The Whiteboard: Joel Embiid stifled, Anthony Davis on historic trajectory

The Celtics executed their defensive plan to perfection in Game 2 and Anthony Davis is blocking shots like no one else in postseason history.

The Celtics bounced back from a disappointing Game 1 loss to absolutely demolish the 76ers, 121-87, in a game that was all but over by halftime. The win wasn’t as surprising as the final margin, especially with recently crowned MVP Joel Embiid returning to the lineup for Philly.

However, the Celtics’ defense was able to handle both Embiid (15 points, 4-of-9 shooting) and James Harden (12 points, 2-of-14 shooting). Boston was much cleaner in their rotations than in Game 1 and did an excellent job handling the return of Embiid.

The Celtics were able to shut down Joel Embiid without a double team

Embiid racked up 12 assists and 21 potential assists in the first three games of the first round against the Nets before the knee sprain took him out of the lineup. Nic Claxton is an excellent defender but gives up nearly 65 points to Embiid. To deal with that, the Nets repeatedly double-teamed him at the elbows and, as we looked at after Game 2, Embiid carved them up with his passing.

https://videos.nba.com/nba/pbp/media/2023/04/17/0042200122/291/00f425f2-2a09-ba46-7e85-1b0a38eae9f6_960x540.mp4?_=1

Embiid didn’t record a single assist in Game 2 against the Celtics and just one potential assist, in large part because Boston was comfortable defending him in single coverage in the center of the floor with Grant Williams or Al Horford.

Embiid made some difficult shots, and the touch on his jumper from that range is part of what makes him such a special player. But his injury may have made him a bit hesitant to attack off the dribble from those spots — six of his nine shot attempts were long jumpers and he had just three drives in Game 2, compared to 29 in three games against the Nets.

Horford and Williams both have a lot of experience defending Embiid and as solid a track record of success as any individual defender against one of the most prolific big-man scorers in the league.

If the Celtics can handle Embiid with single coverage from the middle of the floor, it closes off catch-and-shoot jumpers for the supporting cast and forces Harden and Embiid to win by beating their defense with tough shots over tough defenders. That formula may have worked in Game 1, but it was part of a 34-point loss in Game 2 and it’s hard to imagine it working three more times in five games.

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Anthony Davis is blocking shots like no one else in postseason history

This Lakers’ postseason run has been driven by their defense and Anthony Davis has been right in the middle of everything. His defensive stats are absolutely eye-popping but what he’s doing in creating impact plays is remarkable.

Davis has recorded a block percentage of 9.9 so far this season, the highest postseason mark since blocks were first recorded in 1972-73 (minimum 200 minutes played). Alonzo Mourning, Dikembe Mutombo and Greg Ostertag are the only other rim protectors to manage a block percentage above 9.0 in at least 200 postseason minutes.

But he isn’t just blocking shots — he’s also posting a steal percentage of 1.5 percent, meaning he’s recorded a block or steal on roughly one out of every nine defensive possessions this postseason.

Today’s NBA Trivia:

Kevin Looney has grabbed 129 rebounds in eight games this postseason, including four games with 20+. Who has the record for most rebounds in a single postseason?

The answer for Tuesday’s trivia question: Including the Game 1 loss, Steph Curry has a massive edge in head-to-head matchups with LeBron James — 25-18. That includes a 10-10 record in the regular season and a 15-8 record in the postseason.