76ers (3-3) at Celtics (3-3) Round 1 Game 7 5/2/26

[ozgod]

We started the series with a loss to Philly and going 0-3 and finished it going 0-3 with a loss to Philly 

[smicker16]

Appreciate JT coming back this season but for him to miss the most important game of the season with "knee stiffness" does not sit well.

This guy has played with a bad wrist, bad ankles, etc. Think him sitting tonight was odd.

Oh I have no doubt that he had no choice and the Celtics told him he could not play. If he got seriously hurt the Celtics would have been crucified. Most media people were saying he should not have played and honestly with how they have looked it was not worth the risk because they were not going to be able to be serious contenders. It sucks and that is why they should have wrapped it up in game 5. Incredibly frustrating but do not think we need to have conspiracy theories about Tatum not playing.

[jpotter33]

Appreciate JT coming back this season but for him to miss the most important game of the season with "knee stiffness" does not sit well.

This guy has played with a bad wrist, bad ankles, etc. Think him sitting tonight was odd.

Oh come on. He just came off a major, career-altering leg injury, and this is likely an overcompensation injury relating to that. If he was even sore, he should've sat out. This team wasn't going anywhere after the collapse we seen in the first six games. No reason to risk additional injuries for him.

[ozgod]

Joe says he wouldn?t change anything about the strategy because he liked the shots they got and the two on one matchups that they got but he didn?t like the result. He said where they lost was where the other team shot over 38% from three and they didn?t. Said they got some great looks but just didn?t make them.

[celticinorlando]

Rather would have tanked for this reason:

1. Get a really good pick

2. It would have made Brad make changes on the roster that impact winning. Now he might just run it back with this trash heap.

Pacers did it right. Tanked. Will get a top pick and traded for a LEGIT center.

[kraidstar]

Sixers fans chanting "we want Boston" as they leave the Garden.  Home court has been useless in the J's era.

The C's and Bruins went a combined 0-6 in the past week at TD Garden

That's actually embarassing to a historic level I feel lol...

At least the Bruins have the excuse that they're rebuilding. The C's have a bunch of seasoned vets and dog it when they get ahead. (Not that I have any faith in the Bruins rebuild - Jacobs will be happy just having a perennial playoff team that doesn'ttryly contend. Since Chata's retirement, that organization is allergic to playing tough hockey in their own end.)

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

Joe says he wouldn?t change anything about the strategy because he liked the shots they got and the two on one matchups that they got but he didn?t like the result. He said where they lost was where the other team shot over 38% from three and they didn?t. Said they got some great looks but just didn?t make them.

OMG run this moron out town on a rail.

u do not keep chucking threes when they are not hitting. does this moron even know WHAT A HIGH % PAINT Shot is? HFS!!!!!!!!

[ozgod]

Appreciate JT coming back this season but for him to miss the most important game of the season with "knee stiffness" does not sit well.

This guy has played with a bad wrist, bad ankles, etc. Think him sitting tonight was odd.

It?s because we as fans want our team to win every game, so he would probably take risks with players long term for the sake of winning one game but they need to manage their asset. According to Joe he was ruled out by the medical staff because they were concerned he could aggravate it.

[celticinorlando]

Appreciate JT coming back this season but for him to miss the most important game of the season with "knee stiffness" does not sit well.

This guy has played with a bad wrist, bad ankles, etc. Think him sitting tonight was odd.

Oh come on. He just came off a major, career-altering leg injury, and this is likely an overcompensation injury relating to that. If he was even sore, he should've sat out. This team wasn't going anywhere after the collapse we seen in the first six games. No reason to risk additional injuries for him.

Not disagreeing with you but when the coach AND player both come out multiple times and say he is playing and he is fine...and then all of the sudden he is out...just seems a bit off.

My point being is it more serious because JT plays hurt.

[SCeltic34]

It's alright, I'm at peace with the loss.  It doesn't bother me because I didn't expect much this year.  In fact it's liberating in a way because I don't have to watch Mazzula's offensive "scheme" in action anymore this year.

I look forward to Brad's decision making this offseason.  The trade for Vuc was a terrible one, but I still have a lot of faith in Brad.

[jpotter33]

https://x.com/NateDuncanNBA/status/2050758725078548547

Complete incompetence.

[kraidstar]

Rather would have tanked for this reason:

1. Get a really good pick

2. It would have made Brad make changes on the roster that impact winning. Now he might just run it back with this trash heap.

Pacers did it right. Tanked. Will get a top pick and traded for a LEGIT center.

Sixers tanked last year.

Looked like we were gonna tank too but we waited to tank until the first round if the playoffs. SMFH

[jpotter33]

Joe says he wouldn?t change anything about the strategy because he liked the shots they got and the two on one matchups that they got but he didn?t like the result. He said where they lost was where the other team shot over 38% from three and they didn?t. Said they got some great looks but just didn?t make them.

And that is the exact problem with Joe. He's an arrogant, dogmatic little man who made an extreme gamble, it screwed us early and made us expend a ton of energy and momentum to overcome it, and it clearly didn't work and wasn't the right call. There's a reason he's getting roasted all over social media.

[Muzzy66]

Simons for Vuc trade was an utter failure. Rather of had Simons

Vuc should not be back along with Sam, Walsh. I would try to move JB also.

We lost this series because we had too many guys playing hero ball, forcing up horrible low percentage shots.

You're kidding yourself if you think having Simons - a guy who's entire play style is playing hero ball and chucking low percentage shots - would have done anyting to make our team better in this series.

[President Red]

Appreciate JT coming back this season but for him to miss the most important game of the season with "knee stiffness" does not sit well.

This guy has played with a bad wrist, bad ankles, etc. Think him sitting tonight was odd.

My gut feeling? I think deep down they knew Tatum was gonna also miss most of next round, if not the entire postseason. Because I agree, I don't see why JT would just sit out a Game 7 but then be available next round early on. I think he got hurt and was gonna miss time.

Kind of reminds me of the 2023 ECF Game 7. Even if they won that night, Tatum's ankle sprain may have kept him out the first 2-3 games of the Finals.

I expect that we will find out soon that this was the situation.  Somebody earlier in the thread suggested that Tatum was "pulling a Kyrie" by not playing.  I find it very difficult to believe that Tatum did all that he did to come back -- and to come back strong -- this season, but sat out a Game 7 on a judgment call.  He must be more significantly injured than we've been told so far.

Speaking of injuries, how may games against NY will Embid play?  I'm guessing three at most before the inevitable problems. 

When semi-healthy, he's a really bad matchup for just about any team, much less one with untested or poor defensive centers.  We were particularly vulnerable to exactly that kind of player, and when our offense is off in several games, it's not surprising that he steamrolled us, even setting aside the absurdly soft fouls he is gifted.