The Celtics had a chance to beat Philly without Jaylen Brown and Robert Williams thanks to the Sixers nearly collapsing in the last 10 seconds of the game, but Joel Embiid’s 52 proved to be too much to handle. John Karalis of Boston Sports Journal discusses the loss, why the Celtics seemed cool with how the night went, and why they didn’t guard Embiid like they normally would have. Plus, thoughts on Jaylen’s interview with Shams Charania and his comments about Marcus Smart and Jayson Tatum.
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!
ebay Motors
For parts that fit, head to eBay Motors and look for the green check. Stay in the game with eBay Guaranteed Fit. eBay Motors dot com. Let’s ride. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply.
BetterHelp
This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at Betterhelp.com/LockedOnNBA and get on your way to being your best self.
Gametime
Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNBA for $20 off your first purchase. Last minute tickets. Lowest Price. Guaranteed.
Built Bar
Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order.
Ultimate Pro Basketball GM
To download the game just visit probasketballgm.com or look it up on the app stores. Our listeners get a 100% free boost to their franchise when using the promo LOCKEDON (ALL CAPS) in the game store.
PrizePicks
First time users can receive a 100% instant deposit match up to $100 with promo code LOCKEDON. That’s PrizePicks.com – promo code; LOCKEDON
FanDuel
Make Every Moment More. Don’t miss the chance to get your No Sweat First Bet up to ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS in Bonus Bets when you go FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON.
FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)
Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms…
🎧 https://link.chtbl.com/LOCeltics?sid=YouTube
Locked On NBA League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Draft, WNBA & More
🎧 https://linktr.ee/LockedOnNBA
Locked On Celtics is a daily Boston Celtics podcast by Boston Sports Journal beat writer John Karalis. It’s an inside look at the C’s from a former professional basketball player who is at practices & games.
#BostonCeltics #Celtics #NBA #JaysonTatum #JaylenBrown
36 Comments
John, why are you so sure that the Celtics will play Miami in round 1? No guarantee that they win the first play-in game. They’ve been exceptionally mid all year
We win this game easily with Jaylen. Worried? Nope. We missed 6 FT’s and gave Philly 10+ points on turnovers. I do agree with the other commenter who said he’d like to see something drawn up for someone besides Tatum though in these last second situations. It’s old as fck and everyone knows it’s going to JT. That missed FT play was a thing of beauty. Bring on the postseason. Please. Thanks John.🙏🏻🔒☘️
the celtics were playing like a team that was coasting to win 1of the next 3 games to secure the 2 nd seed
The team were hiding stuff from the Sixers. They werent trapping Embiid aggressively and for the most part just played him straight up which isnt the way they usually do. And yeah there's absolutely no reason to give the Sixers insight on how we are playing them so they can try different stuff to break it before we even play each other. Other than possibly homecourt vs the Nuggets, this game has absolutely no bearing. We just need to win once or the Sixers to lose once and we secure our spot.
If it was Brown you would have been crucifying him.
So if we would have won this guy would have said Celtics played their best game and won without brown and Williams. Seriously.
If the 76ers need Embid to drop 50 to barely win then it’s not a concern. However why in the world were the Celtics just letting PJ Tucker stand alone in the corner and daring him to shoot 3 TIMES??? I get it happening once but not 3. 🙄
2 things about Tatum. Either he let the refs get into his weak mind from the start of the game so he took waay more 3s than he should have because he was missing them and wouldn’t drive because he wasn’t getting calls. Or he just loses interest/gives up on the games where Robert Williams isn’t playing because he has said he’s the most important piece on the team. How can this superstar be so inconsistent 😔 he was on a heater the last 2 games and then he goes back to his bricking form that he’s been on since All-Star break.
Almost made an unbelievable comeback..JT should have passed back to DWhite on that last play. He clearly saw Embid going to double him, but he got to be the hero…on a night when he shot poorly and kinda disappeared in the 4th. 😔
Good team effort though.
John i have yet to hear anyone say brown would leave if he made all NBA. Brown 100% is going to shop if he does not, and when a player shops, you need to toss around options because losing brown for nothing would be detrimental and bad business. Now with that said i trust brown to stay long term over tatum if we made him #1
Proper officiating and the Celtics take this game easy. It’s getting old real quick. And embiid is giving Lebron a run for his money with the flopping. But no one is gonna talk about that. Gotta keep the league happy. Pathetic.
Btw, I am VERY afraid Joe Mazzulla might get outcoached HARD in the playoffs.
I don’t have any concerns about the 76ers in the playoffs they don’t show up and Embiid won’t score 52 but I don’t like Kornet mins bc he’s horrible at rebounding and isn’t aggressive enough I hope he improves or we let him go this summer I know we have second round picks in the draft so I hope we get a decent center we can develop
It's a shame he dropped 52 and no jb or rob lol philly sux🤣🤣🤣🍀 and it was still this close 😂😂
Not worried at all.
If the Cs would’ve pulled that game off oh boy but we didn’t woulda coulda …..Grant Williams is definitely gonna cost us a game in the Playoffs with his stupid foul batting and arguing with the refs. The Celtics better respect that team I don’t care about our record against them it only takes one lucky bounce and you’re going home smh
The Pain the Pain
Philly still almost dropped that lol
If anything, this game shows that unless Embiid averages 40+ against the Celtics every playoff game, the Sixers are done for. If I'm the players, I'm not sweating about this game either. A few better executed offensive posessions and they would have completed the series sweep. Sixers will be fortunate to win even two games against a fully healthy Celtics squad.
Still let their bad habits show. Can they flip the switch for the playoffs. Can Tatum stop the plays we all know are bad and be his great self. I have my hopes and dreams and doubts
Id rather deal with jimmy butler then mikal bridges 🤷🏻♂️
We didn’t need JB we had JT only if he was as good as Brown from the Midrange 🤷🏽♂️we win but yet again we live & die by all the bricked 3’s 🤦🏽♂️ instead of getting paint points nor midrange jumpers 😤
If any celtics fan complains about refs your hypocrites Boston all they do is flop instead of playing like grown men Go bucks 1# is the magic number
My only concern is the lack of big man post point efforts nor any consistent midrange points from our guards.. Without JB on the court our midrange and layup game is almost none-existent 🙁
Embiid dominated the game from midrange.. He stayed in his spot draining buckets all night from the same area on the court and the Celtics didn’t choose to stop him 🤷🏽♂️🤨🤦🏽♂️
Embid 52 but win by only 2? Jt played like dog shit no brown or rob will, celtics in 6
Embid is not same player that you guys are use to…he is passing the ball much better now…he sees the floor better..I hope your team is betting on that…Embid is much better…the Celtics can't stop Embid…No team can
Marcus Smart has to be better. These wide open shots have to get knocked down or get to the rim or pass it.
Everybody wants to talk about JT and not Smart. Derrick has to start man. We have to win the chip so we can send Smart out on a high note I love him and it is time to look to for someone to play a better fitting role.
Pj tucker won the game for the sixers
Embiid is going to have to play 45 mpg in the playoffs cause his team is garbage without him on the floor. He was just mentioning how he plays when he's tired, not too long ago.
How long do we wait to sign a Big man Center to body Joel Embiid ?
Why dont Boston Sign a Center that can rebound and Block shots Whats going on with them??
Why sign Mfiondu Kabengele but do not even let this guy play??
Not worried at all.
we had a chance to win this game regardless of brown and rob no excuses 🍀 in 5 though
Forgive me for my ignorance. But did they sit JB and Timelord out against Philly so that the who team wouldn’t be sitting against Toronto? If they would’ve won that game, couldn’t they have just sat the starters all three games?
Honestly i have no proble with this defeat. The celtics looked like they were crusing and still picked appart sixers defence for a good portion of the game. Sixers needed 50 something from embid and still boston could have won. If Embid plays like that everygame in the playoff he would have surpased even mj, thats not likely happening