How did the Celtics come back from a 3-2 deficit against Philadelphia? This detailed film breakdown & scouting report breaks down a massive Boston adjustment in Game 6 that changed the series, effectively shutting down 2023 NBA MVP Joel Embiid, James Harden and the 76ers offense.
Support at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball
Book: https://www.amazon.com/Thinking-Basketball-Ben-Taylor/dp/1532968175
Podcast: https://player.fm/series/thinking-basketball or at https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/ben-taylor/thinking-basketball-podcast
Website: https://www.backpicks.com
Twitter: @elgee35
Ben Taylor is the author of Thinking Basketball, a Nylon Calculus contributor, creator of the Backpicks Top 40 series & host of the Thinking Basketball podcast.
Stats courtesy:
http://www.pbpstats.com @bballport
https://www.basketball-reference.com
https://stats.nba.com
—–
Footage in this video is owned by the NBA and its partners. It is intended for critique and education.
Music by csus (instrumental)
#ThinkingBasketball
28 Comments
So ironic that it’s Joel Embiid the guy who supposedly isn’t a defensive liability getting hunted at such a high rate. False narratives about players are truly toxic(Jokic) 🤢
literally got handed the MVP award, but then got exposed by the Celtics. The real MVP would not let this happen.
What about Boston putting Marcus Smart on Joel for a short stint in the first half?
Good on the coach to make the proper adjustments but all they had to do was make Embiid play D? Not a good look for the league MVP lmao
Fire doc
Yeah Doc got checkmated
MVP is on the tougher Western Conference
Think of the mental aspect that had on Embiid and Harden: Embiid already has trouble against Horford. Now, he also has to worry about his shot getting sent back by Williams. Harden was already getting pestered by Boston's perimeter guys. Now, his passing lane to Embiid is covered, and Williams is there to deter his drive. Combine that with the Sixers' offense relying on them and Doc's lack of adjustment, it all was too much to overcome. Before the series, I said that the Celtics were too well-equipped to handle anything the Sixers wanted to do on both sides of the ball. Games 2, 3, and 7 were proof.
I love your videos so much. So informative and in-depth. Thank you.
The brain behind the team is no good.
Good analysis, Embiid played poorly no doubt but it’s hard for a big man to score on 3 guys defending you. This was coaching malpractice by Doc cause the Celtics played their hand in game 6 and the 76ers had a chance cause of Tatum poor game.
real MVP is in western finals
Let’s not act like Mazula is an amazing coach for making the most logical decision to put a big guy to guard another big instead of a point guard. I genuinely don’t understand why coaches nowadays prefer small ball lineups even when facing 7 foot opponents like Giannis, Jokic and Embiid. If you look at +/- and other advanced stats you can clearly see how much small lineups struggle with big guys. I’m very disappointed at Mazula for not utilizing Bostons big men because all of them are extremely talented and a big part of their playoff success last year
So is it tome to shut down the defensive narrative that sonmany pushed for embiid? He was destroyed on the defensive end and it wasn't pretty
Harden just don't got it no more.
Pity MVP
Doc rivers doing doc rivers things. Aka blowing a big lead while the other coach adjusts all over him.
I still think harden should be more aggressive with the drive, too much in and out from him
😂 76ers so trash! Love it
people really don't understand how valuable rob williams is to the celtics
Embid nba first pitty mvp a joke. 😂 jokic got robbed
They robbed Jokic for this bum. Ain't no way he the mvp! No way!!!
We need to bring back illegal defense. Tired of watching pros play college basketball rules. Allowing guys who should be out of the league to stick around.
no adjustment was needed. Doc Rivers is the GOAT of blowing leads.
This is yet another example that Bron path to championships was much much harder than Jordan’s. Jordans oath was easier: It has been assumed that simply moving teams to play with other all-stars guarantee a ring/FMVP. In reality, moving to a new team is much harder than staying with a favored, proven, tenured and reigning championship team. Well known examples prove it is LESS likely to win a ring/FMVP by moving to new team than it is by staying with a favored, proven, tenured and reigning championship team. KD moved to a GSW, a tenured team with 3 all-stars and won 2 rings, but he couldn’t even win 1 conference finals when playing with 2 other HOFs in Brooklyn. Just lost with PHX. He’s 2/4. Kyrie is 0/2 in Boston and 0/3 in Brooklyn, 0/1 in Dallas = 0/5. Kawai 0/4 with the clippers, though he did get 1 with the Raptors. 1/3. Paul G is 0/3 with the Thunder and 0/3 with the Clippers, he’s 0/5. Russ is 0/2 with the Lakers, 0/1 with Harden and 0/2 with Paul G, and 0/1 with Wall, and 0/1 with the Clippers he’s 0/7. Harden is 0/2 with Embid, and 0/2 with KD and Kyrie 0/3. Chris Paul is 0/10. That’s 3 seasons (6%) of winning but 44 (94%) seasons of losing. CLEARLY, just playing with other stars isn’t an easier path to championships than staying with a reigning, proven, favored champion. The numbers prove it is much much harder to go to an unproven, non-reigning championship team and win, even with other all stars. This is precisely why Jordan kept resigning 1-year deals with Scottie’s Bulls, a proven 55 win / playoff team, without Jordan. After his first retirement, Jordan REJOINED that favored, proven, tenured and reigning championship (SUPER) team and what was his record? 6/11 or 54% winning. 54% chance of winning by staying up under Scottie versus 7% if he tried to prove he could take the winning with him. It is LESS likely you win with a non-tenured, non-reigning champion than to win with won. It’s harder. (Bulls winning was mostly about the team and less about Jordan himself. Without Scottie’s Bulls Jordan lost 100% of the time not even being able to win 1 conference title!!). You can see this when contrasting KD and Steph’s record. KD moved and Steph stayed with a tenured championship team and Steph has 2 MORE rings than KD THOUGH STEPH IS THE INFERIOR PLAYER. Why? For the last time, it is far easier to win rings the Jordan way (staying up under a favored, proven, tenured and reigning championship team) than the Lebron path move around and prove the winning is more about you.
VERTICALITY
PJ Tucker forgot how to shoot.
if you can take the ball from MVP Embiid like that, what's gonna happen to Chet and Wemby?