Post by snap infraction on May 1, 2023 13:45:37 GMT -5
prior to the playoffs beginning, i was optimistic the sixers could beat boston in the 2nd round. the sixers have a deeper, better team this year compared to last year. harden has played well most of the season because it's a contract year for him. embiid is likely the league MVP. they added some nice pieces to the bench. if you watch the celtics like i've had, you'd see they aren't the same team as last year. marcus smart has regressed a good bit but their coaches are afraid of him so he stays in the game in late game situations. tatum can be great but he is prone to cold shooting night. al horford is slow as hell and can't rebound anymore. rob williams is always hurt.
unfortunately, embiid looks like he has a serious knee injury. this would be the 3rd straight season embiid got hurt during the end of the first round series.
embiid makes the sixers offense really good. no one in the league can guard him one on one. the 76ers this year sort of copied what the mavericks used to do with dirk nowitzi where they put embiid at the top of the free throw line so he can see where the double teams are coming from. if a double comes, he finds the open man. if it doesn't come, he squares up and gets ready to either attack the basket (ie get fouled) or pull use his lethal mid-range game. embiid is going to be mvp b/c he cut down on lots of turnovers. he cut down on turnovers b/c he sees the floor much better operating in the middle of the court.
because embiid commands so much attention, all the other players enjoy having a lot more space to operate and when they have the ball. harden has lost his explosive step to the rim but having embiid has allowed him to keep attacking the rim all year. and his 3pt step back is still pretty damn good.
the celtics are a big team. they suffocate you defensively with their length. of course embiid was the equalizer b/c boston can't defend him one on one. boston was 3-1 against the 76ers this year but 3 of the games went down to the final basket. with a healthy embiid, this was a very even match up. w/o embiid or even with a limited embiid, sixers will not have the space they need to operate.
on defense, embiid is a great rim protector. he's actually only just an ok rebounder. boston spreads you out and have 5 guys who can shoot the 3.
boston in 5.
unfortunately, embiid looks like he has a serious knee injury. this would be the 3rd straight season embiid got hurt during the end of the first round series.
embiid makes the sixers offense really good. no one in the league can guard him one on one. the 76ers this year sort of copied what the mavericks used to do with dirk nowitzi where they put embiid at the top of the free throw line so he can see where the double teams are coming from. if a double comes, he finds the open man. if it doesn't come, he squares up and gets ready to either attack the basket (ie get fouled) or pull use his lethal mid-range game. embiid is going to be mvp b/c he cut down on lots of turnovers. he cut down on turnovers b/c he sees the floor much better operating in the middle of the court.
because embiid commands so much attention, all the other players enjoy having a lot more space to operate and when they have the ball. harden has lost his explosive step to the rim but having embiid has allowed him to keep attacking the rim all year. and his 3pt step back is still pretty damn good.
the celtics are a big team. they suffocate you defensively with their length. of course embiid was the equalizer b/c boston can't defend him one on one. boston was 3-1 against the 76ers this year but 3 of the games went down to the final basket. with a healthy embiid, this was a very even match up. w/o embiid or even with a limited embiid, sixers will not have the space they need to operate.
on defense, embiid is a great rim protector. he's actually only just an ok rebounder. boston spreads you out and have 5 guys who can shoot the 3.
boston in 5.
