‘The whole lot went improper’: 7 takeaways as Joel Embiid, 76ers push Celtics to the brink with Recreation 5 win

Celtics

“The whole lot went improper for us that may go improper.”

The Celtics performed a listless, uninspired sport at a horrible time for a listless, uninspired sport whereas the 76ers submitted considered one of their finest performances of the season on Tuesday to assert Recreation 5 with a 115-103 win.

Listed below are the takeaways because the Sixers return again dwelling searching for to shut out the collection.

1. For a streaky staff just like the Celtics, this was all the time a chance.

All season, the Celtics have positioned an infinite emphasis on producing nice appears to be like from deep, and the outcomes have been plain in the course of the common season — the Celtics had off nights with dangerous outcomes, however they have been the No. 2 seed within the Japanese Convention with the league’s finest internet score and a ton of spacing on the offensive finish. Within the NBA, the 3-pointer reigns supreme, and the Celtics are proper to rely closely on it (and even when they weren’t, the 76ers aren’t precisely a straightforward staff to assault within the paint).

However when the postseason rolls round, odd issues can occur.

Odd issues, like Al Horford — who is among the finest 3-point shooters within the NBA — ending 0-for-7 from behind the arc.

Odd issues just like the Celtics as a staff capturing 9-for-33 from behind the arc till the bench mob checked in and put collectively a mini-rally by capturing 3-for-5.

Odd issues like James Harden jet-packing into the ambiance in Video games 1 and 4, leaving the Celtics extremely susceptible in an icy chilly Recreation 5 efficiency.

Odd issues like Tyrese Maxey scoring 30 factors and Tobias Harris ending 7-for-10 from the sphere, regardless of each gamers struggling traditionally towards the Celtics.

The Celtics are a streaky basketball staff, and streaky basketball groups generally get burned.

“The whole lot went improper,” Good stated. “They made each proper play. They made each hustle play. The whole lot went improper for us that may go improper.”

2. None of this could take away from what the Sixers — and particularly Joel Embiid — completed on Tuesday. The Sixers bought huge performances from their stars, together with 33 factors and four blocks by Embiid and a 17-point, 10-assist outing by Harden.

The Sixers pummeled the Celtics on each ends in Recreation 5. There’s nonetheless time to rally, however the Sixers bought the whole lot they needed within the final two contests, which doesn’t bode properly shifting ahead.

3. Jayson Tatum began sluggish as soon as once more, going 0-for-5 within the first quarter, however as soon as once more, he bounced again over the subsequent three quarters and completed with 36 factors, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists. Twice in a row now, Tatum has dismissed a sluggish begin and performed properly.

The distinction this time was that nobody got here together with him.

“It’s an extended sport,” Tatum stated. “Photographs ultimately going to fall and we bought a few of them to go down. Simply didn’t essentially begin within the first quarter how I’d have appreciated. However we’ve simply bought to maintain enjoying, and that’s why it’s 4 quarters and it’s an extended sport.”

4. Horford’s disappearance as a shooter within the postseason has been each mystifying and expensive. His 0-for-7 efficiency from deep vary harm the Celtics’ offense, and his protection towards Embiid didn’t shut the hole prefer it did in Recreation 4.

In the meantime, Robert Williams hasn’t made up the distinction. He struggles to defend Embiid, and his vertical spacing hasn’t come into play with the paint clogged up by Embiid. The Celtics’ facilities have been by no means going to outplay Embiid, however they’ve been overwhelmed badly.

5. To what extent was effort a problem? That relies upon who you ask. Mazzulla believed the Celtics’ consideration to element was the issue.

“I believe when you might have the intentions of actually, actually eager to win, it doesn’t work out very properly generally,” Mazzulla stated. “I believed we had the intentions of actually, actually eager to win and attempting to win it, and generally when that occurs, it has a unfavorable impact. I believe we simply must play with a freer thoughts, take a deep breath, and whatever the scenario, we simply must be able to play.”

Good didn’t agree.

“The vitality wasn’t proper,” he stated. “It might have been higher, approach higher. We know that, we perceive that. And tonight speaks volumes. It reveals that, if you happen to’re not prepared, you’re going to go come out, any given second, this may occur, so that you tip your hat off and transfer on to the subsequent one.”

6. Marcus Good scored 14 factors, largely due to an 8-for-10 efficiency on the free-throw line. Except for Tatum and Brown, he was the one Celtics participant to attain double digits.

7. The collection isn’t over. The Celtics typically play properly with their backs towards the wall, and this group rallied from a 3-2 deficit earlier than — look no additional than final yr’s Japanese Convention semifinal towards the Bucks. They aren’t prone to shoot that poorly from 3-point vary once more.

“It’s a real dogfight, scratching and clawing, biting, blood, the whole lot,” Good stated. “And if you happen to’re not keen to just about get soiled, if you’re not keen to bleed, if you happen to’re not keen to interrupt one thing, keen to tear one thing, going laborious, then you definitely shouldn’t be on that court docket as a result of that’s what it’s. That’s what the playoffs are about. Hopefully you keep protected, however that’s the mentality. You’ve bought to go, you’ve bought to be keen to threat all of it for these video games. And that’s the mentality we’ve bought to have.”

Nonetheless, Recreation 5 didn’t look encouraging. If the Celtics don’t repair lots of issues in a short time, a second favourite within the Japanese Convention will head dwelling a lot sooner than anticipated.

“We’ve been on this place earlier than, and we’re a assured group as a result of we’ve achieved it,” Tatum stated. “We all know what it takes and we needs to be assured, proper? All people believes in themselves, believes within the work they’ve put in so it’s nothing inconceivable, it’s only one sport. Simply take it one sport at a time and be prepared on Thursday.”

Recreation 6 ideas off at 7:30 p.m.