In the electrifying clash between two basketball powerhouses, the Boston Celtics and the Philadelphia 76ers, the hardwood battlefield witnessed an epic showdown in Game 5 that left fans reeling. The echoes of the buzzer still reverberate, marking the Celtics’ heartbreaking loss, their dreams seemingly shattered. As emotions run high and hearts hang in the balance, the burning question now consumes the minds of Celtics faithful worldwide: Can the green and white rise from the ashes and stage a miraculous comeback to claim victory in Game 7? It seems that the Celtics’ hope for another Finals appearance is on the brink of being gone.
The Boston Celtics brutally lost against the Philadelphia 76ers in game 5. Here’s why
Boston, Massachusetts – The TD Garden was jam-packed with green jerseys to support their home team, the Boston Celtics. In one of the biggest games on the biggest stage in the NBA, the C’s failed to secure a win against the Philadelphia 76ers. Despite Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown’s stellar performances, they still lost in a devastating fashion, 115-103.
There could be a ton of reasons why this happened, but here’s our takeaway in the Celtics-Sixers game 5 playoff matchup:
- As expected, the Celtics do not have an answer for Joel Embiid. The Sixers’ superstar center just proved why he is the 2023 MVP. At the beginning of the game, Embiid already set the tone by being aggressive. He was making shot after shot and was very unstoppable.
- Tyrese Maxey may have been quiet in the semifinal round, but he definitely showed up in game 5. Maxey posted 30 big points to push the Sixers and take the lead, 3-2.
- Surprisingly, the Sixers played more team-oriented basketball. Usually, they run their plays through Joel Embiid or James Harden. But, in game 5, they were involving a lot of other key players like Tobias Harris, Tyrese Maxey, and even Danuel House Jr.
- The James Harden and Joel Embiid duo is amazing to watch. Their pick-and-roll offense is just a thing of beauty. Truly, Harden has changed the way he played. From being an isolation player to becoming one of the best floor generals in the game. Plus, The Beard undeniably controlled the pace of the game, which eventually allowed them to control the lead.
- Finally, statistics-wise, Philadelphia outplayed Boston. The Sixers outrebounded the Celtics (49-36), and they shot better too. Moreover, their defense is on the next level, considering the Celtics are a better defensive team.
Overall, it was a fairly one-sided game. The Sixers held on to their lead and never gave it away for even a moment. Also, Doc Rivers did a great job by giving other players some minutes instead of just putting Embiid and Harden for 48 minutes.
Fans react to the Celtics’ game 5 defeat, but still hoping for the team to win in 7
Boston fans are frustrated that the Celtics lost game 5 at home. Even with still four minutes left in the fourth quarter, fans were spotted leaving the arena. Shockingly, some are even booing the C’s.
Celtics fans clearing out 😬 pic.twitter.com/LLqLVFrLHC
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 10, 2023
Despite the heartbreaking loss, some diehard Celtics fans still believe in them. They’re very optimistic that Boston can take game 6, and bring this to a 7-game series. They’re also hoping that their beloved team defies the odds and wins in 7. But, can they?
Can the Boston Celtics survive game 6 and take the series to 7 games?
Obviously, they can. It’s not an impossible thing and knowing the Celtics’ history, they surely win the series even though they are down 3-2. In the 2022 playoffs, the Jayson Tatum-led Boston Celtics blew past Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks. As we all remember, they were down 3-2 against the then-defending champions. Thanks to Jayson Tatum, they were able to beat the Bucks to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Down 3-2 last year this is what happened, and we blew them out in Game 7pic.twitter.com/F8mIqm9HJn
— CelticsNation (NBA Champions 🏆) (@CelticsTheis) May 10, 2023
That being said, there is still hope for the Celtics. We would expect that the All-Star duo of Tatum and Brown wouldn’t just exit quietly in the playoffs. They for sure will show up in game 6. It would also help that Sixers head coach Doc Rivers has a history of blowing 3-1 leads in the past. Hopefully, he breaks the curse.
The Celtics are down 3-2 against a Doc Rivers-coached basketball team… pic.twitter.com/fwXcphWDiJ
— I 😵💫‼️ (@Ibra_Goat) May 10, 2023
Do you agree with our take? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below. For more content, stay with us, here at Spiel Times.
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