Damian Lillard was thrown off by Joel Embiid’s comments after the Philadelphia 76ers were blown out by the Boston Celtics 112-88 in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, Sunday. Despite winning the Most Valuable Player award, Embiid put up just 15 points on 5-18 attempts with the season on the line. When asked about the game afterward, Embiid admitted that he needed to play better, but added that he can’t carry the team by himself. Lillard wasn’t happy when he saw the comments on Twitter.
“We got an unfinished job. We haven’t won anything,” Embiid said when asked about his and James Harden’s future. “And I think we got the chance to win. Obviously going to seven games and having a chance to close it out at home, which we didn’t do, I still believe we got the chance to win. We got what it takes to win. So obviously, I don’t know what’s going on. And I know he has a player option or they can extend him. But that’s on [the front office] to figure it out, I’m gonna stay out of it. But I still believe that me and him, we got the chance to win.”
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – MAY 14: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers controls the ball against Al Horford #42 of the Boston Celtics during the first quarter in game seven of the 2023 NBA Playoffs Eastern Conference Semifinals at TD Garden on May 14, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
He continued: “But it’s gonna take more than us. We all gotta look at ourselves. I gotta be better and I will be better. That’s what I’m focused on. All of us, we got to come back and find ways to just keep improving and help the team. We can’t win alone, I can’t win alone, me and James, we just can’t win alone. That’s why basketball is played 5-on-5. So, we just need everybody to just trying to keep finding ways to get better. And we’ll be fine.”
In response to the comments, Lillard wrote, “Huh?” Unfortunately for Lillard, The Portland Trail Blazers finished 13th in the Western Conference, far outside of playoff contention.
The Celtics will now take on the Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals while the Lakers will be playing the Nuggets in the West. Both series are rematches of the 2020 playoffs, which were held in the NBA Bubble.
On May 11, with the likes of Kim K in attendance, the Lakers took down the Warriors 122-101 to win their Western Conference Semifinals series and advance in the NBA playoffs. Furthermore, the Lakers became the first team since 2014 to eliminate the Warriors before the Finals. They will now face the Denver Nuggets for a place in the NBA Finals. It’s the fourth time the Lakers and Nuggets have faced off at this stage of the playoffs, with the Lakers holding a 3-0 record in the previous meetings.
LeBron was a powerhouse against the Warriors in Game 6. The veteran legend put up 30 points, 9 rebounds, and 9 assists. Meanwhile, AD ruled in the paint with 20 rebounds as well as 17 points of his own. “It was great to be able to play one of our most efficient games, one of our best games of the series, and it started because of the defensive matchup we had,” LeBron told reporters. “We defended at a high level, and when we do that, we can be extremely good. I thought we were locked in for as close to 48 minutes as possible tonight.”
When LeBron and AD to the media room after the game, there was a surprise guest nestled amongst the reporters. Three-time platinum rapper Tyler, The Creator quietly took a set to watch the press conference for himself. Tyler grew up in the southeast LA neighborhood of Hawthorne, about 13 miles from Crypto.com Arena. However, he has never been regarded as a Lakers diehard.
Tyler appeared to do nothing more than sit and watch, unless something happened that literally no-one is talking about. However, his appearance has generated some hilarious reactions. “When the bad kid has to sit next to the teacher for the rest of the trip,” one commentator said on Instagram. “Bro is in the most random places,” said another while someone quipped in a similar vein, “Bro has spawn points everywhere.” What do you think Tyler, The Creator was up to? Let us know your theories in the comments.
The Sixers were one game away from making their Eastern Conference Finals since 2001. They had edged the Celtics in Game 5 to take a 3-2 series lead after previously trailing Boston 2-1. All they needed was one more win. Going into a home-court Game 6, the Sixers were the slight favorites to win. However, they would need big performances from all their major contributors. MVP Joel Embiid couldn’t be expected to carry the load.
On the other hand, the 57-win Celtics were looking to stay alive. They had squandered a series lead through some bad shooting nights. They were staring down the barrel of elimination. Despite the powerhouse tandem of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, the Celtics were struggling to overcome the MVP-led Sixers.
Both teams forgot how to play basketball at various points during this ugly Game 6. The Celtics started hot, jumping out to a 15-3 lead in the first. However, the Sixers finally found the right gear and only trailed by seven at the end of the quarter. That lead remained for Boston at the half as both teams scored 21 in the second. A big third quarter for the Sixers saw them lead by two going into the final frame but that’s when they once again forgot how to play basketball. Putting up just 13 in the fourth, the Celtics were able to take back the lead to squeak out a 95-86 win.
Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey jointly led all scorers with 26 points. However, P.J. Tucker and Tobias Harris combined for just 10 points, which cost the Sixers greatly. Furthermore, Philly’s bench scored just 11 points. As for the Celtics, they were led by Marcus Smart’s 22. However, they also had two other scorers put up at least 17 each. Despite scoring just two points, Al Horford shook off his ice-cold Game 5 to put up 11 rebounds. The scrappy team effort gives the Celtics the chance to clinch on their home court. They can find the win, it will be the third time in the last five seasons that they have made it to the Conference Finals.
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The two best words in sports: Game. Seven.
Tatum knocks down four 3-pt FG in the 4th quarter to lift the Celtics over the 76ers.
Despite historic numbers from Devon Booker, the Suns had always been the underdogs in their playoff series with the Denver Nuggets. Even then, they had been able to keep the series close and had a chance to force a Game 7. That was a feat in itself, given that the Suns had begun the series in an 0-2 hole. However, they would have to do it without Deandre Ayton. Ayton was ruled out after suffering a rib contusion in Game 5.
As for the Nuggets, they just needed one more win. They had won by 16 in Game 5, once again taking a series lead after allowing the Suns to even things at 2-2. Nikola Jokić had been an absolute beast through the series, but the Nuggets were finally starting to see his supporting cast shine. Furthermore, they had finally found a way to shut down Booker and Durant. With the pair contained, the Suns struggled. All Denver had to do was do it again.
The Nuggets’ starters were key in Game 6. Nikola Jokić, Jamal Murray, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope combined for 79 points, with each putting up at least 20. Jokić notched yet another triple-double with 32 points, 10 rebounds, and 12 assists. Additionally, the Nuggets out-rebounded the Suns by 12 and shot 93.5% (29-for-31) from the free-throw line. Neither team crowded the paint offensively but the Suns were held to just two offensive rebounds the entire game. It’s the 19th time in NBA playoff history that a team has been held to two or fewer offensive rebounds.
There was very little the Suns could do to stop Denver. Booker managed just 12 points as he was incessantly swarmed by the Nuggets’ backcourt. Durant also struggled, putting 23. With no Deandre Ayton, the Suns suffered as their stars slumped. However, veteran Cameron Payne was a lone bright spot in the 125-100 defeat. Payne put 31 points to lead the team in scoring. But it simply wasn’t enough. The Suns were outplayed and will now head into the offseason. The Nuggets progress to the Conference Finals for the fifth time in franchise history. They will face either the Lakers or the Warriors. The Nuggets have faced the Lakers in three of their previous four trips to the Conference Finals.
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Nikola Jokic has 300 points, 100 rebounds and 100 assists in a postseason for the 3rd time in his career.
There are few joys in life more satisfying than watching an animal predict sporting events. There are many famous examples of this phenomenon, such as Paul the Psychic Octopus. However, the trend has become more and more common in recent years. During the 2022 NFL playoffs, Cincinnati Zoo utilized their beloved, and internet-famous, hippo Fiona to predict matches.
A major rise in this sort of content has come via the advent of sites such as TikTok. With Tiktok built for mass consumption over brand-building, anyone can go viral for having their pet predict sports matches. With this introduction, meet @aircorg, aka Steph Furry. Steph is a Corgi with 1.3 million followers on TikTok. The account has been using Steph Furry to predict sporting events from around the world for several. But the dog’s uncanny prediction for the Lakers-Warriors series is starting to get some attention
While not the most difficult series to predict statistically, the order in which it happened is certainly unexpected. Few people would have confidently said the Warriors would be 3-1 down after four games. But those few people include Steph Furry. In a video posted on May 1, the corgi “predicted” the Lakers-Warriors series. The chosen method of Furry’s predictions is having a ball thrown at him while he stands at the top of the stairs and knocking it down toward two labeled buckets.
So the only remaining question is – how does the series end, according to Steph Furry? Well Lakers fans, we know you already hate this dog so look away now. Furry has the Warriors going all the way with their comeback. If the good boy’s prediction is true, the Warriors are set to take both Games 6 and 7 to win the series 4-3. If they can achieve the feat, they will be just the 14th team to overcome a 3-1 deficit. They will also be the first since the Denver Nuggets did it twice in the 2020 postseason. However, what do you think? Is Steph Furry’s prediction correct? Or this corgi barking up the wrong tree?
With seven minutes and 55 seconds left in Game 5 of the playoff series between the Lakers and Warriors, the Lakers were trailing by 13. It hadn’t been the night the Lakers, who were leading the series 3-1, had been hoping for. But there was still every chance for a series-ending comeback. Good load management meant that most of the Lakers’ starters were still on the court well into the fourth quarter.
D’Angelo Russell entered the game for the Lakers and less than 10 seconds later, was driving toward the Warriors’ basket. Anthony Davis and Kevin Looney both squared up for a potential rebound and as they did, Looney caught Davis in the temple with his elbow. Davis went down hard and nine seconds later, was subbed out for Rui Hachimura. After being evaluated on the Lakers’ bench, Davis was taken to the locker room in a wheelchair. He did not return to the game. The Lakers would go on to lose 121-106.
Davis Reportedly Doing Okay But Game 6 Status Unclear
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – MAY 10: Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives past Jordan Poole #3 of the Golden State Warriors during the second quarter in game five of the Western Conference Semifinal Playoffs at Chase Center on May 10, 2023 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
However, Lakers fans should not lose hope after a scary hit to the head for Davis. “Obviously everyone saw he took a shot to the head, but we just checked on him,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham said after the game. “He seems to be doing really good already. That’s just where he’s at. That’s the status of it right now.” Furthermore, neither Ham nor the medical staff mentioned Davis having a concussion. Despite this, Davis remains a game-time decision for Friday’s Game 6. However, the NBA’s concussion protocol means that Davis cannot be fully clear for the game until Thursday evening at the earliest.
Davis’ fellow Lakers remain optimistic about the forward’s chances of playing. “I believe he’ll play,” Austin Reaves told reporters. “The medical team said he’s doing better. That’s what matters most,” LeBron James added. Additionally, Davis was seen walking to the team bus unassisted as the Lakers departed for LA later on Wednesday evening. Despite the Game 5 loss, the Lakers still lead the series 3-2. They will have the chance to close out the series at home on Friday night. The Lakers are 6-0 at Crypto.com Arena this year during postseason play.
The Lakers entered Wednesday night’s matchup against the Warriors comfortable in the driving seat. Holding a 3-1 series lead, all the Lakers had to do was play the same basketball all series and they would be moving on to the Western Conference Finals.
What’s more, they were coming off some absolutely dominant performances. In Game 3, they beat the Warriors by 30. In Game 4, they forced an uncharacteristic blunder by Steph Curry to win 107-104. It finally felt like the Lakers had found a consistent solution for the Warriors’ three-heavy game plan. Now all they had to do was execute it one more time.
Things started off great for the Lakers. While they weren’t winning the game, they were keeping it close over the first quarter and a half. However, slowly but surely, the Warriors began to pull away. A four-point lead at the end of the first became an 11-point lead at the half. Every time the Lakers scored, the Warriors responded in kind. There was never any momentum for the visitors, only finding points here and then instead of going on major scoring runs. Then they lost Anthony Davis about midway through the fourth quarter. Davis went down after an elbow to the head and didn’t return to the game. His status for Game 6 is currently up in the air.
The Warriors simply played better on the night. They outshot and rebounded the Lakers. They were better in the paint and when distributing the ball. There was no one defining factor of their win, the Warriors just played better basketball. Three Warriors starters hit at least 20 points, with all starters reaching double digits. Steph Curry led all scorers with 27 points. This was despite Curry shooting just 3-for-11 for three. Draymond Green put up the only double-double of the night with 20 points and 10 rebounds. LeBron and AD combined for 48 but the Lakers got no production from Jarred Vanderbilt (0 points in 11 minutes). The Lakers will need to play better, especially defensively to prevent a Game 7. The two teams will meet in LA on Friday night. Even with Davis’ status questionable, the Lakers are slightly favored by oddsmakers.
The 2023 NBA playoffs are heating up as eight teams find themselves entrenched in the semi-conference finals. In the East, the fifth-seed New York Knicks are taking on the eighth-seed Miami Heat. On the other side of the Eastern bracket, the second-seed Boston Celtics battle against the third-seed Philadelphia 76ers. In the West, the first-seed Denver Nuggets are facing off with the fourth-seed Phoenix Suns. In addition, the other side of the Western bracket features the seventh-seed Los Angeles Lakers against the sixth-seed Golden State Warriors.
There is a uniqueness to this year’s NBA playoffs, as many of the final teams entered as lower seeds. Both the Lakers and Heat made the playoffs through the play-in tournament, and yet they have now positioned themselves to make a run at the championship. Because of this, predictions for the conference finals have been all over the place. As the semi-conference finals wrap up, here’s a look at our NBA playoffs 2023 predictions for the conference finals.
Knicks Vs. Heat
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Winner: Miami Heat
The Miami Heat currently hold a 3-1 lead against the New York Knicks and it is likely that the Heat will be able to hold onto this lead and advance. While the Knicks showed great improvement this year, in large part due to their free agency signing of Jalen Brunson, the Heat’s playoff experience has gotten the better of the Knicks in this series. New York impressed in their series against the Cleveland Cavaliers. However, the Heat have been in full control of this series since Game 1.
With Jimmy Butler leading, the Miami Heat’s defense has suffocated the Knicks throughout the series. In Game 3, the Knicks only scored 86 points and have barely cracked the 100-point mark in most games. Along with this, the Heat’s mix of experienced veterans such as Kevin Love and Kyle Lowry and young newcomers such as Gabe Vincent and Max Strus has played their individual roles perfectly. Despite being the eighth seed, Miami has figured it out come playoff time. The Heat made the NBA Finals as a fifth seed in 2020, so Miami is no stranger to winning as an underdog. Although there’s no telling what the Knicks have in store, our NBA playoffs 2023 predictions for the semi-conference finals are leaning towards the Heat.
76ers Vs. Celtics
(Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
Winner: Philadelphia 76ers
Perhaps the most competitive series so far has been between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Boston Celtics. The 76ers recently won two straight and took a 3-2 lead heading into Boston for game 6. Led by MVP Joel Embiid and James Harden, the 76ers’ star power has been on full display throughout the series. While the Celtics’ own stars, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have also played well, it is the difference of Embiid that will propel the 76ers into the next round.
The MVP has scored 30 or more points in the last three games of the series and Boston has been unable to find a way to stop him. While it seems this series may go to game 7, with Embiid healthy, it appears the 76ers will be hard to beat twice in a row. Because of their crucial game 5 victory, the 76ers look to be in full control of the series. Barring injury, the 76ers look like they will win this one. It is difficult to count the Celtics out, but it is even harder to bet against Joel Embiid.
Lakers Vs. Warriors
(Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Winner: Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers have been a curious case this year. Despite injuries and on-court struggles, much like the Heat, they found their rhythm at the right time. Both Anthony Davis and Lebron have played in top form throughout the playoffs. Along with this, mid-season acquisitions D’Angelo Russell, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Rui Hachimura have played significant roles in the Lakers’ late-season successes. While the Golden State Warriors are tough, a grueling seven-game series against the Sacramento Kings may have left the Warriors without much gas in the tank.
As the Lakers currently hold a 3-1 lead in the series, it seems that they will go on to win. Coming off a tough seven-game series, it appears that the Warriors do not have enough to overcome such a tall task. The Lakers’ offense has clicked all series and shows no sign of slowing down, as Lebron and AD combined for 50 points in game 4. The Lake Show will look to close out Golden State in the Bay Area in game 5.
Nuggets Vs. Suns
Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
Winner: Denver Nuggets
The Phoenix Suns overloaded their roster with a trade for Kevin Durant at this year’s trade deadline in hopes of winning an NBA Championship. However, behind Nikola Jokic, the Nuggets currently hold a 3-2 lead and look ready to finish the series. Jokic posted a triple-double in game 5 and it seems that the Nuggets are on the brink of playing in the conference finals. While the Suns have been impressive in this series, an injury to Chris Paul has significantly hurt Phoenix’s chances.
Role players such as Aaron Gordon, Michael Porter Jr., and Bruce Brown have been crucial for the Nuggets’ success and the entire team is executing at a high level, especially on the offensive side of the ball. Aside from game 1, each of the following games has been a shootout, and without Chris Paul, it will be difficult for the Suns to go bucket for bucket with the Nuggets. Much like Joel Embiid and the 76ers, it is difficult to bet against Nikola Jokic, especially when his team holds a 3-2 lead. Because of this, the Nuggets will finish off this series in the next few games and become one step closer to an NBA Championship.
As expected, everything has been left on the court in the Eastern Conference matchup between the Sixers and Celtics. After Philly took Game 1, the Celtics responded by jumping out to a 2-1 series lead. It’s pitted MVP Joel Embiid against some of his fiercest competition of the season as both teams tried to take one step closer to an NBA title.
May 7’s Game 4 was an overtime thriller. Despite the Sixers carrying a nine-point lead into the half, Boston was able to get themselves back into the game and end regulation at 107-107. The defenses ramped up in the extra period with the teams combining for just 17 points as the Sixers managed to scrap out a 116-115 lead to even the series. That would mean Game 5, hosted by Boston, would allow one team to control their own destiny.
Both teams had big performances in Game 5. Joel Embiid absolutely balled out for the Sixers, putting up 33 points and 7 rebounds. Tyrese Maxey wasn’t far behind him, scoring 30 and adding another 7 boards. Elsewhere, James Harden and Tobias Harris both put up double-doubles. However, the Celtics’ Jayson Tatum led all scorers with a 36-point double-double. His teammate Jaylen Brown scored 24. However, Tatum and Brown didn’t have the depth to rely on like the Sixers. The only other Celtic to reach double digits was Marcus Smart. Al Horford in particular had an awful night, playing just 25 minutes and going 0-for-7 on shots.
The lack of depth contribution from the Celtics cost the team dearly. Boston held the lead once in the entire game and trailed from the 90-second mark onwards. They were outrebounded by 13 and were unable to find answers for Philly at either end of the court. If the Celtics don’t want to see their season end in Philadelphia, they need to find and new strategy and fast. The potentially series-ending Game 6 takes place at Wells Fargo Center on May 11. ESPN analytics give the Sixers the end, while oddsmakers back Boston as slight favorites.
After starting the series 0-2, the Phoenix Suns rallied behind a historic Devon Booker to tie their Conference Semifinal series against the Denver Nuggets. It’s a powerful statement on the tenacity and talent on the Phoenix roster.
Furthermore, Game 4 was one to remember. Despite Nikola Jokic scoring 53 for the Nuggets, the Suns were able to come out on top. Booker and Durant both scored 36 as the Suns won out 129-124. However, the game will likely be best remembered for Jokic’s technical foul after elbowing Suns’ owner Mat Ishiba in the face. Regardless of why the game is remembered, the result set up an all-to-play for Game 5 in Denver.
Finally, it appears as though the Nuggets have figured out to guard Booker and Durant. While the pair combined for 54 points, neither was able to break 30 points individually. It’s the first time that neither one of them scored at least 30 since Game 1 of the first round. The Nuggets were also able to lock up the rest of the Suns’ shooting threats. The other only other Phoenix player to hit double-digit points was Deandre Ayton, who scored 14. Starters Josh Okogie and Cameron Payne combined for just eight points. However, with Okogie playing just eight minutes and bench players T.J. Warren and Torrey Craig playing a combined 19, the Suns spent most of the game without a small forward on the court.
The Nuggets had a much better day offensively. Jokic led all scorers with 29 points, while Bruce Brown put up 25 from the bench. Overall, four of the Nuggets starters reached double digits, with three dropping at least 19 points each. While neither team was elite from three-point range, the Nuggets held the advantage there. Both teams attempted 27 threes, with the Suns hitting nine and the Nuggets sinking 13. While the total rebound advantage for the Nuggets was +8, that also included a +6 advantage on defensive rebounds. While the Suns have bounced back in the series multiple times already, their cushion is gone. If they can’t force a Game 7, the Nuggets move on.
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Nikola Jokic is the 2nd player in NBA history with 300 points, 100 rebounds and 75 assists through his first 10 games of a postseason, joining Oscar Robertson in 1963. pic.twitter.com/vpz5ofKipP
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