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Celtics (11-8) at Sixers (4-15) Game #20 12/3/16
« on: December 02, 2016, 10:32:29 PM »

Offline FLCeltsFan

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Boston Celtics (11-8) at Philadelphia 76ers (4-15)
Regular Season Game #20, Road Game #11
Saturday, December 3, 2016
7:30 PM ET
TV: CSNNE, CSN-PHI, NBA-LP 755(DTV)/751 (Xfinity)
Radio: 98.5 Sports Hub, 97.5 The Fanatic
Wells Fargo Center




Probable Starters

PG Isaiah Thomas....... SG: Avery Bradley

C: Al Horford

SF: Jae Crowder  .............. PF: Amir Johnson

Celtics Reserves
Jaylen Brown
Gerald Green
Terry Rozier
James Young
Jonas Jerebko
Tyler Zeller
Marcus Smart
Kelly Olynyk

Injuries

None

D-League

Demetrius Jackson
Jordan Mickey

Head Coach
Brad Stevens





Probable Starters

PG:  Sergio Rodriguez................. SG:  Gerald Henderson

C:  Jahlil Okafor

SF:  Robert Covington .............. PF: Ersan Ilyasova

Sixers Reserves
Jahlil Okafor
CJ McConnell
Dario Saric
Nik Stauskas
Timothe Luwawu Cabarret
Richaun Holmes
Hollis Thompson

Injuries

Jerryd Bayless (wrist)  game time decision
Nerlens Noel (knee)  questionable
Ben Simmons (foot)  out
Robert Covinton (knee) game time decision
Joel Embiid (rest)  out

Coach
Brett Brown

Game Notes   
The Celtics travel to Philadelphia to take on the 76ers in the first of 4 meetings this season.  The Celtics and Sixers met once in the first game of the preseason with the Sixers coming out on top.  The Celtics won the series 4-0 last season. 

Both teams are playing in the second of back to back games.  The Celtics played at home against the Kings coming out with a 5 point win.  The Sixers played at home against the Magic losing 105-88. That was the Sixers 5th straight loss.  The Sixers have an advantage playing both games at home while the Celtics had to travel after their game. 

The Sixers game against the Kings on Wednesday was postponed due to unsafe conditions on the court.  There was condensation on the court and even DeMarcus Cousins joined in and tried to mop the floor but to no avail. Since they played on it Friday night, hopefully it will be in good shape for this game.

The Celtics have no injuries to report.   Jerryd Bayless is listed as a game time decision and may come back from a wrist injury.  Nerlens Noel is working his way back from a knee injury  He was assigned to Philly's D-League affiliate to get some work in and then recalled.  He is questionable for this game.   Ben Simmons is out with a foot injury.  Robert Covington left Friday's game in the 4th quarter with a knee sprain and is a game time decision.  The Sixers will more than likely continue to sit Embiid on the second night of back to backs and with Noel probably out, Okafor will likely get the start. 

Key Matchups
  vs 
Al Horford vs Jahlil Okafor
The Sixers will likely sit Embiid on the second night of back to back games.  With Noel still expected to be out, Jahlil Okafor will likely get the start at center.   He is averaging 10.7 points and 3.9 rebounds per game.   While Okafor is good, he is nowhere near Embiid's level.  Horford should be able to get the best of this matchup.

vs
Isaiah Thomas vs Sergio Rodriguez
Rodriguez is averaging 7.7 points, 3.1 rebounds and 6.8 assists.  Isaiah has to keep Rodriguez from getting into their offense while at the same time, make Rodgriguez work on the defensive end of the court. 

Keys to the Game
Defense - The Celtic have struggled with their defense recently and must get back to making defense their priority.   Defense wins games and the Celtics must get back to playing tough defense as a team. 

Be Aggressive
- The Celtics have to be the more aggressive team and go after all the loose balls, and aggressively go after rebounds, and be aggressive on defense. They also have to be aggressive in taking the ball into the paint.  The more aggressive team will usually get the benefit of the whistles.

Move the Ball - The Celtics have shown beautiful ball movement at times and they have been able to make the extra pass and find the open man to get the best shot.   But  at times, their assist levels have dropped and they play more one on one and take quick shots, especially when the second unit comes in.   Hero ball rarely wins games.  They also seem to have lost their confidence and they need to get that back and get back to playing Celtics basketball. 

Focus - The Celtics need to make their shots.  It is a mystery how a team can shoot 50+% in one game and then be unable to hit a shot in the next game.   That has to be a lack of focus and confidence.  They need to keep their focus and not play down to the Sixers.

Bench Play - The Celtics starters built a big lead over the Kings on Friday night only to give up the entire lead when the reserves came in.  The ball movement that was so good with the starters stopped with the reserves.   The Celtics reserves need to keep up the ball movement when they come in and they need to play with more intensity.   

X-Factors
Fatigue - Both teams are playing in the second of back to back games.  So fatigue could come into play at the end of this game, especially for the Celtics who are playing on the road.  The Celtics depth could come into play in this one.   

Officiating - Officiating will always be an x-factor.  Some crews call every little bit of contact that takes the flow out of the game.  Some crews let them play.  Some refs have an agenda against a team, a coach or a player.  All of these things can alter the way a game is played and the ability of a team to play well.
« Last Edit: December 03, 2016, 06:15:03 PM by FLCeltsFan »

Re: Celtics (11-8) at Sixers (4-15) Game #20 11/3/16
« Reply #1 on: December 02, 2016, 10:33:48 PM »

Offline csfansince60s

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They want to lose, we want to win. Lets accommodate these Seventy Stinkers!!!

TP FLCeltsFan for another job well done.

Go Cs!!!

Re: Celtics (11-8) at Sixers (4-15) Game #20 11/3/16
« Reply #2 on: December 02, 2016, 10:34:39 PM »

Offline Phantom255x

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TP FLCeltsFan!!!!

On to Philly! Let's make it two in a row!!!

Horford made the key plays against DMC near the end, excited to see how he fares against Embiid.
"Tough times never last, but tough people do." - Robert H. Schuller

Re: Celtics (11-8) at Sixers (4-15) Game #20 11/3/16
« Reply #3 on: December 02, 2016, 10:34:41 PM »

Offline max215

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Go Celtics!!!!!!!!!
Isaiah, you were lightning in a bottle.

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Re: Celtics (11-8) at Sixers (4-15) Game #20 11/3/16
« Reply #4 on: December 02, 2016, 10:38:15 PM »

Online jpotter33

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Don't think Embiid will be playing tomorrow night. Still on the back-to-back rest schedule.

Re: Celtics (11-8) at Sixers (4-15) Game #20 11/3/16
« Reply #5 on: December 02, 2016, 10:41:18 PM »

Offline celticsclay

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Don't think Embiid will be playing tomorrow night. Still on the back-to-back rest schedule.

Let's watch okafor have a great game and stoke the flames of this board

Re: Celtics (11-8) at Sixers (4-15) Game #20 11/3/16
« Reply #6 on: December 02, 2016, 10:41:57 PM »

Online jpotter33

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Don't think Embiid will be playing tomorrow night. Still on the back-to-back rest schedule.

Let's watch okafor have a great game and stoke the flames of this board

Noel is questionable for tomorrow, too. It'd be a nice audition for his future team.  ;)

Re: Celtics (11-8) at Sixers (4-15) Game #20 11/3/16
« Reply #7 on: December 02, 2016, 10:45:20 PM »

Offline max215

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Don't think Embiid will be playing tomorrow night. Still on the back-to-back rest schedule.

Let's watch okafor have a great game and stoke the flames of this board

Odds he begs to be allowed on our flight back to Boston?
Isaiah, you were lightning in a bottle.

DKC Clippers

Re: Celtics (11-8) at Sixers (4-15) Game #20 11/3/16
« Reply #8 on: December 02, 2016, 10:45:25 PM »

Offline FLCeltsFan

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TP to csfansince60s for being the first to post in the game thread!! 


Goooooooooooooo  Celtics!!!!1

Re: Celtics (11-8) at Sixers (4-15) Game #20 11/3/16
« Reply #9 on: December 02, 2016, 10:58:06 PM »

Offline green_bballers13

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Tonight Philly lost by 17 points... to Orlando. Why is Robert Covington starting for them over Saric? The young top picks not named Embiid (Saric and Luwawu) should be playing a ton of minutes.

Re: Celtics (11-8) at Sixers (4-15) Game #20 11/3/16
« Reply #10 on: December 02, 2016, 11:08:51 PM »

Offline tazzmaniac

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Tonight Philly lost by 17 points... to Orlando. Why is Robert Covington starting for them over Saric? The young top picks not named Embiid (Saric and Luwawu) should be playing a ton of minutes.
Covington is their best perimeter defender which is one of their biggest weaknesses.  Saric was picked 12th and Luwawu 24th so they are not top picks.  Luwawu is not ready to play and Saric has been struggling recently. 

Re: Celtics (11-8) at Sixers (4-15) Game #20 11/3/16
« Reply #11 on: December 02, 2016, 11:11:42 PM »

Online jpotter33

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Tonight Philly lost by 17 points... to Orlando. Why is Robert Covington starting for them over Saric? The young top picks not named Embiid (Saric and Luwawu) should be playing a ton of minutes.
Covington is their best perimeter defender which is one of their biggest weaknesses.  Saric was picked 12th and Luwawu 24th so they are not top picks.  Luwawu is not ready to play and Saric has been struggling recently.

That and the fact that Saric is a PF not a SF.

Re: Celtics (11-8) at Sixers (4-15) Game #20 11/3/16
« Reply #12 on: December 02, 2016, 11:41:19 PM »

Online hwangjini_1

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Winwinwinwinwinwinwinwinwinwinwinwin...win Celtics!

Win for the Celtics.

Tp for the famous flc.

Goooooooooooo Celtics!!  ;D
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Re: Celtics (11-8) at Sixers (4-15) Game #20 11/3/16
« Reply #13 on: December 03, 2016, 12:07:24 AM »

Offline Denis998

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Is IT4's finger still sprained?

Re: Celtics (11-8) at Sixers (4-15) Game #20 11/3/16
« Reply #14 on: December 03, 2016, 12:19:15 AM »

Offline GratefulCs

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TP FL!

I had to miss the Kings game? Played some music at a benefit to raise funds for the standing rock protests


i'll definitely catch this one
I trust Danny Ainge