Reminding People Why You Are Here

A few stray thoughts on last night’s NBA Playoff basketball

[Ed. note: This article was originally published at raymondsimms.com, a temporary personal blog I ran during the 2022-23 basketball season. It was ported over to Crucial Baskets on April 20, 2024.]

Philadelphia 76ers 119, Boston Celtics 115

This was a bizarre game. It’s a game that made me wonder “are the Celtics aware they just went to the Finals last year”? Despite their conference championship experience, they played scared down the stretch of this game. Mind-boggling turnovers, passing up important shots, defensive breakdown.

It was a weird air to the Celtics in this game. They shot 71.8 percent in the first half, yet were only ahead 66-63 at intermission. This just didn’t feel like a C’s team that had been there before.

That said, the 76ers really earned this victory. James Harden came through with his 45 points with Embiid ruled out. Once you get past the first round, Harden’s consistency as a leading guy has historically been shaky. However, there wasn’t any doubt about it on Monday night.

Additionally, I feel like the 76ers roster has been fortified with plenty of “go-getter” energy. P.J. Tucker, Tyrese Maxey, De’Anthony Melton, and Tobias Harris are all players that bring determination and perseverance every game.

On top of that, Paul Reed grinded out his starting opportunity in place of Embiid. While he struggled early, he grew as the game went on and managed to hit some crucial free throws down the stretch. Under Doc Rivers, it’s surprising to see games like this from the 76ers brand, but major props to them for getting a big road win in Game 1.

Denver Nuggets 97, Phoenix Suns 87

You don’t expect a 90’s-throwback-grinder-game in the Western Conference, let alone at altitude, where Nuggets teams have historically looked to outrun their opponents. And yet, that’s what we got. Both team’s struggled from three all game, but the Nuggets made just the right plays down the stretch to pull off the W.

A lot of national fans are getting the opportunity to see what the hubbub has been about Jokic for all these years. He’s a big, crafty pillar that can do everything and always seems to make the best play.

People dismiss his entertainment value because athleticism is at the forefront of his repertoire. But if you actually sit down for like five minutes and watch him, you get hypnotized and become enamored with his highlight passes, clever footwork, and intelligent play.

But in addition to that, having Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. finally be healthy has been a huge X-factor for the Nuggets run so far. Murray went a rough 3-of-15 from the field on the not, but two of those three made buckets came during a run that cemented the game for Denver.

On top of that, Denver’s depth with Aaron Gordon, Jeff Green, Bruce Brown, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope proved crucial against a Suns team whose role players couldn’t get anything going themselves. With Chris Paul leaving the game due to a pulled groin, this depth could end up playing a major part in determining the result and overarching narrative of this series.