76ers get crushed by Celtics in Game 4 of First Round of NBA Playoffs despite Joel Embiid's return | Game 5 tonight in Boston
Man... Sunday's loss was WAY more depressing than the Game 1 loss. The Sixers NEEDED to tie this series and Joel Embiid made his improbable return which was pretty cool. I respect the toughness for sure, it's pretty shocking he came back just 17 days after his appendectomy! Kelly Oubre Jr. also played despite his own injury.
But the Sixers swiftly got absolutely owned. What a letdown. My gosh, it was never even slightly competitive. There's this idea surrounding the Sixers that's gaining steam and that is, the Sixers might be better without Joel Embiid, and I'm sorta starting to entertain this theory. It's hard to say. I'm unsure if Embiid knows how to play with other competent players, which the Sixers have. It's like as soon as Embiid shows up to a game, the team's pace slows down and he feels as if he has to play Superman or something. Or maybe the other Sixers don't know how to play with Embiid. But it also doesn't help when Embiid plays sporadically in spurts throughout the season and never ever seems to be able to gain any genuine chemistry with these teammates. V.J. Edgecombe only had six points and hasn't looked the same since that awesome Game 2. It's overall just sad man. Just a tough situation no matter how you slice it.
Payton Pritchard of the Celtics will haunt my nightmares I swear. He's annoyingly good and dropped an absurd 32 points in Game 4, it was like he couldn't miss. Legit Steph Curry vibes and I'm dead serious.
What it felt like watching the Sixers crumble in Game 4:
A 3-1 comeback is borderline impossible. I'll be here for a historical bounce back don't get me wrong. But at this point as sad as it sounds, I wouldn't hate it if the Sixers could at least win tonight and push it to a Game 6. That would be a mild consolation prize. A good Play-In victory over the Magic who are currently beating the #1 seed Pistons 3-1, followed by pushing the Celtics, who could win the Finals, to 6 games.
Hey, if the Sixers win tonight, Game 6 will be in Philadelphia. Winning tonight could change the series if the Sixers somehow look better with Embiid. Maybe that first game was just a matter of rust who knows.
Let's just win and ignore the fact that they're down 3-1! Backs are against the wall! Go all out! Ya never know when you'll be in the playoffs again!
#GOSIXERS
