Embiid out game 1; will play Game 2

[Vermont Green]

Unless the Celts go stupid and chuck up 50 3-pointers having a very poor shooting night, I don't see how the Celts lose.  With Embiid out, the Celts ought to set a season low for 3-point attempts.  It ought to be a layup drill.

It will be interesting to see if PHI doubles Tatum like ATL often did.  That is what opened up a lot of cutting and driving to the basket.  Al was the key to this actually.  When he was in, ATL had to choose between staying with Al or rotating to defend the rim.  We were able to exploit either way, Al got shots or we got buckets at the rim.  The dynamic changed when RWill was in.  Easier for ATL to sag a defender at the rim.

Embiid is really good at defending at the rim, without fouling.  But if he is at the rim, Al can be open in the corner for a 3.  Or if Embiid has rotated off of RWill, the lob is an option.  The spread worked better vs. ATL when Capela was sagging to defend the rim.  Either Al was open or the lane was open.

[scaryjerry]

Celtics have a better chance winning the game if Embiid were to play…just my opinion.

Historically, maybe. This season Embiid has averaged 37/12/4 against us in 4 games, shooting 61% from the field. He also averages over 11 FTAs against us this season, at 87%. He has dominated us this season, including a 52 point game most recently in April.

I would rather not deal with that

What was our record against them with him averaging those numbers? Maybe that was our game plan? Let him get his and contain everyone else…either way I don’t want the Celtics to compete against a 6ers team without their best player…I take absolutely nothing from that and give them 0 credit for it.

I don't care who we compete against. I want the easiest route to the Finals possible. It is all about #18

Eh, I want banner 18 too but id prefer they earn it by beating fully healthy good teams.

I don't care one bit about that. You play who they put on the floor.

Fair enough, it’s a little sweeter beating teams at full strength imo and even last year hearing non stop how we would’ve lost the bucks series if kris Middleton was healthy was painfully annoying.
You’re not wrong at the end of the day all that matters is banner 18…just about every team that wins catches a break with another team having some sort of injury.

[hpantazo]

Celtics have a better chance winning the game if Embiid were to play…just my opinion.

Historically, maybe. This season Embiid has averaged 37/12/4 against us in 4 games, shooting 61% from the field. He also averages over 11 FTAs against us this season, at 87%. He has dominated us this season, including a 52 point game most recently in April.

I would rather not deal with that

What was our record against them with him averaging those numbers? Maybe that was our game plan? Let him get his and contain everyone else…either way I don’t want the Celtics to compete against a 6ers team without their best player…I take absolutely nothing from that and give them 0 credit for it.

I don't care who we compete against. I want the easiest route to the Finals possible. It is all about #18

Eh, I want banner 18 too but id prefer they earn it by beating fully healthy good teams.

I don't care one bit about that. You play who they put on the floor.

Fair enough, it’s a little sweeter beating teams at full strength imo and even last year hearing non stop how we would’ve lost the bucks series if kris Middleton was healthy was painfully annoying.
You’re not wrong at the end of the day all that matters is banner 18…just about every team that wins catches a break with another team having some sort of injury.

At the same time, nobody outside of Boston noticed or cared that we had an injured KG, Perk, Shaq, in the past, Rob Williams and Jaylen Brown in the recent past, etc. Take the opportunities that present themselves and make the most of it because it is rare to have a healthy team in position to win.

[angryguy77]

Celtics have a better chance winning the game if Embiid were to play…just my opinion.

Historically, maybe. This season Embiid has averaged 37/12/4 against us in 4 games, shooting 61% from the field. He also averages over 11 FTAs against us this season, at 87%. He has dominated us this season, including a 52 point game most recently in April.

I would rather not deal with that

What was our record against them with him averaging those numbers? Maybe that was our game plan? Let him get his and contain everyone else…either way I don’t want the Celtics to compete against a 6ers team without their best player…I take absolutely nothing from that and give them 0 credit for it.

I don't care who we compete against. I want the easiest route to the Finals possible. It is all about #18

Eh, I want banner 18 too but id prefer they earn it by beating fully healthy good teams.

I don't care one bit about that. You play who they put on the floor.

Fair enough, it’s a little sweeter beating teams at full strength imo and even last year hearing non stop how we would’ve lost the bucks series if kris Middleton was healthy was painfully annoying.
You’re not wrong at the end of the day all that matters is banner 18…just about every team that wins catches a break with another team having some sort of injury.

At the same time, nobody outside of Boston noticed or cared that we had an injured KG, Perk, Shaq, in the past, Rob Williams and Jaylen Brown in the recent past, etc. Take the opportunities that present themselves and make the most of it because it is rare to have a healthy team in position to win.

People also like to "forget" Bostin had Bias and Lewis die on them when talking about how the team only has one title since the 80's.

Feel's like if they don't put it together this year, it's going to take some time to get back there. Can't really explain it.

[kraidstar]

Celtics have a better chance winning the game if Embiid were to play…just my opinion.

Historically, maybe. This season Embiid has averaged 37/12/4 against us in 4 games, shooting 61% from the field. He also averages over 11 FTAs against us this season, at 87%. He has dominated us this season, including a 52 point game most recently in April.

I would rather not deal with that

What was our record against them with him averaging those numbers? Maybe that was our game plan? Let him get his and contain everyone else…either way I don’t want the Celtics to compete against a 6ers team without their best player…I take absolutely nothing from that and give them 0 credit for it.

I don't care who we compete against. I want the easiest route to the Finals possible. It is all about #18

Eh, I want banner 18 too but id prefer they earn it by beating fully healthy good teams.

I don't care one bit about that. You play who they put on the floor.

Fair enough, it’s a little sweeter beating teams at full strength imo and even last year hearing non stop how we would’ve lost the bucks series if kris Middleton was healthy was painfully annoying.
You’re not wrong at the end of the day all that matters is banner 18…just about every team that wins catches a break with another team having some sort of injury.

At the same time, nobody outside of Boston noticed or cared that we had an injured KG, Perk, Shaq, in the past, Rob Williams and Jaylen Brown in the recent past, etc. Take the opportunities that present themselves and make the most of it because it is rare to have a healthy team in position to win.

Agree. And has anyone stripped Giannis of his title for beating an injured Nets team? Or the bubble Lakers beating a heavily depleted Heat team? This happens literally every year.

[Phantom255x]

Embiid was in shootarounds this morning. So maybe he will play after all

[celticinorlando]

Shams said he had a PRP treatment. Went through parts of practice yesterday. Has a very serious LCL sprain...more than grade 1. He did not run up and down the court in practice yesterday.

Shams said it would be a miracle if he plays tonight.

[celticsclay]

Celtics have a better chance winning the game if Embiid were to play…just my opinion.

Historically, maybe. This season Embiid has averaged 37/12/4 against us in 4 games, shooting 61% from the field. He also averages over 11 FTAs against us this season, at 87%. He has dominated us this season, including a 52 point game most recently in April.

I would rather not deal with that

What was our record against them with him averaging those numbers? Maybe that was our game plan? Let him get his and contain everyone else…either way I don’t want the Celtics to compete against a 6ers team without their best player…I take absolutely nothing from that and give them 0 credit for it.

I don't care who we compete against. I want the easiest route to the Finals possible. It is all about #18

Eh, I want banner 18 too but id prefer they earn it by beating fully healthy good teams.

I don't care one bit about that. You play who they put on the floor.

Fair enough, it’s a little sweeter beating teams at full strength imo and even last year hearing non stop how we would’ve lost the bucks series if kris Middleton was healthy was painfully annoying.
You’re not wrong at the end of the day all that matters is banner 18…just about every team that wins catches a break with another team having some sort of injury.

To be fair you mostly heard that thing about Middleton from one poster that just posted it over and over and over again.

[celticinorlando]

Video of Embiid going through shoot around this morning...he can barely move and did not jump one time. Look very stiff. If he plays tonight he's going to be a liability for them.

[Silas]

My strongest desire is to see the Cs win #18.  I could not care less about Embiid's status.  The Celtics need to worry about playing strong defense and worry less about Philly's injuries.

[JohnBoy65]

Video of Embiid going through shoot around this morning...he can barely move and did not jump one time. Look very stiff. If he plays tonight he's going to be a liability for them.

If he plays tonight I hope we do the exact opposite of what the Knicks did after Butler's injury. That was coaching/offensive malpractice to not attack a severely limited Jimmy Butler. It should be a heavy dose of Horford or Grant PnRs with any of our wings/gaurds. Make him guard and make decisions every possession.

[celticinorlando]

Video of Embiid going through shoot around this morning...he can barely move and did not jump one time. Look very stiff. If he plays tonight he's going to be a liability for them.

If he plays tonight I hope we do the exact opposite of what the Knicks did after Butler's injury. That was coaching/offensive malpractice to not attack a severely limited Jimmy Butler. It should be a heavy dose of Horford or Grant PnRs with any of our wings/gaurds. Make him guard and make decisions every possession.

I would also run his butt up and down the floor. Wear him out.

[SparzWizard]

If he plays, just wear him out. Pound him in the paint. Let's see how well that knee keeps up. Playoff basketball!

[letsgoblue86]

I can answer for everyone wondering, he is not playing tonight.

[Kuberski33]

I'd rather he plays. Otherwise there's a better than good chance that we come out flat and don't play any defense.