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Post by Admin on Aug 15, 2020 13:58:39 GMT -5
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Post by Admin on Aug 19, 2020 16:49:33 GMT -5
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Post by Admin on Aug 19, 2020 16:53:22 GMT -5
Pregame – Stevens Reveals Slight Update on Gordon Hayward BOSTON – Brad Stevens had a slight update on Gordon Hayward Wednesday afternoon, just one day after the Boston Celtics announced that Hayward will miss approximately one month with a Grade III right ankle sprain. Stevens shed some light on the start of Hayward’s rehab process, as well as when the team will have an understanding of when that process will progress. “Obviously they’re aggressively treating it multiple times a day,” Stevens said before Wednesday’s Game 2 against the Philadelphia 76ers. “He got in the pool a little bit today and was able to do some stuff in there. But right now, just hopeful the swelling goes down and get a better idea in the next three or four days of next steps.” Stevens then delved into the heightened level of responsibility that will fall on the shoulders of other Celtics while Hayward is out. “Our four guys that have played a lot of minutes – not including Gordon – so Smart, Kemba, Tatum and Brown, those guys are going to have to play big minutes for us most every playoff game,” he said, “and we’re just going to need everyone else to play their role great.” The coach will not ask any of the players outside of the top four he mentioned to replicate the skills which Hayward brings to the table. Instead, he will ask them to consistently do what they do best at a high level. “There’s certain things Gordon does really well that we’ll probably take out of our playbook,” he said, “and there’s other things that those other guys do that fit better with their strengths.” That’s the plan for the foreseeable future. The C’s need to make do with what they have and attempt to take down the 76ers without Hayward. www.nba.com/celtics/news/post-ups
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Post by Admin on Aug 19, 2020 17:09:29 GMT -5
This is what Paul Pierce had to say about the loss of Gordon Hayward:
“I think it’s a huge blow. When you look down at that roster, there’s not much depth – Marcus Smart, Enes Kanter… The bench scored 8 points in Game 1. You know how much they won by? Eight points,” Pierce said during an appearance on ESPN’s “First Take” Wednesday morning.
“I had the Celtics coming out of the East because the way I see it, when you look at it now, the East is wide open…”
It’s never a good look when the greatest modern legend in your franchise victory–and one of their most notorious onscreen virtual bubble fans–isn’t bullish on their chances of escaping the Eastern Conference in the slightest after losing a key player in Hayward.
As Pierce notes, replacing him won’t be easy:
“This guy is the fourth option. They need that 17 (points). What other fourth options around the league are giving you 17 points a game and could potentially be an All-Star again when right?” Pierce added. “You need a guy like this. You got Kemba (walker), Tatum and Brown. Those are the guys. His role is going to be his role… He’s the perfect complement to what they need.”
“That’s a critical blow for them to lose that point production, a guy who can spread the floor, who can knock down shots, a guy who can get the ball and play pick-and-roll. Yes, (Jayson) Tatum and (Jaylen) Brown’s numbers will go up, but I think with his injury, it’s going to level the playing field with Philadelphia. They didn’t win by much and the Celtics don’t have a deep bench, so this series could be a long series for Boston.”
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Post by Admin on Aug 19, 2020 17:21:52 GMT -5
Preview: Philadelphia 76ers at Boston Celtics Round 1 Game 2 8/19/20
Despite losing Gordon Hayward, the Celtics look to keep their momentum and take a 2-0 lead in the series vs the Philadelphia 76ers.
By flceltsfan
Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images
The Celtics and 76ers meet for Game 2 with the Celtics looking to gain a 2-0 lead while the 76ers hope to tie up the series. The Celtics come into game 2 with a bit of momentum after winning Game 1, but they can’t let up after that win. Remember back to their Game 1 win last season over the Bucks and then the 4 consecutive losses after that win. They can’t let that happen again and must take control of this series with a strong effort in this game.
It won’t be easy, however. Gordon Hayward left the game on Monday with a sprained ankle and will be out for 4 weeks. Replacing Hayward won’t be easy as he has been a big part of their attack this season on both ends of the court. He did a little of everything to help the Celtics win Game 1 with 12 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 4 steals in 34 minutes.
The Celtics are 14-6 this season without Hayward. In those games, Marcus Smart, who started 40 of the 60 games he played in, replaced Hayward in the starting lineup. Brad Stevens could go do that in this case, but it would give the Sixers starters an even bigger size advantage. He could also preserve his rotation with Marcus playing with the second unit and start Semi, Grant, Javonte, or Romeo at small forward.
Another possibility would be to move Jayson Tatum to small forward and start Semi, Grant, Javonte, or Robert at the power forward spot. That would give the Celtics more size and keep the rotation in tact, but would put another limited scorer on the court with the starters. The Sixers are already daring Daniel Theis to shoot from outside and doubling the Celtics scorers and this would give them two players to slack off of on defense.
My guess is that he will start Marcus Smart since that is what he did earlier in the season, but that wasn’t the playoffs. The Celtics were 6-4 when Smart starts for Hayward. Brett Brown has said that depending on who the Celtics start, he may change his starting lineup as well. My guess is that if Marcus Smart starts, Brown will start Matisse Thybulle in place of Al Horford. So, the starting lineups may be completely wrong by the time the game starts.
Ben Simmons (knee) and Glenn Robinson III (oblique) both remain out for the Sixers and there are no new injuries. For the Celtics, Romeo Langford is day to day with torn ligaments in his wrist but he was available to play in Game 1 so I would assume that he will be available to play in this game. He played his only college season with a torn ligament in the thumb of his shooting hand so he may be able to play through this, although how effective he is remains to be seen.
Jaylen Brown took a knee to the thigh from Joel Embiid and left Monday’s game but he was able to return and play well down the stretch in Monday’s victory. He is listed as probable for this game. Gordon Hayward will be out for this game and likely until the Eastern Conference Finals, if the Celtics make it that far and if his wife hasn’t gone into labor by then.
Probable Celtics Starters
Kemba Walker
Marcus Smart Jaylen Brown Jayson Tatum Daniel Theis
Celtics Reserves Javonte Green Semi Ojeleye Vincent Poirier Brad Wanamaker Grant Williams Enes Kanter Robert Williams III Tacko Fall Tremont Waters Carsen Edwards
Injuries Romeo Langford (wrist) probable Jaylen Brown (thigh) probable Gordon Hayward (ankle) out
Head Coach Brad Stevens
Probable 76ers Starters
Matisse Thybulle Josh Richardson Tobias Harris Al Horford Joel Embiid
Sixers Reserves
Matisse Thybulle Shake Milton Alec Burks Furkan Korkmaz Mike Scott Raul Neto Kyle O’Quinn Norvel Pelle Marial Shayok
Injuries Ben Simmons (knee) out Glenn Robinson III (oblique) out
Head Coach Brett Brown
Key Matchups
Daniel Theis vs Joel Embiid Embiid is averaging 23.0 points, 11.6 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.8 blocks per game. He is shooting 47.7% from the field and 33.1% from beyond the arc. Embiid started out strong in Game 1 but was not a factor down the stretch. He had 26 points, 16 rebounds, and 1 assist in Game 1 but he also had 5 turnovers. The Celtics seemed to be able to wear him out and keep him from taking over Game 1 and hopefully they can do the same in this game.
Jayson Tatum vs Al Horford Al had mixed results in Game 1. He finished with 6 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists. He disappeared at times from the Sixers attack and most of the job of guarding Tatum went to Josh Richardson and Matisse Thybulle, although no one was very successful as he finished with 32 points and 13 rebounds. I predict that Horford will come into this game looking to make more of a difference for the Sixers.
Honorable Mention
Jaylen Brown vs Tobias Harris I’m not really sure who will start at small forward opposite Harris but I’m assuming it will be Jaylen Brown with Marcus Smart starting at shooting guard but Smart. It could be just about anyone on the team, however including Marcus Smart being inserted at small forward. Harris finished game 1 with 15 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists. Like Hayward, he did a little bit of everything for his team. He shot 40% from the field and missed all 3 three pointers that he took. Like Horford, he will be looking to play better in this game and so whoever starts at the three will need to play tough defense on him.
Keys to the Game
Defense - Defense is always the key to winning every game. Both teams play tough defense, although one of the key defenders for the Sixers, Ben Simmons, will miss the playoffs and another solid defender for the Celtics, Gordon Hayward will be out as well. The Celtics are 4th in the league with a defensive rating of 106.5 while the Sixers are not far behind at 8th with a defensive rating of 108.4. It will be very important for the Celtics to play tough team defense and keep the Sixers from finding any rhythm on offense. They especially need to keep Embiid from taking over the game. The Celtics must match or exceed the Sixers effort and intensity on defense.
Rebound - With the size of the Sixers front line and starters, the Celtics are going to have to work hard in order to get rebounds. The Sixers had 16 second chance points to just 9 for the Celtics in Game 1 and the Celtics need to work harder on the boards to keep them from getting 2nd chance points in this game. The Sixers out-rebounded the Celtics 202-154 in their 4 regular season games and 50-43 in Game 1. If the Celtics want to win this one, it is crucial that they go all out to crash the boards.
Move the Ball - Ball movement is very important to the Celtics success. When they pass the ball and move without the ball they get good shots and good things happen. When they over dribble and play hero ball, it usually doesn’t end well. They need to move without the ball to get open and they need to move the ball to find the open man and the best shot. Ball movement will be very important to beat the Sixers defense.
Play Hard All 48 Minutes - In Game 1, we saw a familiar pattern that we have seen many times with this Celtics team. They built a double figure lead and then let up on effort and let the Sixers back into the game. They went scoreless for 5 minutes in the 3rd quarter to allow the Sixers to go on a 15-0 run. They recovered and came back in the 4th quarter to get the win, but they can’t keep letting opponents get a lead or come back from a big deficit. The Celtics have to keep their foot on the gas for all 48 minutes.
Be Aggressive - The Sixers were very physical in Game 1 and went hard at the Celtics. The Celtics need to match their physical play and be aggressive on both ends of the court. They need to go hard to the basket and not depend on outside shots. They need be aggressive in going after loose balls and crashing the boards and in defending at every position. They have to be the team that plays harder and that wants the game more. They can’t let the Sixers out-play them.
Bench Play - The Celtics has been a weak point for the Celtics this season. In Game 1, the Celtics got just 8 points from their bench and with one of the reserves going to the starting lineup, someone on the bench must step up. The Sixers had 23 bench points with 18 of those coming from Alec Burks. The Celtics need someone on the bench to step up their effort and production for the Celtics to continue winning.
X-Factors
Neutral Site - The Sixers were great at home this season but not so much on the road. They were 30-4 at home and just 12-26 on the road. The Celtics were 26-10 at home and 22-14 on the road and so were more consistent between home and road. This was a question for Game 1 and will still be a question for this game.
Injuries - With Gordon Hayward out, the Celtics will need someone else to step up and fill in the void that he leaves. The same goes for the Sixers who are missing Ben Simmons. They also need someone to step up and help to fill that void. Which team will be able to make up for the absence of their star? It’s next man up but who will that man be?
Officiating - Officiating is always an x-factor. Every crew calls the game a little bit differently. Some call it tight. Some let the teams play. Some refs have an agenda and others call it fair. The Celtics have to adjust to the way they are calling the game and not let the calls that go against them take away their focus on playing the right way. The officials weren’t bad in the first game and hopefully they will call it fair and let them play in this game also.
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Post by Admin on Aug 19, 2020 17:33:38 GMT -5
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Post by Admin on Aug 19, 2020 17:46:00 GMT -5
Boston Celtics vs. Philadelphia 76ers Game 2: Rallying without Gordon Hayward, no positive coronavirus tests, & other pregame notes By John Karalis |
The Boston Celtics take on the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 2 of their opening round series tonight. The Celtics hold a 1-0 lead int he series, but will be without Gordon Hayward, who suffered a sprained right ankle. Jaylen Brown, who suffered a thigh bruise in Game 1, is available. The Sixers will be without Ben Simmons an Glen Robinson III.
Here are some pregame notes:
Aggressive treatment for Hayward
The Celtics are attacking the treatment for Hayward aggressively, which may be a positive of it happening in this bubble situation. He never had to get onto a plane and have the pressurized cabin exacerbate any swelling.
“Obviously they’re aggressively treating it, multiple times a day,” Brad Stevens said before the game. “He got in the pool a little bit today and was able to do some stuff in there, but right now we’re hopeful the swelling goes down, and we get a better idea of the next steps in the next three or four days.”
The initial timeline of approximately four weeks seems light for a Grade III sprain, but the Celtics don’t generally put out overly optimistic timelines, so we’ll see how this treatment goes.
Rallying without Hayward
The Celtics have had a propensity for getting lazy with leads. Without Hayward, the knowledge that everyone will have to step up and do a little more might give the Celtics a little push.
“First of all we’ll have to rally. There’s no other choice, and we’ve been good at that in the past,” Stevens said. “Gordon is usually one of our good players in those moments helps us navigate those stretches, so other people will have to step up and they usually do.”
Kemba Walker, Jayson Tatum, and Jaylen Brown will do a bulk of the work to make up for Hayward’s lost production, but Marcus Smart will have to step up as well. Sixers head coach Brett Brown expressed respect for Smart’s ability to hit shots.
“Marcus’ ability to make perimeter shots over his career has been on a steady, progressive, positive, rise to the point that he’s become a legitimate threat from the perimeter,” Brown said.
A few catch-and-shoot 3-pointers from Smart will go a long way towards opening up the floor for Tatum, Brown, and Walker. They seemed to be able to get past their defenders pretty easily in Game 1, and it’s a point of emphasis for the Sixers.
“Sitting down and having the ability to guard -- and it’s easier to say than do -- dynamic guards going downhill,” Brown said. “Whether it’s off a live ball, whether it’s off a catch... on a closeout, they went by us too easily and got into the paint.”
Stevens was asked if it was safe to assume Smart was starting in Hayward’s place. Stevens laughed and said “I mean, you guys are really good at what you do so you can assume whatever you want.”
No Positive COVID-19 tests
The league and Players Association jointly announced today that the latest round of COVID-19 test came back fully clean again, which is a huge step for the league.
Most people assumed there would be a positive test at some point in the bubble. There still might be at some point, but for now the plan is working perfectly.
The NBA is very serious about its protocols, and they’re not about to let up on those right now. The next hurdle to clear will be in a couple of weeks when families and guests are allowed into the bubble. The introduction of a new crop of people will again increase the risks, but it seems that the league has a handle on how to bring people in and keep them safe.
Tatum channels Larry Bird
Jayson Tatum’s Game 1 was pretty historic. He passed some elite company to become the youngest Celtic to reach 30 points and 10 rebounds in a playoff game, according to CBS sports.
Of course, this is a different era, and Tatum was able to pull this feat off in his third year while still being a year younger than Bird in his rookie year. It was also Heinsohn’s rookie year too.
It doesn’t take away from the accomplishment, it just highlights how young guys are when they come into the league now.
Also, he showed up to today’s game rocking these shorts:
Yes, that Sesame Street’s Big Bird in a Larry Bird jersey.
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Post by Admin on Aug 19, 2020 17:50:11 GMT -5
Embiid 3-3 ... 11-5 Sixers
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Post by Admin on Aug 19, 2020 17:51:14 GMT -5
JT thru the lane with a fall-away J going the opposite way!
Here it is ...
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Post by Admin on Aug 19, 2020 17:52:51 GMT -5
Embiid fouled by Theis ... he's gotten the ball every trip on offense so far ... makes both 13-7
BTW, JT has 2 early fouls himself.
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Post by Admin on Aug 19, 2020 17:53:36 GMT -5
Brown to the line for a couple ... makes 2-2
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Post by Admin on Aug 19, 2020 17:53:58 GMT -5
OJ first off the bench for JT
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Post by sfbosfan on Aug 19, 2020 17:54:08 GMT -5
JT thru the lane with a fall-away J going the opposite way! If our perimeter shooting is not 50% as we have no Embid. it’ll be tough to win this game and with missing Hayward too!
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Post by Admin on Aug 19, 2020 17:58:05 GMT -5
Embiid called for a foul ...
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Post by sfbosfan on Aug 19, 2020 17:59:49 GMT -5
And even with Embid, Philly is hitting their 3s!
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Post by kivancb on Aug 19, 2020 18:00:06 GMT -5
Embiid called for a foul ... Well it's not possible so the call's been overturned
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Post by Admin on Aug 19, 2020 18:00:47 GMT -5
Offense has stalled ... Smart to FT line ... makes both.
That prior foul on Embiid was challenged and it was changed to a foul on Smart ... You gotta be kidding ... now they can assess it to the other team? I thought it was foul or no foul?
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Post by sfbosfan on Aug 19, 2020 18:01:03 GMT -5
They are dominating in the post and not only Embid! Rebounds 10 to 4. Need to shoot 55+% so fewer rebs...HA!
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Post by Admin on Aug 19, 2020 18:01:44 GMT -5
Sixers 11-13 and lead 27-14
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Post by Admin on Aug 19, 2020 18:03:17 GMT -5
JT and Maker in with Brown, GWill and Kanter
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Post by kivancb on Aug 19, 2020 18:04:55 GMT -5
Philly making some circus shots. Here's to hoping they run out of their luck when the game's on the line.
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Post by sfbosfan on Aug 19, 2020 18:05:52 GMT -5
They are shooting what we need to shoot...73% and 50% on 3s. We are 26% & 20& respectively. And with reb advantage I’m not surprised they have almost double our points. We have needed a big man rebounder 10+ and scorer 15+ for 10 years but I guess Danny never thought so. Likes small ball....no secret Milwaukee with big man is leading the East!
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Post by Admin on Aug 19, 2020 18:10:20 GMT -5
JB & JT to the rescue quickly cutting it to a 9pt deficit
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Post by sfbosfan on Aug 19, 2020 18:11:48 GMT -5
Pretty amazing we are only 6 down and amazing too was Tatum’s last 3 point shot!
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Post by Admin on Aug 19, 2020 18:12:09 GMT -5
Half court desperation shot by JT off the glass for THREE!
33-27 as the quarter ends ... could have been much worse.
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