Celtics (43-17) at 76ers (39-19) Game #61 2/25/23

[PAOBoston]

Missed the game last night but watched the highlights this AM. Looked like JB/White/Horford carried the team through 3 quarters and then JT brought it home in the 4th.

Saw Embiid hit a 3/4 quarter length heave that didn’t count. I am terrified and concerned about this trend vs the Cs. I know it didn’t count but opponents seem to have a penchant for hitting these half court shots vs the Cs at an alarming rate lol. I feel like it has happened like 5 times this year.

[Roy H.]

Don't know the exact stat, but just heard this on NBATV:

Since 1996 when they started tracking this, of all 155 players with 25 fga or more in clutch situations, Tatum is number one in that group. Unclear if that's fg%, number of makes, or what, but my goodness what a stat.

Here’s the stat. Amazing.

https://twitter.com/tucker_tnl/status/1629699311331078145?s=46&t=CY9XkrkkryWTNItcLprnsg

Updated: Since the NBA started tracking play-by-play data in 1996, there are 155 players who have attempted 25+ FGs to tie or take the lead in the final 24 seconds of the 4th quarter (playoffs included).

Jayson Tatum ranks 1st out of 155 with a 51.7% field goal percentage.

Anything over 50% is wild.  So many of those shots are contested or with minimal time on the clock.

And yet I’ve seen a lot of people on this board claim Tatum isn’t clutch. Cmon now! JT is a stone cold killer at the end of games

I remember Kyrie pouting when Hayward passed to an open JT for a game winner.  He missed, but it was the right shot. 

[Celtics2021]

Don't know the exact stat, but just heard this on NBATV:

Since 1996 when they started tracking this, of all 155 players with 25 fga or more in clutch situations, Tatum is number one in that group. Unclear if that's fg%, number of makes, or what, but my goodness what a stat.

Here’s the stat. Amazing.

https://twitter.com/tucker_tnl/status/1629699311331078145?s=46&t=CY9XkrkkryWTNItcLprnsg

Updated: Since the NBA started tracking play-by-play data in 1996, there are 155 players who have attempted 25+ FGs to tie or take the lead in the final 24 seconds of the 4th quarter (playoffs included).

Jayson Tatum ranks 1st out of 155 with a 51.7% field goal percentage.

Anything over 50% is wild.  So many of those shots are contested or with minimal time on the clock.

And yet I’ve seen a lot of people on this board claim Tatum isn’t clutch. Cmon now! JT is a stone cold killer at the end of games

I remember Kyrie pouting when Hayward passed to an open JT for a game winner.  He missed, but it was the right shot.

I remember that too.  I want to say it was vs. the Knicks.

[Phantom255x]

Sixer fans saying they are not worried about Boston after tonight. Boston played about a B- or C game and still won.

Philly fans in all sports are just idiots.

That city is home to the worst fans in sports, period

Jaylen said postgame that when they were entering the arena, PHI fans were saying they hoped he "tore his ACL"  during the game. It's all over social media and the news too.

Also, I'm reading some of Liberty Ballers and Sixers Reddit, and LOL I can't. These people actually think the refs helped the C's in the 4th and that they didn't get enough calls. I just can't 

A 35-12 FT difference, and Embiid basically being gifted FTs down the stretch (as usual) 

[W8ting2McHale]

Don't know the exact stat, but just heard this on NBATV:

Since 1996 when they started tracking this, of all 155 players with 25 fga or more in clutch situations, Tatum is number one in that group. Unclear if that's fg%, number of makes, or what, but my goodness what a stat.

Here’s the stat. Amazing.

https://twitter.com/tucker_tnl/status/1629699311331078145?s=46&t=CY9XkrkkryWTNItcLprnsg

Updated: Since the NBA started tracking play-by-play data in 1996, there are 155 players who have attempted 25+ FGs to tie or take the lead in the final 24 seconds of the 4th quarter (playoffs included).

Jayson Tatum ranks 1st out of 155 with a 51.7% field goal percentage.

Anything over 50% is wild.  So many of those shots are contested or with minimal time on the clock.

And yet I’ve seen a lot of people on this board claim Tatum isn’t clutch. Cmon now! JT is a stone cold killer at the end of games

All that Kobe worship early in his career ruined Tatum. Everyone knows a Tatum iso is coming because he only knows how to play hero ball.. Lol.

[No Nickname]

I haven't looked back at the previous posts, but has anyone noted that Tatum's last-second shot shouldn't have counted?

He didn't establish both feet (only one) in the front court when he received the pass from Marcus Smart. 

It should have been a backcourt violation.  Unless the NBA has a different rule than college or HS?

[Vermont Green]

My final conclusion from the game is that we won, in spite of Embiid being otherworldly, in spite of Tatum and a few others not playing nearly their best games.  In a convoluted logic sort of way, that is a good indicator of just how good a team we are.

I look at it more that we "got away" with playing less than our best.  We can't expect to "get away with it" on a regular basis.  We need to play better if we want to keep the #1 seed, which I think is important.

[Celtics2021]

I am starting to think White has more of a case of starting than Smart, or at least playing more minutes. Smart is probably our best defender BUT he is limited on offense, whereas White can play solid defense AND be a huge impact on offense. Not just with scoring, but the overall decision-making where at times Smart has been dreadful since coming back

I will keep saying it until it happens — the starting lineup should be Smart-White-Brown-Tatum and whomever is feeling spryer of Rob and Al.

I’d also love to see a Smart-White-Brogdon-Brown-Tatum closing lineup at some point.  I think that could resemble the Warriors lineup of death from a few years ago.  We’ve only had 3 minutes of it this season, but it’s had a +25 net rating, so it deserves another appearance.

[GreenEnvy]

My final conclusion from the game is that we won, in spite of Embiid being otherworldly, in spite of Tatum and a few others not playing nearly their best games.  In a convoluted logic sort of way, that is a good indicator of just how good a team we are.

I look at it more that we "got away" with playing less than our best.  We can't expect to "get away with it" on a regular basis.  We need to play better if we want to keep the #1 seed, which I think is important.

After the last game against Philly, I thought the same thing. Tatum finished with like a dozen points, Brown didn’t return for the second half, and already missing 60% of our starters. And we still won.

Last night we had guy struggling, and still pulled it out in the road. Battled back from down 15, went up by double digits, gave that away. Hit the big shots and made some key stops.

After how we played against Milwaukee without our entire starting lineup, I think teams are starting to realize we don’t need our A-game to beat the other contenders.

[jpotter33]

Don't know the exact stat, but just heard this on NBATV:

Since 1996 when they started tracking this, of all 155 players with 25 fga or more in clutch situations, Tatum is number one in that group. Unclear if that's fg%, number of makes, or what, but my goodness what a stat.

Here’s the stat. Amazing.

https://twitter.com/tucker_tnl/status/1629699311331078145?s=46&t=CY9XkrkkryWTNItcLprnsg

Updated: Since the NBA started tracking play-by-play data in 1996, there are 155 players who have attempted 25+ FGs to tie or take the lead in the final 24 seconds of the 4th quarter (playoffs included).

Jayson Tatum ranks 1st out of 155 with a 51.7% field goal percentage.

Anything over 50% is wild.  So many of those shots are contested or with minimal time on the clock.

And yet I’ve seen a lot of people on this board claim Tatum isn’t clutch. Cmon now! JT is a stone cold killer at the end of games

I remember Kyrie pouting when Hayward passed to an open JT for a game winner.  He missed, but it was the right shot.

I remember that too.  I want to say it was vs. the Knicks.

Magic, if I remember right.

https://youtu.be/JTq0Qxgvo38

[Sophomore]

I am starting to think White has more of a case of starting than Smart, or at least playing more minutes. Smart is probably our best defender BUT he is limited on offense, whereas White can play solid defense AND be a huge impact on offense. Not just with scoring, but the overall decision-making where at times Smart has been dreadful since coming back

I will keep saying it until it happens — the starting lineup should be Smart-White-Brown-Tatum and whomever is feeling spryer of Rob and Al.

I’d also love to see a Smart-White-Brogdon-Brown-Tatum closing lineup at some point.  I think that could resemble the Warriors lineup of death from a few years ago.  We’ve only had 3 minutes of it this season, but it’s had a +25 net rating, so it deserves another appearance.

Be interesting to see that group, but what do they do against Philly or Milwaukee when they have to defend Embiid, Giannis, Lopez?  You might be giving up a lot of easy buckets or taking fouls. GSW needed Draymond, who was not just a pest but a physical freak and a defensive savant. If smart was six inches taller I’d be for it, but this worries me.

[jpotter33]

Sixer fans saying they are not worried about Boston after tonight. Boston played about a B- or C game and still won.

Philly fans in all sports are just idiots.

That city is home to the worst fans in sports, period

Jaylen said postgame that when they were entering the arena, PHI fans were saying they hoped he "tore his ACL"  during the game. It's all over social media and the news too.

Also, I'm reading some of Liberty Ballers and Sixers Reddit, and LOL I can't. These people actually think the refs helped the C's in the 4th and that they didn't get enough calls. I just can't 

A 35-12 FT difference, and Embiid basically being gifted FTs down the stretch (as usual) 

Eh, I don’t know about Reddit, but I didn’t see much ref blaming on LB, as there’s just no reasonable justification for that.

What I did see is a bunch of them feeling encouraged after the loss, which I found astounding. Neither of the Jays made their average points, with JT having one of his worst nights ever. We played mediocre to poor overall, and for the most part Philly played really well and had a major advantage in officiating, while being at home.

Not exactly sure how you can come away confident from that. Yes, Embiid looks dominant enough to get his, but I think Joe’s gameplan was smart in that respect to let him get his and try to limit everyone else. They just don’t have enough around him to make it work against us.

All that said, I think I still definitely prefer a Cavs, Nets, or NYK second round opponent than the Sixers. I think the top three teams are locked in now, with only who is going to be 1 up for stake. It will be imperative to keep that seeding moving forward to make it as easy as possible for ourselves.

[Celtics2021]

I am starting to think White has more of a case of starting than Smart, or at least playing more minutes. Smart is probably our best defender BUT he is limited on offense, whereas White can play solid defense AND be a huge impact on offense. Not just with scoring, but the overall decision-making where at times Smart has been dreadful since coming back

I will keep saying it until it happens — the starting lineup should be Smart-White-Brown-Tatum and whomever is feeling spryer of Rob and Al.

I’d also love to see a Smart-White-Brogdon-Brown-Tatum closing lineup at some point.  I think that could resemble the Warriors lineup of death from a few years ago.  We’ve only had 3 minutes of it this season, but it’s had a +25 net rating, so it deserves another appearance.

Be interesting to see that group, but what do they do against Philly or Milwaukee when they have to defend Embiid, Giannis, Lopez?  You might be giving up a lot of easy buckets or taking fouls. GSW needed Draymond, who was not just a pest but a physical freak and a defensive savant. If smart was six inches taller I’d be for it, but this worries me.

At the end of the game I think it would work.  Embiid particularly tends to start trending towards jumpers at the end of the game, rather than working the paint, and to a lesser degree the same is true of Lopez and Giannis.  It’s not something I’d try early in the game, but at the end of it when they’re tired after having played 44 minutes with Al, Rob, and Grant wearing them down, they might be more willing to settle, at which point the speed of that three guard lineup would be able to compete defensively, and would burn them offensively.

[Vermont Green]

I am starting to think White has more of a case of starting than Smart, or at least playing more minutes. Smart is probably our best defender BUT he is limited on offense, whereas White can play solid defense AND be a huge impact on offense. Not just with scoring, but the overall decision-making where at times Smart has been dreadful since coming back

I will keep saying it until it happens — the starting lineup should be Smart-White-Brown-Tatum and whomever is feeling spryer of Rob and Al.

I’d also love to see a Smart-White-Brogdon-Brown-Tatum closing lineup at some point.  I think that could resemble the Warriors lineup of death from a few years ago.  We’ve only had 3 minutes of it this season, but it’s had a +25 net rating, so it deserves another appearance.

That 4 man unit was used for 1.7 min against PHI with Horford, for a net of 0.0.  On the season, that 4 man with Horford is +73 in 283 minutes.  With Griffin, +26 in 56 min.  With Grant, -4 in 35 min.  And -10 in 3 min with Rob Williams.

[Celtics2021]

I am starting to think White has more of a case of starting than Smart, or at least playing more minutes. Smart is probably our best defender BUT he is limited on offense, whereas White can play solid defense AND be a huge impact on offense. Not just with scoring, but the overall decision-making where at times Smart has been dreadful since coming back

I will keep saying it until it happens — the starting lineup should be Smart-White-Brown-Tatum and whomever is feeling spryer of Rob and Al.

I’d also love to see a Smart-White-Brogdon-Brown-Tatum closing lineup at some point.  I think that could resemble the Warriors lineup of death from a few years ago.  We’ve only had 3 minutes of it this season, but it’s had a +25 net rating, so it deserves another appearance.

That 4 man unit was used for 1.7 min against PHI with Horford, for a net of 0.0.  On the season, that 4 man with Horford is +73 in 283 minutes.  With Griffin, +26 in 56 min.  With Grant, -4 in 35 min.  And -10 in 3 min with Rob Williams.

For further context, that +73 works out for a 13.1 net rating on the season, which is 3rd in the NBA for any lineup with at least as many minutes as it’s played, and 4th for any lineup with at least 200 minutes.  I don’t know if you were objecting to that lineup or not, but it’s been very successful on the year.  I think it would also work with Rob, depending how Rob is feeling on a given day.

I don’t like it with Grant, and despite being a Grant supporter, wouldn’t suggest him as the 5th man in that lineup.