{"id":41612,"date":"2023-11-09T17:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-11-09T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.celticsblog.com\/2023\/11\/9\/23953447\/lessons-from-boston-celtics-philadelphia-76ers-what-are-we-even-doing-jaylen-brown-jayson-tatum"},"modified":"2023-11-09T17:00:00","modified_gmt":"2023-11-09T17:00:00","slug":"lessons-from-celtics-76ers-what-are-we-even-doing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gamefootballmobileanimeiphone.com\/index.php\/2023\/11\/09\/lessons-from-celtics-76ers-what-are-we-even-doing\/","title":{"rendered":"Lessons from Celtics-76ers: what are we even doing?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n \"Boston
Photo by Tim Nwachukwu\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Celtics losing to the 76ers in an emphatically lame effort is bad enough, but what even was the plan out there? <\/p>\n

What are we even doing?<\/p>\n

It\u2019s never fun to lose a basketball game, but it\u2019s even less fun when that game leaves you wondering what the heck the Celtics<\/a> were even trying to do with their lives\u2026<\/p>\n

\u2026and that\u2019s about as far as I got. I started writing the intro to this article with just under two minutes left in the fourth quarter, with the Celtics down 14 and with a 99.8 percent chance of losing according to ESPN Analytics. Generally, when one of the teams has less than half a percent chance of victory, I feel fine starting a column.<\/p>\n

But the Celtics must have taken offense to my actions, because they stormed back, cutting the lead to three and had a chance to force overtime on a Kristaps Porzingis last-second miss. I almost deleted that intro, but then the Celtics lost anyway. <\/p>\n

And because I watched the entire game, which for 46 minutes consisted of somewhat-sketchy to downright uninspired Celtics basketball, I refuse to overreact to a two-minute stretch of glory. Yes, the Celtics began making open shots, running in transition, and playing actually-good defense that saw a 90-second, 13-2 run nearly eliminate an entire game of lameness. <\/p>\n

Because except for that run, much of the game begged the question I came up with at the two-minute mark: what are we even doing? That\u2019s a pretty broad question, so I\u2019m going to break it down into some subsidiary what-are-we-even-doings, before tying it up with a sad, dejected bow.<\/p>\n

\n \"Boston
\n Photo by Tim Nwachukwu\/Getty Images<\/cite>
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1. What was Jayson Tatum even doing?<\/strong><\/p>\n

In a rivalry game\u2014and yes, Celtics-76ers<\/a> is a true rivalry\u2014it is plainly unacceptable to mail in a pedestrian 16 points immediately after being named Eastern Conference Player of the Week. Tatum was unable to assert his will on offense, often spinning into double teams or finding finishing angles clogged by the ever-present arms of Joel Embiid. <\/p>\n

Tatum also dusted off by far the worst move in his bag: the throw-your-hands-in-the-air-in-disbelief-that-you-didn\u2019t-just-get-a-call. He often turns to complaining about officiating when he is frustrated offensively, but that just compounds the problem. Whenever I see Tatum\u2019s arms in the air, I know it won\u2019t be an easy game.<\/p>\n

The 76ers also employed a zone defense, forcing him to give up the ball to open shooters who were struggling to hit the broadside of a French bakery all night. 76ers coach Nick Nurse also presumably employed a zone to prevent Tatum from isolating smaller defenders and obliterating them from the triple threat. That\u2019s been his calling card all season, and it was tough to find an alternate rhythm. <\/p>\n

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\n Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant\/NBAE via Getty Images<\/cite>
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2. What was Jaylen Brown even doing?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Brown was a big part of that late run, but that\u2019s just about all that salvaged a truly abysmal night. He looked lost all over the court, launching brick after brick and not making quick enough decisions with and off the ball or on defense. He was routinely exposed by Tyrese Maxey, who dominated the second half with relentless offensive conviction. <\/p>\n

As I\u2019ve said many times, Brown\u2019s weaknesses aren\u2019t necessarily that much worse than those of other comparable stars, but the way he makes mistakes is so visually unappealing that it feels ten times worse than it actually is. Exhibit A:<\/p>\n

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