Love it! I really enjoy our rivalry with the Sixers! I bet it's gonna be a fun series to watch!
Problem is, we have no answer for Embiid.
- Theis ain't big/strong enough.
- Timelord ain't experienced/strong enough.
- Kanter ain't mobile enough. He's next to useless at defending the pick n roll/pop. He cannot follow Embiid on the perimeter.
The Sixers are no pushovers. They are a bad fit for the C's. Not to mention, they'll have the best player on the court in Embiid. If it weren't for Simmons' injury, I believe both teams would have had an even chance of winning the series. Now that Simmons is injured, I'm confident that we'll get the job done.
Celtics in 6
Basketball is a team game, and they have no answer to our perimeter players - they really only have Richardson and Thybulle. I'd be very surprised if they manage to take one game off us, ntm two.
To put it another way, they have no answer assuming we exclude 2 answers: Thybulle and Richardson. Sounds legit.
Btw, what do you mean "only" Thybulle and Richardson? Thybulle is a pest on D! One of the best perimeter defenders around the league. JRich is a terrific defender as well.
We have 4 options though? They have no answer to guarding all 4 of our main offensive options, "sounds legit" that you think 2 answers can deal with 4 questions
"Only" as in 2 great perimeter defenders are not enough for them.
3/5 of their starting lineup are plus defenders (JRich, Horford, Embiid). They also got an elite defender coming off the bench in Thybulle.
No team around the league starts 4 great defenders at the guards+wings positions. You said it yourself: basketball is a team game. I mean, it's not like the rest of their players are cones on defense.
Losing Simmons is a massive blow for them on the defensive side of the ball. Having said that, I would argue that Thybulle is an elite perimeter defender. Imo, him and Smart are the 2 best defensive guards in the NBA.
The way I see it, Philly's #1 problem is at the PG position. Milton ain't a playoff-caliber starting PG. He ain't even a PG to begin with. It seems to me that most of their players are playing hero ball. There is not enough passing in their starting unit. Embiid might be their only starter with a clear identifiable role. If you ask me, they desperately need a legit PG.