While they wait see what happens with Ben Simmons in the next three weeks or so (the market closes on February 10), the Sixers proved again that they are not far from being a serious threat in the East. That they are one good move away from Daryl Morey, that we will see if he executes it now… or next summer. Meanwhile, Doc Rivers’ team is still in its best moment of the season. After a seven-game winning streak broken by the loss to the Hornets, he recomposed himself in a game against the Celtics that had much less history than the 111-99 final would seem to indicate. It was a beating, a victory that was never in question, a proof that the plan A of the Sixers (24-17 now, on the lookout for the top 4) is viable against many rivals, almost all of them in the East except the elite (Bucks, Nets…); and from what the Celtics are still not showing really. They move in some lurches that have to do with the calendar, with the form of the rivals, with their own tilting between good and bad nights… but again their defects showed against a powerful enemy. It usually happens to them and it is a 21-22. In negative, out of play in still despite coming to Philadellphia with three wins in a row.
They got scalded. In their previous game, against the Indiana Pacers (minor rival), the Jay’s they dominated and Dennis Schröder accompanied. Against the Sixers (much more bull), the point guard stayed at one point and Tatum and Brown combined 12 turnovers, 10 in a terrible first half that left the game uneventful (55-35). In reality, a first quarter (32-14) was enough, which was an absolute destruction that included a partial of 18-0 and a total of 28-2. As it sounds: from 4-10 in four minutes to 32-12 before Payton Pritchard’s final basket. Tremendous. There wasn’t much more to tell. The Celtics never really rejoined and Udoka threw in the towel with most of the fourth quarter to play and the score at 89-72. For what tomorrow will be another day which is still very true, literally in this case: today the Celtics play tonight against some Bulls who arrive injured. after being crushed by the Nets and Warriors. And that they have been left without Zach LaVine.
Joel Embiid needed to reach 30 points to have the best streak in the history of the Sixers But he did not need to squeeze himself to get there and he stayed at eight, the same as Allen Iverson and Wilt Chamberlain. If it had been necessary, I would have put them. ANDhe Cameroonian finished with 25, 13 rebounds, 6 assists and, beyond that, a huge defensive display, the master of ceremonies of an ultra-aggressive line that absorbed all the virtues of a lost Celtics. With Embiid inside and Matisse Thybulle (5 steals) breaking up the game pick and roll of the rival outside, the Sixers sucked in the Celtics, unable to score or hold possession in the first half. As Seth Curry (17 points, 5/9 triples) and Tyrese Maxey (23 and 5/7) and accompanied Tobias Harris (17 + 9) were also very good, the beating was served. The most hated rival in Philly He came out burned, absolutely demolished from the great classic of the East.
Tatum (20 points, 7 turnovers) and Brown (21-for-18 shooting, 5 turnovers for an assist) produced with lightweight feel who was buffeted from side to side of the ring by the king of heavyweights, a Joel Embiid who has been at the MVP level for weeks and that he only needs Morey to get something out Okay of that black hole in which the Ben Simmons case to go all out in the East. But of course, that only It is actually a gigantic factor, a very difficult equation to solve for a team that, despite everything, is going strong and is, of course, more compact and stronger than some Celtics that are going to blows from here to there.
