Celtics (8-2) at 76ers (9-2) Game #11 11/10/26

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

hugo gets the TOMMY AWARD for tonight

[LatterDayCelticsfan]

Jaylen finished a -27

I still hated the trade and frankly, IF they were gonna trade him I'd have wanted them to trade him + others for Giannis (didn't realize they'd trade Jaylen anyways even if Giannis fell through). But tonight did feel a bit similar to some of these Game 7s we've seen from Jaylen in the past with the turnovers, poor decisions and subpar defense. When teams put some pressure on him defensively he has trouble, and the C's are capable of doing that too.

Sixers are a loaded team but I also think Embiid is a big part of that. When he's not playing or sits, they are a bit more exposed and Lebron at his age isn't capable of playing center minutes either especially on defense. Frontcourt gets thin fast for them.

we hated the trade because we did not get long term value back. we all wanted giannis. is PG a welcome surprise since he is not who we wanted? yes. but this is real short term especially at his age and injuries.  i canot see brad not shipping PG off to get something in return before he is done for good. that is my deep concern

even if he did, PG would probably be only worth a late first rounder... Squeezing out the last of him for this year and next or trading him for someone like Ausar Thompson (with several picks going the other way, obv), might be the only move.

I was pretty sure they had a proper 7ft big on the roster to back up Embiid. Maybe they pick someone up by the deadline who can preserve some sense of defensive integrity when Embiid sits.

[GreenEnvy]

Jaylen finished a -27

I still hated the trade and frankly, IF they were gonna trade him I'd have wanted them to trade him + others for Giannis (didn't realize they'd trade Jaylen anyways even if Giannis fell through). But tonight did feel a bit similar to some of these Game 7s we've seen from Jaylen in the past with the turnovers, poor decisions and subpar defense. When teams put some pressure on him defensively he has trouble, and the C's are capable of doing that too.

Sixers are a loaded team but I also think Embiid is a big part of that. When he's not playing or sits, they are a bit more exposed and Lebron at his age isn't capable of playing center minutes either especially on defense. Frontcourt gets thin fast for them.

we hated the trade because we did not get long term value back. we all wanted giannis. is PG a welcome surprise since he is not who we wanted? yes. but this is real short term especially at his age and injuries.  i canot see brad not shipping PG off to get something in return before he is done for good. that is my deep concern

How did Brad not get back long term value with the Clippers pick?

Giving up Brown AND picks for an older (albeit better) player is the opposite of long term value.

Brad went out and got what he felt was the better fit next to Tatum AND got as valuable a future pick as there is out there. There might not be a single pick I would trade that one for. And now PG13 is looking really good in green.

I was a fan of the deal (trust Brad) from the get and early returns confirm that belief.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

Checking Sixers forums after we play them is always a joy of mine.

Surprisingly, many of them are optimistic, primarily pointing back to the playoff series last year when they beat us. It feels like the injuries last year and new players on the Cs aren't enough to scare them.

There's a lot of talk about our shooting against them too. The classic "If they shot a lesser percentage we would have won." Two obvious problems with that is: 1) Yeah, it's a make or miss league, and the Knicks won a championship last year shooting ridiculous percentages, and 2) The reason we shot so well is because so many of our looks were open. That's a problem with their defense, not our offense.

After years of reading their saltiness because we had their number in big games, I was a bit disappointed to once again seen optimism in their threads. That won't do.

[Muzzy66]

Just catching up - did they acknowledge each other pre-game??

JB acted like a...well can't say it here.

Jaylen Brown  ..........  What an immature jerk. Cannot say I'm surprised, though. Everything was always about him.

No ill will against Jaylen. Still think he's a decent human and a good basketball player. But much like we all fell in love with Marcus Smart too easily, we need to realize that guys who shoot around 35% or less from 3 and below average eFG (for the last 4 years anyway), can be a liability if they have a little bad stretch, especially in the playoffs.

PG looking like he might even be due another mid-level contract just quietly... if he stays healthy, is 2y and 15 per an overpay?

Good basketball player, yes. 

Decent human...jury has been out on that one for many years if you ask me.  I've seen more than enough from him to call that into question.

[Goldstar88]

Just catching up - did they acknowledge each other pre-game??

JB acted like a...well can't say it here.

Jaylen Brown  ..........  What an immature jerk. Cannot say I'm surprised, though. Everything was always about him.

No ill will against Jaylen. Still think he's a decent human and a good basketball player. But much like we all fell in love with Marcus Smart too easily, we need to realize that guys who shoot around 35% or less from 3 and below average eFG (for the last 4 years anyway), can be a liability if they have a little bad stretch, especially in the playoffs.

PG looking like he might even be due another mid-level contract just quietly... if he stays healthy, is 2y and 15 per an overpay?

Good basketball player, yes. 

Decent human...jury has been out on that one for many years if you ask me.  I've seen more than enough from him to call that into question.

JB seems really immature for a 30 year old. A bit selfish and tone deaf at times. I still think he is a decent person, though. What makes you think otherwise?

[SparzWizard]

Checking Sixers forums after we play them is always a joy of mine.

Surprisingly, many of them are optimistic, primarily pointing back to the playoff series last year when they beat us. It feels like the injuries last year and new players on the Cs aren't enough to scare them.

There's a lot of talk about our shooting against them too. The classic "If they shot a lesser percentage we would have won." Two obvious problems with that is: 1) Yeah, it's a make or miss league, and the Knicks won a championship last year shooting ridiculous percentages, and 2) The reason we shot so well is because so many of our looks were open. That's a problem with their defense, not our offense.

After years of reading their saltiness because we had their number in big games, I was a bit disappointed to once again seen optimism in their threads. That won't do.

Sixers didn't beat the Celtics last year. They beat themselves. They were up 3-1, and had a double-digit lead in Game 5 at home before the inevitable collapse.

If Sixers fans like the history channel, then the Celtics have belted the Sixers in the playoffs many times even when they had that superteam with Al Horford/Jimmy Butler or with James Harden.

They'll soon know why I hate Jaylen Brown on the basketball court, and they've seen glimpses of it tonight. Glad we got rid of this turnover bum

[SparzWizard]

watched on delay.  tonight's hot takes:
- Tatum, PG and PP played great.  great shooting from them on a night when we really needed it with Philly getting a ridiculous amount of love from the refs.  Hauser with a great shooting night too
- team's collapse in the third to allow a tie was nerve-racking but they responded in fantastic fashion by blowing them out.
- rest of the team was pretty solid but MRob hands to start the game were awful.
- JB was trying too hard to make a statement this game and it went badly.  he'll put together a massive game against us at some point this season.
- Maxey is the prime player for Philly.  everyone else, including JB, have to play as his support.  that'll be the key to how far they go this season.

have to say, the way JB blew off Tatum in pregame with not reacting to the hug was bush-league.  gave him the benefit of the doubt with all this offseason crap but that really knocked him down a number of pegs in my eye.  it's a shame.  this brought me around to preferring having PG on the team instead of JB which is sad.

JB is a clsoe follower of Kyrie. Both are one and the same. Treat Brown like how we treat Kyrie. That is the mission.

[soulman]

PG 💪🏻 this trade wasn't so bad ha?

[Kernewek]

Jaylen finished a -27

I still hated the trade and frankly, IF they were gonna trade him I'd have wanted them to trade him + others for Giannis (didn't realize they'd trade Jaylen anyways even if Giannis fell through). But tonight did feel a bit similar to some of these Game 7s we've seen from Jaylen in the past with the turnovers, poor decisions and subpar defense. When teams put some pressure on him defensively he has trouble, and the C's are capable of doing that too.

Sixers are a loaded team but I also think Embiid is a big part of that. When he's not playing or sits, they are a bit more exposed and Lebron at his age isn't capable of playing center minutes either especially on defense. Frontcourt gets thin fast for them.

we hated the trade because we did not get long term value back. we all wanted giannis. is PG a welcome surprise since he is not who we wanted? yes. but this is real short term especially at his age and injuries.  i canot see brad not shipping PG off to get something in return before he is done for good. that is my deep concern

How did Brad not get back long term value with the Clippers pick?

Giving up Brown AND picks for an older (albeit better) player is the opposite of long term value.

Brad went out and got what he felt was the better fit next to Tatum AND got as valuable a future pick as there is out there. There might not be a single pick I would trade that one for. And now PG13 is looking really good in green.

I was a fan of the deal (trust Brad) from the get and early returns confirm that belief.

I think we should re-evaluate the trade in May, not November, but for now George's play has been a welcome surprise.

[ozgod]

[dang], I missed the game because I had to go out to dinner with a friend who picked the worst night to come visit  but looks like it will be a fun re-watch, though it would have been much more enjoyable experiencing Jaylen get put in his place with the rest of you  Super late TPs!

I can't speak to Jaylen on how he should feel, and I know his entire career has been built on resentment and having a chip on his shoulder to prove people wrong, but I feel this resentment he has towards Tatum is going to get self-destructive. Like he can't even acknowledge JT when he goes for a dap before the game?

Like in real life being mad at someone who doesn't care, the only person it's affecting is you. He's acting like a jilted boyfriend - with the Celtics being the girl, who he still loves and wants to be with, and Tatum being the guy that they picked. I would just move on, accept the reality of the situation, and move forward with my new team. But I'm not him.

[Redz]

watched on delay.  tonight's hot takes:
- Tatum, PG and PP played great.  great shooting from them on a night when we really needed it with Philly getting a ridiculous amount of love from the refs.  Hauser with a great shooting night too
- team's collapse in the third to allow a tie was nerve-racking but they responded in fantastic fashion by blowing them out.
- rest of the team was pretty solid but MRob hands to start the game were awful.
- JB was trying too hard to make a statement this game and it went badly.  he'll put together a massive game against us at some point this season.
- Maxey is the prime player for Philly.  everyone else, including JB, have to play as his support.  that'll be the key to how far they go this season.

have to say, the way JB blew off Tatum in pregame with not reacting to the hug was bush-league.  gave him the benefit of the doubt with all this offseason crap but that really knocked him down a number of pegs in my eye.  it's a shame.  this brought me around to preferring having PG on the team instead of JB which is sad.

JB is a clsoe follower of Kyrie. Both are one and the same. Treat Brown like how we treat Kyrie. That is the mission.

When JB stomps on Lucky I?m down with that.

[Vermont Green]

Everyone is geared up for the return of Brown to face the Celtics.  But Paul George may have something to prove also.  And I am guessing that Tatum is pretty fired up for this one also.  You can be too fired up, and that may be the case for either Tatum or Brown.

Should be a very interesting game.  BOS still favored by 1.5 pts, at PHI.  That surprises me.

BOS covered, guess the books had this right.  And Brown was too fired up, he let all the drama take himself right out of the game.  Tatum was steady, as expected.  But I am bumping my own post to give Paul George some due here.  He epitomized "ignore the drama and go out and play".  That is what Brown needs to do, just let all this go and play ball.  Not sure he is wired that way though.

As to the trade, way too early to be taking any victory laps, but PG has been pretty amazing, way better than I ever expected, and I was probably higher on PG than most.  Many were resigned to that fact that PG was toast due to injuries, that he was Porzingis.  I would have been happy with 60 games of Horford level play.  PG looks solid, he does not look gimpy.  He could come down wrong in the next game and get injured, but man, 11 games in, you have to call it what it is, he has been great.

We'll see where things go from here.  I guess for now, people will stop with the "they have not beaten any good teams" narrative.  They are 0.500 vs good teams right now; wins vs. NYK and PHI, losses to DET and HOU.  Pretty small sample size but 36% of their 11 games have been vs. "good" teams.  There is nothing wrong with going 0.500 vs say the 10 best teams, assuming you take care of business in the rest.