Once again, the Celtics fall short to the 76ers. Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey lead the way with 30 plus points each. Although Harden did not score at least 40 points, he put up a solid 17 points, 10 assist, and 8 rebounds.
Again, the Celtics were the favorites going into game 5 and this series. Unsurprisingly, the Celtics continue to show holes in their game.
While Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Marcus Smart combined for 74 points, the rest of the roster did virtually nothing. The rest of the roster combined for 29 points.
The most disappointing stat of the night was Al Horford’s zero points in 25 minutes of playing time. Additionally, Horford had only 5 rebounds all game.
It has become more apparent that the Celtics don’t have anybody on their roster that add significant value.
Critical Game 6
The Celtics find themselves in a critical must win game 6 playing in Philadelphia. Like the Bucks, a loss to the Sixers will be a huge disappointment. Honestly, anything short of a NBA Final victory would be considered a failed season.
Ultimately, the Celtics will have to take a strong look at the roster to see if they want to adjust the roster. Also, the Celtics might start negotiating trades for Jaylen Brown. His best fit is the Miami Heat, however that trade won’t be in their favor.
Needless to say, the Celtics would officially commit all their resources to Jayson Tatum.
Can 76ers Close?
The answer the Sixers must answer is whether or not they can close out the Celtics. The Celtics have dominated the Sixers in the regular season, but this is the playoffs.
The old cliche “Big time players, make big time plays, in big game” will need to be in the air for the Sixers to close. Moments like this is where MVPs like Embiid solidify their legacy.
Nonetheless, the Sixers will need a big performance from James Harden and Tyrese Maxey in order to close. A minimum of 30 points from either or both should close this out.