Tag: 2023 nba playoffs second round

Celtics’ Marcus Smart talks adjustments and defensive focus

Celtics’ Marcus Smart talks adjustments and defensive focus

The Boston Celtics flexed their muscle in Wednesday’s dominating victory over the Philadelphia 76ers. The series is tied heading into Game 3, and the momentum is back in Boston’s favor.

Celtics guard Marcus Smart revealed postgame the team’s mindset as it goes on the road to Philadelphia and on its renewed focus on defense.

“We’re human, and it’s not going to be perfect,” Smart said via Heavy’s Steve Bulpett. “We’re playing against some great teams, great players. It’s the playoffs. And in the playoffs, we all know it’s about adjustments. It’s about adapting.”

“Last game, they came out, and they had a game plan. They executed, and they won. This we came out, we had a game plan we had to adapt to their game plan, and we won. So it’s all about adapting and making the right changes.”

Smart and the Celtics held the 76ers to 87 points in Wednesday’s blowout victory. The team effort to slow the offensive firepower of James Harden and Joel Embiid was a showcase of Boston’s versatility.

“We have a lot of guys who are very versatile, so for you to hold anything back is not the right thing to do. If you’re tired or you feel like you need a break, come out,” said Smart.

“We’ve got other guys ready to do it. We’ve got a deep roster this year. So being able to just impose our will, wear them down as much as possible; hopefully, those shots in the fourth quarter don’t fall because they don’t have enough legs.”

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Are the Boston Celtics in control of their East semis series vs. the 76ers as it shifts to Philadelphia?

What options do the Sixers have after the 2023 Most Valuable Player looked a step slow and limited by his LCL knee sprain?

After the Boston Celtics’ blowout Game 2 win of their 2023 Eastern Conference semifinals series against the Philadelphia 76ers, who has the upper hand as the series heads to Philly for Games 3 and 4?

Did the 76ers make a tactical mistake by bringing star big man Joel Embiid back too soon? What options do the Sixers have after the 2023 Most Valuable Player looked a step slow and limited by his LCL knee sprain? Can they return to some of the small ball lineups that stung the Celtics in Game 1 without rocking the boat? Or do they plan to live and die with Embiid’s play in this series?

In the clip embedded below, CLNS Media’s Bobby Manning is joined by Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer to talk about Embiid’s return, the 2023 MVP award, and the Celtics’ blowout win in Game 2 of the series.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Did the Philadelphia 76ers bring Joel Embiid back too soon vs. the Boston Celtics?

Was it a mistake to bring Joel Embiid back in Game 2? Did the 76ers make a mistake by bringing him in too early after taking Game 1?

After being named the 2022-23 Most Valuable Player, star Philadelphia 76ers big man Joel Embiid returedn to the 76ers’ starting lineup after missing two games and nearly two weeks with an LCL sprain in his right knee.

The return didn’t go as well as he would have hoped. Philadelphia was blown out, 121-8,7 by the Boston Celtics in Game 2 Wednesday night.

Outside of a monstrous five blocks (all in the first half), Embiid was relatively quiet — still clearly hampered by his injury.

Was it a mistake to bring Joel Embiid back in Game 2? Did the 76ers make a mistake by bringing him in too early after taking Game 1?

Join the hosts of the CLNS Media “Garden Report” podcast Bobby Manning and Josue Pavon as they discuss Joel Embiid in his return to play against Boston on Wednesday evening.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Did the Philadelphia 76ers bring Joel Embiid back too soon vs. the Boston Celtics?

Was it a mistake to bring Joel Embiid back in Game 2? Did the 76ers make a mistake by bringing him in too early after taking Game 1?

After being named the 2022-23 Most Valuable Player, star Philadelphia 76ers big man Joel Embiid made his return to the 76ers’ starting lineup after missing time with an LCL sprain afflicting one of his knees. However, things didn’t go as well as he would have hoped, as Philadelphia was blown out 121-87 by the Boston Celtics in Game 2 Wednesday night.

Outside of a monstrous 5 blocks (all in the first half, at that), Embiid was relatively quiet for much of the contest and was still clearly hampered by his injury with the way he was playing in Game 2.

Was it a mistake to bring Joel Embiid back in Game 2? Did the 76ers make a mistake by bringing him in too early after taking Game 1?

Join the hosts of the CLNS Media “Garden Report” podcast Bobby Manning and Josue Pavon as they discuss Joel Embiid in his return to play against Boston on Wednesday evening.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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‘Our defense led to energetic offense,’ says Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla on Boston’s blowout Game 2 win

‘Our defensive presence led to our offense. Our good offense led to our defense,’ added Mazzulla.

Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla is not known for being a man of many words.

After the Celtics’ 121-87 blowout win over the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference semifinal, he was asked what the mood of the previous 48 hours had been for Boston since the embarrassing Game 1 loss.

His answer: “Angry, pissed.”

Asked if he like that, he answered: “Yes.”

Mazzulla was somewhat more loquacious — by his standards — when he was asked about the tactical changes, including the boost in 3-point shooting the West Virginia alumnus had demanded after Game 1.

“By the middle of the third quarter, we’d shot more 3s than we did the entire game (before),” he pointed out. “I was pleased with the type of (3s) that we take. Again, I don’t want to just come down and jack them up there for the sake of jacking them up there.”

“I thought our defense led to energetic offense and I thought we did a great job of not passing up open (3s),” Mazzulla explained. “Our defensive presence led to our offense. Our good offense led to our defense.”

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Celtics Lab 187: Rapid response to Boston’s blowout Game 2 win, Embiid’s flop of a return, and odd drone decisions

How will the Sixers adjust? Do we feel any different about anything in light of how the Celtics won?

The Boston Celtics needed a win in Game 2 of their series against the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference semifinals after being embarrassed on their own home court in Game 1. The team answered the call and came through in a major way with maybe their most complete game of the 2023 postseason to date with a 121-87 blowout that ruined Joel Embiid’s return to the court just a day removed from winning MVP.

A red-hot game from Jaylen Brown on a night where Jayson Tatum was hobbled by foul trouble and Marcus Smart was hobbled by Embiid falling on him was exactly the sort of response Boston needed.

Can they keep it up with the series swinging to Philly, or should we worry that the same bad habits that cost them Game 1 might re-emerge? How will the Sixers adjust? Do we feel any different about anything in light of how the Celtics won?

On this postgame podcast recorded live from TD Garden after the game ends, your usual hosts break down the tilt from tip to buzzer with an eye to what might be coming down the pike for Boston.

The Celtics Lab podcast is brought to you by Fan Duel and Better Help.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Celtics throttle Sixers with 121-87 Game 2 win, even series 1-1

Marcus Smart set the tone as the Celtics dropped the hammer on the Sixers, allowing Boston to grab a 121-87 Game 2 victory.

The Boston Celtics evened the score in the Eastern Conference Semifinals Wednesday night, earning a loud 121-87 Game 2 victory and knotting the series at one game apiece with the Philadelphia 76ers. A 34-point victory helps erase some of the frustrations that came from Monday’s Game 1 clunker, and now the action heads down I-95 to Philly this weekend.

The Sixers welcomed back newly-minted MVP Joel Embiid into the fold, who is dealing with an LCL injury and missed Game 1 entirely. This obviously changed things on both ends for Philadelphia in a very big way, who traded spacing for more muscle and size. Embiid ended the game with 15 points and 3 rebounds, as well as 5 blocks, simply not enough to help the Sixers grab a win.

Importantly, Embiid’s return also changed how the Celtics approached the game, and the style and tenor from Boston in this one was noticeably more physical than what we saw on Monday night. This was especially true on the defensive end, where the Celtics were aggressive and physical right from the jump.

In the end, a more truculent defensive attack paired with another efficient night scoring the ball helped ice an easy Celtics victory. Here’s what you may have missed from Boston’s Game 2 win over the 76ers.

PHOTOS – Philadelphia at Boston: Celtics get revenge, smash 76ers 121-87 in Game 2

Let’s take a look at some of the best plays captured in images from the Celtics’ Game 2 vs. the 76ers in the second round of the ’23 playoffs.

The Boston Celtics got punked on their own home floor in Game 1 of the East semis series with the Philadelphia 76ers and responded in a major way to repay the favor in Game 2. The Celtics came out aggressive on defense and leaned into the best version of Mazzulla ball to come away with a 121-87 win while spoiling freshly-minted MVP Joel Embiid’s return.

A big game from Jaylen Brown (25 points, 2 steals), and solid support from Malcolm Brogdon (23 points, 6 rebounds), Derrick White (15 points), Marcus Smart (15 points, 5 boards), and Grant Williams (12 points, 4 assists) won the game for Boston on a night where Tatum’s foul trouble and a neck reinjury for Smart impacted Boston’s play. The series now heads to Philadelphia for Games 3 and 4 on Friday and Sunday respectively with Boston tied up with the Sixers at 1-1.

Let’s take a look at some of the best plays captured in images from the Celtics’ Game 2 vs. the 76ers in the second round of the ’23 playoffs.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Fans, media pan use of drone footage for Game 2 of Boston Celtics – Philadelphia 76ers East semis

While there were some fans who thought the novel means of getting a new angle on the action was interesting, the consensus on the drone seemed to be pretty strongly negative,.

The Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers are used to having a lot of eyes on them in the regular season, never mind in Game 2 of the NBA’s 2023 Eastern Conference semifinals, but players and fans alike were in for an unexpected twist to that dynamic with a drone filming the action during the game.

While there were some fans who thought the novel means of getting a new angle on the action was interesting, the consensus on the drone seemed to be pretty strongly negative, with complaints ranging from the distraction from the game itself it caused in the arena to the poor frame rate making for a bad viewing experience at home.

Let’s take a look at what was being said about the drone on social media.

Joel Embiid says he is ready for Game 2 vs. the Boston Celtics – are they ready?

Is it too early for Embiid to return to play? Is he taking a risk by returning so soon? And stylistically, will his return actually hurt the 76ers in how they play against Boston?

After being officially crowned the 2022-23 NBA Most Valuable Player award, Philadelphia 76ers star big man Joel Embiid made some waves by telling his teammates ‘I’m back’ at shootaround as the 76ers got set to take on the Boston Celtics on Wednesday night at TD Garden. Embiid spoke with media on his return to the court and if he will end up suiting up against the Celtics in Game 2 of the Conference Semifinals.

Is it too early for Embiid to return to play? Is he taking a risk by returning so soon? And stylistically, will his return actually hurt the 76ers in how they play against Boston after they found an effective way to attack the Celtics in Game 1?

Co-host of the CLNS Media “Garden Report” Bobby Manning chimes in onsite at TD Garden ahead of the game and discusses Joel Embiid’s status heading into Wednesday night’s matchup.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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