1st Round - Celtics at Philly

[hodgy03038]

I feel that Philly will pass Indy and we will be playing at Indy to start the playoffs. Personally, despite Kyrie's confidence I am not sure we can beat either team without home court. It seems that even when they play hard or play with heart they come up just short. And when they don't they get beat by ANYBODY. That being said, I think if we are 1 and out I think Kyrie is out and will be no AD. That might be okay but we will be back to where we were 2 years ago. Imagine the Knicks becoming a rival that we hate with Durant & Kyrie & whoever they draft or trade for. If we don't go all the way to the finals and right now I can't see it - then this will become a disaster.

[KGBirdBias]

I think the games will slow down and be different when Stevens has a chance to gameplan in game 3 and 4 for a team.

This team will have a lot of experience and shouldn't get shook by the big stage. Kyrie just can't be in get 40 every night mode.

[Celtics4ever]

I think we can clobber Philly still!

Given what we have seen of Kyrie this year, I don't think Durant and Kyrie equals a winner.   If he thinks the media here is rough, he will really hate NYC!

[moiso]

I think we can clobber Philly still!

Given what we have seen of Kyrie this year, I don't think Durant and Kyrie equals a winner.   If he thinks the media here is rough, he will really hate NYC!

The Knicks better win it in year one with those two because Irving eventually becomes a malcontent in every situation.  The same stuff that’s happening with us would happen with the Knicks.

[alt]

Only Milwaukee and Toronto are good enough to challenge Boston in the East.

Philadelphia is always permeable to teams that can pull Embiid away from the basket, manage to stop their transition game and are long/active on defense to punish all their overpassing. More lenient officiating in the playoffs is another problem for them - hugely dependent on Embiid/Ben Simons drawing fouls inside. Boston has Horford and all the long athletic guys on the perimeter: tough matchup for Philly.

I don't think Harris improved Philadelphia. He's another defensive liability on their starting 5 - not just Redick to hide now - are there enough shots for all of them?

Suspect bench too. They were playing Marjanovic as Embiid's backup - not an attenable strategy for a playoffs series. Amir Johnson looks finished. The Aussie kid is very green and his 3pt seems to be behind schedule. Only Mike Scott is a half decent backup big.

Philadelphia would be scarier if they featured a more simplistic offense. All guys just playing pick'n'rolls off of each other. As it is, too much passing. Too much in and out. Too many post-ups featuring Embiid and Simmons.

[gpap]

I'm resigned to the fact that nothing dramatic is going to change from now until the end of the regular season. Start preparing some other guys besides Hayward. Stevens  may have to remove him from the rotation if he doesn't get right.

I would like to see Williams get major mins. Semi start to get more mins.

Start Brown, sit Horford, Tatum and Kyrie sparlingly so we don't get any major injuries.

Maybe during the West Coast road trip they will do some team bonding things.

Stevens may do better when he only has to prepare for one team over a 2 week period in a series.

What does the team have to gain by benching it's best players? They should be looking to keep playing and get into some kind of groove, not sit on bench and keep falling in the standings.

I don't see how giving major minutes to Robin Williams and Semi Ojeleye helps us in that regard.

[nostar]

I'd prefer Indiana in the first, not because we couldn't beat Philly, but because Philly might give Toronto a run in the 2nd round. Ideally we beat Indiana, then Milwaukee, then Philly, then Golden State. Toronto is the east team I'd like to avoid if possible.

[ederson]

I think they’ve known this for a while. Plan for Philly or Indiana and hope Milwaukee finishes No1 so we play them instead of Toronto if we get to the 2nd round.

I d like to think that this is the case altough i don't like this kind of thiking. But TBH we play more like a 4-5th seed team rather than a 2-3 seed that tries to get a more favorable playoff matchup