A mix of leftover observations and analysis after the Celtics' 109-101 Game 1 win over the 76ers
1. The Celtics defense in the fourth quarter was superb: The Sixers were hot from the field from the majority of Game 1, making tough turnaround and midrange shots despite strong contests by the C’s. However, once Brad Stevens started tightening up his personnel after an ugly conclusion to the third quarter, the C’s defense locked in. Philadelphia shot just 3-of-19 (15 percent) from the field in the final 10 minutes of the game, opening the door for the Celtics to outscore them 28-16 during crunch time.
The success was due to a variety of reasons. The Sixers were forced to stick with Matisse Thybulle (zero shots in final 10 minutes) to help slow down Jayson Tatum, limiting the Sixers’ options on offense. Boston played terrific individual defense on Josh Richardson (1/4 FG) and Tobias Harris (0/5 FG), forcing both into plenty of contested midrange jumpers or drives into traffic. Embiid got to the free throw line six times but missed all four of his shots as well, with the C’s flashing multiple bodies at him in the post and denying entry passes down low. Tatum loomed large in this sequence, with two blocks and a team-high four rebounds in the frame.
“I thought he was unbelievable defensively the whole game, talking and helping, and communicating and reading, and he just makes a bunch of -- he makes a huge impact on that end,” Brad Stevens said after the win.
The Celtics were a plus-19 in Tatum’s 41 minutes and it’s hard to see that minutes load going down much with Gordon Hayward likely out for at least the next couple games with a sprained ankle. Unlike the Sixers’ wings, Tatum provides elite two-way play right now and that is enabling the C’s to lock down more as long as they keep Embiid out of rhythm. If the Sixers want to spread the floor with shooters, they are going to have to sacrifice defense. In Game 1, Brett Brown went defense first and it resulted in an ugly fourth quarter offensively.
2. Grant Williams may have earned himself some non-Embiid minutes: A one-possession game in the fourth quarter is quite the time for a rookie to make his postseason debut. That didn’t stop Stevens to turn to his steadiest rookie this year in Grant Williams once Joel Embiid went to the bench for the rest in the fourth quarter of Game 1. The choice was a telling one after Rob Williams struggled offensively and with fouling (four in 13 minutes) during his two earlier stints. Looking for a steadier hand in this spot, Stevens turned to Williams at center to give the Celtics a versatile look at all five positions. Stevens hid Williams guarding Thybulle on the perimeter (a non-threat) but the Sixers did their best to target the backup big man on switches with no success. Williams held up well in isolations against Burks, Richardson and Harris, forcing midrange misses in all three spots. He didn’t take a shot on the other end of the court in his brief three minute stint but he managed to bully Al Horford for two offensive rebounds down low.
The performance opens the door to an interesting choice for Stevens moving forward in this series. Rob Williams presents the higher offensive upside but he reverted back to his early season inconsistent ways in Game 1. Was one bad game enough for Stevens to turn to the steadier Grant Williams moving forward? This will be an area to watch heading into Game 2 with most of Enes Kanter’s minutes focused on him strictly matching u with Embiid off the bench.
3. Kemba Walker started to get comfortable in the fourth quarter: It was a slow start for the All-Star during his first game as a Celtic (4/12 FG, eight points over first three quarters). Lost amid the game-changing stretch by Jaylen Brown in the fourth quarter was the fact that Walker emerged with some rhythm and production. The point guard scored 11 points on 3/4 FG and got to the free throw line five times in the final frame, playing one of his best quarters in Orlando with the game on the line.
With Walker gaining more of a rhythm now as his minutes load goes up, the C’s have to be encouraged to hear he’s feeling better than ever even with the additional playing time.
“I felt good, actually. It felt good. I felt really good out there. I don't know what else to really even say. Just, I felt super good. I said this last time that it was the best I ever felt. But once again, this was the best that I've felt since I've been in this bubble. I've just been putting in work and continue to get my knee strengthened.”
With the Sixers putting Josh Richardson on Jayson Tatum to start games, Walker will still have one of the biggest mismatches on the floor with Shake Milton guarding him. The Celtics will need him to look more like his former self now with Hayward out indefinitely and Monday’s fourth quarter was a positive step on that direction.
4. Celtics are going to need to give Jayson Tatum some help on the glass: The All-Star was very engaged on the glass against Philly’s length in Game 1, grabbing a team-high 10 defensive rebounds. He didn’t get much help from his teammates though as no other Celtic grabbed more than four defensive rebounds. The C’s did a nice job on the offensive glass all night but they are going to need more gang rebounding to keep the Sixers away from second chance opportunities.
Embiid is going to get his down low periodically in mismatches against Daniel Theis but the C’s can’t allow smaller players like Alec Burks (three offensive rebounds) and Harris (three offensive rebounds) be a major factor on the glass everyone. There was a lot of staring by guys on the wings in Game 1 instead of boxing out and the rebounding will only get tougher now with Hayward’s health in question, leading to a smaller Marcus Smart moving into the starting five in all likelihood. It takes a lot of commitment to keep the bigger Sixers out of the paint for 48 minutes but the Celtics need to do a better job of this than they did in Game 1. Otherwise, this could turn into a long series.