How will Sixers handle Celtics’ double-big man lineup in Game 7?

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How will Sixers handle Boston’s double-big lineup in Game 7? originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

To begin a film session that the 2022-23 Sixers hope is not their last, head coach Doc Rivers initially focused on something very basic.

“The first film (clip) today was — I don’t know how long it took — 45 seconds of missed shots with no sound, nobody talking,” Rivers said Saturday afternoon following practice. “And I just showed it. I didn’t say a word, I just showed it.

“And then I turned it off and everybody was like, ‘Holy goodness.’ … And so I finally turned around and I said, ‘What do you guys see?’ And they were like, ‘We’re good.’ That was the first thing that someone said: ‘We’re good.’”

The Sixers’ Game 6 loss Thursday night to the Celtics was indeed full of uncharacteristic misses.

With an opportunity to seal their second-round playoff series, the Sixers went 6 for 25 (24 percent) on wide-open three-pointers, per NBA.com/Stats. 

“It was probably our highest shot quality of the year and we just didn’t make anything,” Rivers said.

Still, there’s a ton that will decide Sunday afternoon’s Game 7 in Boston besides just make or miss.

The Sixers’ approach against the Celtics’ double-big lineup jumps out as an important factor. In Game 6, Boston opened with an Al Horford-Robert Williams III frontcourt for the first time this postseason and took a 15-3 lead.

While Rivers again chalked much of that up to his team’s unfortunately wayward jump shooting, Williams’ presence in the paint tends to be impactful. An NBA All-Defensive Second Team selection last year, Williams has a 7-foot-6 wingspan. He’s a nimble, high-leaping, instinctive shot blocker. You can’t drive into the lane and pretend he’s not there.

Tyrese Maxey tried several floaters over Williams instead of testing him closer to the rim.

Williams got his hand on one of those attempts anyway.

The obvious potential downside of parking Williams inside is that he’s frequently leaving a Sixer wide open beyond the arc.

To start Game 6, that was P.J. Tucker, who’s become a corner three specialist…

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Author : NBC Sports Philadelphia

Publish date : 2023-05-13 23:08:00

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