The Sixers may have another rotation player available for Game 3 of their first-round series with the Knicks tonight. De’Anthony Melton practiced on Wednesday and could suit up on Thursday, Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
“I’m feeling good,” Melton said after the practice. “I’m ready for the game tomorrow and we’ll see how it goes.”
Melton averaged a career-high 11.1 points per game this season and is a strong perimeter defender. He has played only seven games since Dec. 30 due to a spinal injury.
“I think for me, the little things, rebounding, boxing out, getting deflections, getting steals,” Melton said of the impact he could make.
We have more from the Atlantic Division:
- Despite his team being up 2-0 in the series, Knicks star guard Jalen Brunson isn’t happy with his production. He’s shooting 29.1% from the field during the first two contests, with the Sixers sending extra bodies to force tougher shots. “The easy answer is I need to adjust and I need to be more poised, just understand what they’re doing and just flat-out be better,” Brunson said, per Peter Botte of the New York Post. “There’s no gimmicks to it. It’s just, ‘Jalen, you need to be better.’ And it’s that plain and simple.”
- Their ability to keep Brunson in check with Kelly Oubre Jr. as the primary defender is one of the reasons why the Sixers should be optimistic about rallying in the series, ESPN’s Tim Bontemps writes. The fact that Joel Embiid has been able to effectively play through a sore knee is another reason to believe a turnaround is coming.
- Following their 111-101 home loss to the Heat on Wednesday night, Celtics star forward Jayson Tatum said it’s his team’s turn to counter Miami’s adjustments, Brian Robb of MassLive.com relays. “I think we’ve gotta be more creative,” Tatum said. “The playoffs are about making adjustments game to game, and they did that. They’re not just going to let us catch the ball, they’re not just going to let us throw it to (Kristaps Porzingis) easy. They’re supposed to try to mess things a little up, and make it a little bit tougher. So it’s our job to react in real time, as well as make our adjustments going from game to game.”
Celtics, it’s your job to play as a team, not 2 guys taking more than 1/2 of the shots. It’s the coach’s job to play the bench especially when they are playing better than the starters. It’s the coach’s job to make adjustments which Mazzulla is not good at. It’s the players’ job to get the ball to the open man.
Been telling you guys all year ….. Boston still can’t beat Miami, even at home, and the Heat without Jimmy Butler and Terry Rozier. Miami wanted to play Boston. They know they can shut down Boston offensively. They know Boston doesn’t have a true “dog” on their roster. Miami’s fans chanted “We Want Boston” in the closing seconds of their Play-In win over the Bulls to seal the match-up. Last year, Miami booked their flights and hotels BEFORE Game 7 in Boston, where they blew out the Celtics. Added Porzingis. Added Jrue Holiday. Subtracted Grant Williams. Still lost at home to Miami who was without Jimmy Butler and Terry Rozier. How do you do that with your history of getting embarrassed by Miami in the Playoffs???
It was one game. What happened in unrelated years with unrelated teams doesn’t matter. This Miami team is bad and they will lose.
Miami went 23-43 from deep. That’s the main reason they won this game. The only way they win this series is to stay that hot, it’s possible but good luck with that.
Miami held Boston to 101 points. Their objective and belief is that they can keep them under 100 points every time they play. They will find enough offense one way or another to get over 100 points, and walk out with a win in 4 out of 7 games this series.
Yeah, I guess when you said Brooklyn was gonna win it all last year we all stopped paying attention to you.
Son Boston in 6 is easy money and 5 might still happen if tatum decides to take over in one of the next 2. The let’s win one for Jimmy was expected.
Miami was absolutely NOT “winning one for Jimmy”. Miami went on Boston’s home floor and did exactly what they fully expected to do …. Win the game …. Just like last year. Miami has absolutely no expectation that they are going to lose this series ….. None!
Heat without 3 players
Butler
Rozier
Richardson
This could go to game 7
The Knicks should be very concerned about Kelly Oubre. He is covering Brunson like a blanket. They are making Brunson work for everything. A healthy Julius Randle would make this not possible.
The Miami Heat, without Jimmy Butler, are looking at the rest Eastern Conference Playoff field, and they don’t see any way that they are not headed back to the Finals. As far as Miami is concerned the field this year is easier than last year. Boston is still Boston. Milwaukee doesn’t have Giannis. Embiid is 80%. They just want to get Jimmy back for a rematch in the Finals against Denver. No reason to doubt Miami in the Playoffs.
You don’t need to post three times to say the same thing. We get it Miami is super scary and you’re smart.
Joe Mazzulla is so over his head its hilarious and I am a Celtic fan.
Watching him get out coached almost nightly and then talk trash about his amazing coaching is also hilarious.
Brad has made ONE huge mistake. He hired this fool to run the most talented team in the NBA. Brad stacked the Celtics with so much talent that even Joe M. could not screw it up…oh wait. He decided to play a sluff off defense against NBA 3 pt shooters…
Mazzulla made very few adjustments during last nights game and I highly doubt he will have any for the next. If I was a gambler I would take the Heat to win in the next game.
Maybe Brad will then realize how horrible Mazzulla truly is and get one of the assistants to change the defense.
As a Celtic fan I was worried this summer that this is where we would be and here we are…Celtics do not play hard all the time, they take plays off and have no sense of urgency until its too late. Its all on Mazzulla. 4th Quarter Game 1 was not a fluke, its who they are. No desire to kill the enemy.
I hope I am wrong but I would be very happy if I was the Sixers, Pacers, Bucks or Knicks. One of them is most likely going to the championship. Boston will jack up 50 3s and then claim the rest of us are stupid because we dont understand analytics.
LOL, such a waste of talent. Being coached by a glorified JC coach.
Stevens should have listened to you bro. You make so much sense it’s unreal,
Last night the Celtics needed Ime Udoka…too bad he is now coaching the Rockets.
It sure is.
Man, how incredibly sad,
Blaming the coach is weak……
Why would they need Ime Udoka? He got out coached by Steve Kerr the one year he made it to the finals. Name me one coach that hasn’t ever lost a playoff game?
BOS has been fighting the same playoff demons since 2018. Only two guys have been there throughout, and they happen to be their two stars. Both appear to suffer from the same addiction (selective effort syndrome). Like any addiction it won’t just disappear, but it can be managed if they own it and fight through it. It’s not helpful to them or the team for fans and media to talk about the problem being the HC (they’ve had 3), the mix of the other players (they’ve been surrounded with a cast of different all star level talents) and it’s not adjustments (whatever that means to them).
BOS can still win this series (and likely will) regardless because they’re the more talented team. But in a league where the more talented of 2 teams almost never losses a 7 game playoff series, they’ve been in way too many discussions of the exceptions.
23-43 on 3’s and Boston was only down 10 not playing hard. KP now has a loss under his belt. Why PP did not shoot is another weird occurrence. We will see Saturday if Joe can coach and if the Celtics will play hard.
Heat are not winning. So get over it.
But they have shown Celtics are soft and can be beat ….. Celtics not winning a ring this yr.
It’s amazing how many experts on one thread know Boston isn’t winning this year.
Guess that’s a wrap.
Celtics have been a favorite since KP and Jrue trades. Then they earned it this season. But losing to a Heat team missing TWO starters, In Boston.
That’s soft lol …… I don’t see losing to Heat. But Cavs will beat them if they do this with them.
You’re right more than you’re wrong, but I’m gonna give a 64 win team just a tad more rope.
You have to agree this was a bad loss. All I’m saying is ,,,, not a good look for a favorite to win a ring. Heat just gave everyone in East hope bro.
City of Philadelphia has run out of Kleenex. Now there is a run on toilet paper. Cry more than Yankee babies …….
Knick bus arrived with brooms on hand…..
Let’s do this ……..
Marcus Smart is a better HC than Mazz
Thanks for spreading da knowledge bro.