shadowgrin wrote:Knew the Sixers on the defensive end were fucked every time Embiid was more than 15 feet away from the basket because of how the Celtics spread the floor and targeted the weakest defender in cutting to the basket.
Sixers on offense were too much reliant on isos. I don't even blame Embiid for failing to win it, that last play with him was all reliant on him with no plan B in case the Celtics defense crowded him, which they did.
Baynes played great straight up defense, but he didn't necessarily stop Embiid. Embiid got right under the hoop and missed a bunny. His only defender on that play was Baynes, so I think the 76ers would take the same attempt 10 times out of 10 times.
The 76ers looked gassed or caught up in the moment. When Tatum missed that finger roll, not one 76er (Including Embiid who was right in the area) put a body on anybody, which allowed Marcus Smart to fly in uncontested for the tip in. No attempt to boxout Marcus Smart occurred.
They were also confusing the 76ers with screening, and like you said, attacking the weakest defender. Numerous times the Celtics would SHOW a screen for Tatum, and instead of using it he would dive to the hoop. The 76ers looked to be anticipating the use of that screen and others, but the Celtics didn't always use them. C's players off the ball just kept changing directions (Mostly Tatum from what I saw), and it created havoc. They made keeping Embiid away from the basket look easy, and he looked exhausted at the end of the game.