Character display in Boston of a Sixers about to change history

basketball
May 10, 2023
No Comments

Based on talent and MVP but also toughness, the Philadelphia 76ers are about to turn their unfortunate history upside down since the beginning of the XXI centuryto get rid of their complexes and make their fans feel like they haven’t felt since 2001the last time Philly saw his team get past a Conference Semifinals with that team to the sound of Allen Iverson reaching the Finals in which they could do little against the Lakers of Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal.

After shed almost blood to survive Sunday to tie the series, the Sixers went on to win by a TD Garden in which they even swept at times (103-115) to leave the Celtics on the limit with 3-2 with an impeccable staging in which they squandered effort, seriousness and alternatives, with Tyrese Maxey Going from the third star in contention to being fully integrated into a trident of stars that dazzled Boston.

The point guard, so claimed as an essential requirement for the success of the Sixers and not infrequently criticized for his lack of reliability, shot up to the 30 points riddling from the perimeter -6/12 in triples, with Joel Embiid this time yes in MVP plan with 33 points -10/23 in TC and 10/11 in free throws-, without daunting at any time and James Harden managing more than executing and embroidering interpretation and shot selection, only 17 points but with 4/8 shooting and 10 assists.

Jayson Tatum tried to sustain the Celtics with 36 points -although 11/27 in shots and 3/11 in triples-, in the company of Jaylen Brown -24 with a 9/16 shooting and a 3/6 from the perimeter-.

Contradicting what has been customary this season, Boston failed as a collective against Sixers who were more of a team this time, only Marcus Smart like the other player adding in double digits (14). The statistics are not dogma but 82% of the teams that have won Game 5 with 2-2 in the tie have ended up taking the cat into the water. Although Boston was able to come back from 3-2 to the Milwaukee Bucks in the same Conference Semifinals.

The Celtics -very favorite at the beginning of the tie- may have more variety in their game and more template depth –It can even be said that the largest roster in the NBA-. And that, at the same time, more tactical wealth is longed for in the Sixers beyond the fabulous Embiid-Harden couple. But for ‘Philly’ this is the year. They believe it, they touch it, they feel it.

And they transmit it, with an unbridled desire and a faith that is perceived, especially after a Game 3 -which was 2-1 for Boston-, in which the MVP raised his voice so that everyone would get more involved. And since everything is not only about the blackboard, but also about emotions, Doc Rivers knows how to touch the fiber to his players with Harden and Gospel as a paradigm while PJ Tucker, with the vehement rebuke of Embiid from Game 4 as the most illustrative image, rounds them all up.

In a story published by ESPN, he said that his team is tougher this year. But also more mature in terms of the Embiid-Harden relationship, with a string of alternatives in the pick and roll that make them indefendibles, more if the triples enter, with 12/30 for 40% compared to the insufficient 12/38 -34%-, of the Celtics. Especially if Tobias Harris He is the one expected and scores 16 goals like last night in a duel in which Rivers’ men almost always had control, with incomes above 10 points and reaching 19.

With Maxey’s constant inspiration as a serious unforeseen event and all the doubts it generated, the MVP couple He drove the Celtics crazy with the twist they gave to the direct block. Going to play high pick and roll with Harden starting the play spaced out the court and the activation of an option that had hardly been seen in this series – the one of the ‘pick and pop’ with Embiid-, he hit Boston again and again, outside with the Cameroonian shooting from the perimeter after blocking -3/7 in triples-, or from medium distance.

A type of play in which above all he suffered above all Robert Williams III, questioning his reputation as a good defender for much of the tie and also giving too much space to Maxey at the exit of the direct block.

There was an interesting detail on Maxey’s part that could have contributed to the magnificent track spacing from Philadelphia. The ‘0’ was the one who started the attack on many occasions to then hand it over to Harden, close to him to continue the play, to later cut and take his defender. At times it was even Maxey himself who followed through with Harden keeping Jaylen Brown sealed beyond the perimeter to dismantle the Celtics’ compact defense so Embiid had more room to operate in the post as well.

The Cameroonian got into tune with his mid-distance shot regardless of who his defender was and he was smart taking free kicks when the physical intensity and the accumulation of aids made him uncomfortable. But in ‘Philly’ he also had his incidence Danuel House Jr, indispensable factor X. He had only played 8 minutes so far in the series, but he multiplied to influence both hoops and finish with 10 points.

Nothing to do with that of especially Game 3, the Sixers’ defense increased its level of intensity and activity, with P.J. Tucker at a very high level, with the aids following one another and, key, Joel Embiid staying close to the basket. When the Cameroonian steps into the paint and acts as the defense’s anchor, the 76ers become impregnable.

The MVP, with 4 plugs included, he felt very comfortable, especially in the 2-3 zone that Rivers’ men played at times, conceding a little more on the perimeter, being very clear that, above all, the paint had to be protected to prevent Boston from generating shots from 7.25 of good quality. Al Horford, completely denied with a 0/7 to finish with 0 points.

These Sixers have some parallels with those of 2001. An MVP, an African center like back then -Dikembe Mutombo– that blends perfectly with a Hall of Fame point guard with mesmerizing ‘crossovers’ without a ring -something that Harden hopes to reverse-, but, above all, a lot of determination. On Thursday, the sixth game -01:30, peninsular time-, it may be, finally, the day Philadelphia has been waiting for for over 20 years.

BOSTON CELTICS

103115