Celtics (2-1) at 76ers (1-2) Round 1 Game 4 4/26/26

[slamtheking]

Embiid had 26/10/6 and the Sixers lost by 32. That's CRAZY

They looked absolutely terrible with Embiid in the game. Felt like the Celtics could have put him in the pick and roll even more than they did, but they stopped in the second half as a mercy to the tortured Sixer fans.

Their offense looked sluggish. All the players second guessed where they should be and what they should do with him out there. Players were in the same spots, cutting to the same areas, and running into each other.

That Sixers team needs to trade Embiid for whatever they can get this off-season, and then rebuild around the speed and tempo of Edgecomb and Maxey.

Completely agree.

but, but , but you can't give up the Process already!!  Embiid's the last piece of that.  The Process is going to work at some point you just have to give it more time! 

[Vermont Green]

I don't see how anyone could have expected Embiid to play any better than he did.  He will probably be a little better next game, but not enough better to change things all that much.  If BOS plays well, plays their game, they win.

As to our bigs, I was surprised to see Garza get as many minutes as he did.  The three big rotation worked pretty well:

Queta     17.4 Minutes
Vucevic   18.9 Minutes
Garza     10.9 Minutes

Only 0.8 minutes with none of these 3 on the floor.  These 3 combined for 16 pts and 19 rebs (4 ORebs).  Also 11 fouls but just 1 turnover.  Garza and Vucevic can hit the 3 so the defense has to adjust.  Queta protects the paint much better.  I like how they are managing this rotation.

[SparzWizard]

Last night was ecstatic that even Max Shulga wanted some smoke with the 3 party.

[Amonkey]

I don't see how anyone could have expected Embiid to play any better than he did.  He will probably be a little better next game, but not enough better to change things all that much.  If BOS plays well, plays their game, they win.

As to our bigs, I was surprised to see Garza get as many minutes as he did.  The three big rotation worked pretty well:

Queta     17.4 Minutes
Vucevic   18.9 Minutes
Garza     10.9 Minutes

Only 0.8 minutes with none of these 3 on the floor.  These 3 combined for 16 pts and 19 rebs (4 ORebs).  Also 11 fouls but just 1 turnover.  Garza and Vucevic can hit the 3 so the defense has to adjust.  Queta protects the paint much better.  I like how they are managing this rotation.

I think with Queta getting in foul trouble and I thought Vucevic also got in foul trouble, that opened the door for Garza and he did a good job when he was out on the floor. Mazulla does deserve credit for developing players and keeping them ready for when the times comes.

[Celtics4ever]

At times, I thought we played a little too much hero ball but in the end it worked.   Great play from a lot of guys and several guys stepping up refusing to loose.   

Embiid coming back hurt them a lot.  Gone was all the drives and speed that gave us problems.   They force fed him and it hurt their rhythm badly.  It took away what was giving us problems and gave us the three quarters of good play, and a complete collapse in the fourth which has been a hall mark of Embiid's career against us.    I hope he plays again for our sake.   He is not their best player.  It was sickening to see all the production subsidies the refs gave him in terms of free throw attempts.

Go Celtics!

[SHAQATTACK]

TP ?..NATURE BOY IS PUMPED! 

[Who]

with Embiid = 24 wins 14 losses (52 win pace)
without Embiid = 21 wins 23 losses (39 win pace)

There are some chemistry issues there between the guard dominated offense without Embiid to the halfcourt offense with Embiid but Philly are still (generally speaking) much better off with Embiid.

Thankfully for us Embiid is not in shape after his injury layoff + he matches up badly defensively against our offensive weapons. Too much perimeter offense that requires him to play further away from the rim defensively which he is bad at.

[Celtics4ever]

I have seen that stat but has Philly ever gave us much trouble the last two games? The answer is no.

Their speed was killing us, our big men could not stay in front of guys.  Not the case the last game at all.  They played slower, did not run and the whole game was more manageable.  They changed what is working to what works for Embiid.  Maxey is the best player on the team now.

He can't four quarters when he is in shape.   Too many injuries, have killed his game.

Joel Embiid averaged 5.3 points, 1.5 rebounds and 0.6 assists in 33 games in the fourth quarter this season.

https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/joel-embiid-fourth-quarter-stats

His performance drops in the second half and has for years.

It is so bad he sometimes sits out the fourth quarter.  Now, I wish ill health on no one, but his career has been marred by injuries.   

Player          Games Played    4th quarters sat    % 4th quarters sat
Joel Embiid          27                     9                        33.3%