The Celtics executed their defensive streak to perfection in Game 2 and Anthony Davis blocked shots like no other in postseason history.
The Celtics bounced back from a disappointing Game 1 loss to defeat the 76ers, 121-87, in a game that ended at halftime. The win wasn’t as surprising as the recent margin, especially with recently crowned player Joel Embiid back in the Philly lineup.
However, the Celtics defense managed to handle both Embiid (15 points, 4-of-9 shooting) and James Harden (12 points, 2-of-14 shooting). Boston was cleaner in their rotations than they were in Game 1 and did an excellent job handling the Embiid comeback.
The Celtics managed to shut out Joel Embiid without a double team
Embiid tallied 12 assists and a potential 21 assists in his first three round one games against the Nets before a sprained knee knocked him out of the lineup. Nic Claxton is an excellent fullback but gives up nearly 65 points to Embiid. To deal with that, Embiid double-crossed him in the elbows over and over, and as we looked past the second game, Embiid carved them both with a pass.
https://videos.nba.com/nba/pbp/media/2023/04/17/0042200122/291/00f425f2-2a09-ba46-7e85-1b0a38eae9f6_960x540.mp4?_=1
Embiid didn’t record a single assist in Game 2 against the Celtics and only one potential assist, in large part because Boston was comfortable defending him in one coverage at center field with Grant Williams or Al Horford.
Embiid has made some tough shots, and touches on his jersey from this range is part of what makes him such a special player. But his injury may have made him a bit hesitant to attack away from dribbling from those points — six of the nine shot attempts were by long jumpers and he had just three in Game 2, compared to 29 in three games against the Nets.
Horford and Williams are both as experienced as Embiid’s defense and each have as successful a record as any individual defender against one of the league’s most prolific scorers.
If the Celtics can handle Embiid with one cover from the middle of the floor, he shuts down the catch-and-shoot jumpers for the supporting reps and forces Harden and Embiid to win by overpowering their defense with powerful shots at tough defenders. This formula may have worked in Game 1, but it was part of the 34-point loss in Game 2 and it’s hard to imagine it working three more times in five games.
Subscribe to WhiteboardFanSided’s daily email newsletter about all things basketball. If you like The Whiteboard, share it with someone you love! If you don’t like The Whiteboard, share it with someone you hate!
Do you have a basketball question? Send it to us at Twitter Or by email and we will try to answer it in an upcoming mailbag.
NBA news and content from across the FanSided Network
Anthony Davis blocks shots like no other in postseason history
The Lakers this postseason was driven by their defense and Anthony Davis was in the middle of it all. His defensive stats The eye appeared completely But what he does in creating impactful plays is remarkable.
Davis has posted a block percentage of 9.9 so far this season, the highest postseason mark since blocks were first recorded in 1972-73 (playing at least 200 minutes). Alonzo Mourning, Dikembe Mutombo and Greg Ostertag are the only other frame guards to run a mass ratio above 9.0 in at least 200 minutes post-season.
But he doesn’t just block shots — he also posts a steal percentage of 1.5 percent, which means he scored a block or steal nearly One in nine possessions is defensive This postseason.
Today’s NBA trivia:
Kevin Looney has racked up 129 rebounds in eight games this postseason, including four games with a 20+. Who holds the record for most rebounds in a single postseason?
Tuesday’s trivia question answered: Including the Game 1 loss, Steph Curry has a massive head-to-head advantage with LeBron James – 25-18. This includes a 10-10 record in the regular season and a 15-8 record in the postseason.