was missing one of their best players? Just look back to game 5 against Atlanta, where Murray was suspended.

I do expect the Celtics to win tonight and the series. I'm just concerned that the Celtics may take tonight's game for granted if Embiid is out.

Yeah... No repeats of the "OKC without SGA" game, please.

[Vermont Green]

I wonder if Mazzulla would come right out and say it.  Look guys, as a team, you have a history of letting up, losing to lesser teams, blowing late leads because you start to play cautious.  We can't let that happen here.  It doesn't matter if Embiid is playing or not; 100%  or 70%, we need to keep our head in the game.  Keep the intensity and urgency up.

This seems so obvious.  I am sure every coach and every player knows it.  Why is it so hard for us to get over this?  I wonder if they are afraid to say it out loud.  It is no one's fault in particular.

[celticinorlando]

Celtics get themselves in trouble when they become volume shooters from 3. Several times they have had teams on the ropes and started shooting 3 after 3...killing all momentum

[Phantom255x]

PHI hasn't played in over a week. I wonder if there's going to be a little rust from them tonight

[Vermont Green]

PHI hasn't played in over a week. I wonder if there's going to be a little rust from them tonight

Yeah, and there were reports that Harden was in Las Vegas.  The rest vs. rust can go either way.  In my experience, rust usually trumps rest but only for 1 game.  In this series or even the first game, I don't see it having a factor either way.

[Phantom255x]

Woj basically said on ESPN Embiid is "unlikely" to play tonight. Game 2 return possible as there's been some improvement.

[SparzWizard]

PHI hasn't played in over a week. I wonder if there's going to be a little rust from them tonight

Yeah, and there were reports that Harden was in Las Vegas.  The rest vs. rust can go either way.  In my experience, rust usually trumps rest but only for 1 game.  In this series or even the first game, I don't see it having a factor either way.

Series aren't won in Game 1 anyways as we've learned the nice way and hard way last season.

What I do want to see is this team setting the tone and treat every game like a Game 7 in this series and in the playoffs

[SHAQATTACK]

PHI hasn't played in over a week. I wonder if there's going to be a little rust from them tonight

I wouldn’t bank on it .

If there is previous effect , Philly had a easy series , where the Celtics had a better test  with a scrappy group of young guys , a nice tuneup

I think Jalen s injuries are much less worrying, he seems pumped for a battle …..a good thing for Boston. And short  rest helps Rob regroup too.

[Vermont Green]

I was perusing stats for the playoffs and I found it interesting that the team that had the slowest pace in round 1 was PHI at 90.5 possessions per game.  We were at 101.7 in our series vs. ATL.  I guess that is a way to protect Embiid, shorten the game, reduce the trips up and down the court for him.

Most everyone is saying that they like to see us push the pace, and that seems like it will be especially relevant in this series.  It has to be controlled pace though.  It doesn't mean to dribble down the court and take the first open shot.  But it does mean to continue to push.  Push the ball up the court, if no good shot is there right away, fine, start moving the ball, but keep up the pressure.  Get into whatever you are going to get into right away.  Transition from fast break to half court quickly.  The quicker you can do that, the harder on the defense.

[Vermont Green]

Double post, not sure how that happened.

[celticinorlando]

PHI hasn't played in over a week. I wonder if there's going to be a little rust from them tonight

I wouldn’t bank on it .

If there is previous effect , Philly had a easy series , where the Celtics had a better test  with a scrappy group of young guys , a nice tuneup

I think Jalen s injuries are much less worrying, he seems pumped for a battle …..a good thing for Boston. And short  rest helps Rob regroup too.

Well last year boston has the sweep vs the nets and promptly got the crap kicked out of them in game 1, at home vs Milwaukee. Bucks went 5 with the Bulls...

So I think a team like Philly might struggle tonight. I mean Harden is already out of playoff mode going to Vegas

[Phantom255x]

Embiid officially OUT tonight according to Woj and others

No excuses C’s

[Who]

Maxey is the guy that scares me. He is tough to slow down. We defend Harden & T Harris well. We defend Embiid well also. Maxey is more of a wild card who could off at any time and be the game-decider.