The Sixers outlook actually looked quite appealing throughout the very first quarter of their Game 2 loss versus the Celtics on Wednesday. Joel Embiid was dominating out of the post, Boston had no answer for him, and an injury to Gordon Hayward was at least somewhat balancing out the loss of Ben Simmons. After Philly leapt out to an early 14-point lead, Boston rapidly began dismantling the Sixers to the tune of a 41-point turnaround, winning by 27. Thirty-six minutes after its hot start, Philly appeared like a team on the edge of a lot more than a frustrating playoff exit.
Questions have followed the Sixers all season long after the front office remade the roster for the umpteenth time last offseason. It appears like a various lifetime now, but it was just two seasons ago when Philly was an up-and-coming group with among the very best starting fives in the league and a much-hyped No. 1 choice recovering from an injury on the bench. Recapping everything thats failed considering that is its own legend, but the ensuing lineup machinations have actually been largely unsuccessful, and the Sixers flaws have been particularly laid bare against the Celtics.
Losing Simmons was constantly going to be hard to sustain. However isnt it fair to request more from Tobias Harris and Al Horford? Harris and Horford combined to make over $60 million this season. They combined to score just 17 points in an essential Game 2, or one point less than Josh Richardson scored by himself. Harris and Horford didnt end up being bad gamers over night. However they were questionable fits from the minute they were brought to Philly. And when you think about the context of what the Sixers provided up to sign them– the possessions lost in Harris trade, letting J.J. Redick walk, and the abundance of cap room– it makes their efficiencies Wednesday greatly more discouraging.
Harris was ineffective, didnt look comfy playing a two-man game with Embiid, and regardless of his group desperately needing some outdoors shooting, he tried only 2 3s, missing out on both. (The Sixers as a group shot 5-of-21 from beyond the arc.
Embiid was excellent in the first quarter, however his impact waned as the game went on. Embiid, whether by design or for energy conservation, did his finest to never ever leave the paint on defense. By my count, the Celtics hit seven virtually uncontested 3s since of Embiids decision to hang in the paint.
The series is clearly not over. And it would be a little unjust to judge this Sixers group definitively without Simmons. However Philly didnt just lose. It looked listless and entirely overmatched. And its not like the Celtics snuck up on anybody in the East as one of the groups they d need to go through to win the conference. The reality that Philly might look so flat and two extremely paid gamers could install such disappointing efforts versus a rival is developing a cause for concern this series otherwise would not have if these losses were at least tough battled.
The bubble might be a complicated time to make long-lasting decisions about any group. The Sixers arent losing since they lack rest.
Two years back, when the Sixers lost to the Celtics in the playoffs, they were still on the increase. The core was young and homegrown. The front office had cap and roster versatility. No relationships were soured because of bitter defeats. 2 years later, and the outlook is nearly the specific reverse. Thats how quickly life can alter in the NBA. On Wednesday, it just took the last 3 quarters to reveal what this Sixers team is, at best, flawed. How they respond will likely figure out a number of individualss futures..
The Sixers outlook in fact looked quite appealing during the very first quarter of their Game 2 loss versus the Celtics on Wednesday. After Philly leapt out to an early 14-point lead, Boston rapidly started dismantling the Sixers to the tune of a 41-point turnaround, winning by 27. (The Sixers as a group shot 5-of-21 from beyond the arc. And it would be a little unreasonable to judge this Sixers team definitively without Simmons. On Wednesday, it just took the last three quarters to show what this Sixers group is, at best, flawed.
