76ers (0-0) at Celtics (0-0) Round 1 Game 1 4/19/26

[SparzWizard]

I can?t understand Vuc. Has he regressed or was Chicago just force feeding him in the post? He?s supposed to be a good fit with how Boston plays but so far he?s struggled. Perhaps he hasn?t settled in with his role yet.

I agree about Vooch that he still looks uncomfortable out there. I know he was very good with Chicago but he's not agressive here and doesn't look confident. He seems a littl e better lately but I still have more confidence in Garza in gettingrebounds and giving 100% effort and he is confident in taking 3s.

 I know because of the injury timing and when JT came back that he had no time to work on timing with JT which hurts.  I am happy though to see that Mazulla wasn't afraid to play Garza early and it paid off.

Maybe there's too many mouths to feed in the paint. JT, Queta, Garza. Guys who can grab rebounds. Maybe a logjam at the bigs position. But he's probably had about a dozen games with the Celtics and slowly ramping up, fitting in etc

[Vermont Green]

I can't understand Vuc. Has he regressed or was Chicago just force feeding him in the post? He's supposed to be a good fit with how Boston plays but so far he's struggled. Perhaps he hasn't settled in with his role yet.

I agree about Vooch that he still looks uncomfortable out there. I know he was very good with Chicago but he's not aggressive here and doesn't look confident. He seems a little better lately but I still have more confidence in Garza in getting rebounds and giving 100% effort and he is confident in taking 3s.

 I know because of the injury timing and when JT came back that he had no time to work on timing with JT which hurts.  I am happy though to see that Mazzulla wasn't afraid to play Garza early and it paid off.

I see Vucevic as the type of player that can put up numbers on a bad team but change the context and he is not going to compile the same kinds of numbers.  I think he is doing OK.  He is definitely adjusting, that is clear, and the injury did not help, but even with that, he has been productive for the team, even if has looked a little choppy at times.

His net rating in the regular season was +10.3 in 16 games, about 21 minutes per game.  About 10 pts, 6.5 rebs for the box score stats.  34% from 3.  He was +13 in his one playoff game (NRtg of 38.2 for those who like that stat); 3 pts, 6 rebs, 3 assts, in 17.5 minutes.  I guess you want to see more points but he is focusing on screening and rebounding.  Plus 3 assists.  I think he will have better games but even if he gives us about this every game, I see that as a big plus.

[Celtics4ever]

I read the 76ers did not think they were physical enough with us.   They were getting away with pulling jerseys, holding guys, and uncalled flagrant elbows.  How much more physical can they get? 

Coach Mazz was happy with him:

?I thought Vuc was great tonight, and he did the things that we expected of him,? Mazzulla praised. ?He took some open shots. He protected the rim, and kept [Andre] Drummond and [Adem] Bona off the glass in spots where the other guys were responsible for getting rebounds. You don't get credit when you keep your guy from getting it and someone else comes in and gets the rebound. So at the end of day, we?ve got to do what it takes to win. You know, using everybody that we can. He did a great job on that tonight.?

https://hardwoodhoudini.com/nikola-vucevic-flashed-skill-could-key-celtics-playoff-hopes-game-1

We also need his six fouls, with Nemi and Garza playing the rotation.