I fell just a bit short last night.
asserted
I → fall → ?
I had the Mavs to cover against the Pacers, but unfortunately, it was a closer game than I expected.
asserted
I → have → Pacers
I was correct that Cooper Flagg would go off, considering the hard foul from the first time the two teams met.
asserted
teams → go → time
PJ Washington got a big rebound with the team up by three, and he missed the first free throw.
asserted
he → get → throw
Not a big deal; he had a second.
asserted
he → have → second
He missed that, too.
asserted
He → miss → that
The Pacers couldn't get a good three-point shot to try to tie the game and send it to overtime, and didn't foul before the final whistle.
asserted
Pacers → get → whistle
Let's hope that I can avenge yesterday's loss tonight as the Celtics play the 76ers.
asserted
Celtics → let → 76ers
The Boston Celtics are 8-2 for the season and actually look better than I expected.
asserted
I → look → season
We knew the Celtics would at least be good - there is too much talent on the roster for them to be a complete disaster.
asserted
them → know → roster
However, they've come out of the gate looking much more competent than I expected.
asserted
I → come → gate
Paul George looks like he has turned back the clock a bit, and his defense has been a welcome addition to the team.
asserted
defense → look → team
Derrick White and Payton Pritchard provide a strong backcourt for the team.
asserted
White → provide → team
If there is any spot on the team where the Celtics are weak, it is likely the center position.
asserted
it → be → team
Sure, Mitchell Robinson and Neemias Queta are solid players, but neither will really strike fear into the opposition.
asserted
neither → strike → opposition
Their roster construction has worked out, and Jayson Tatum has played well.
asserted
Tatum → work → ?
If you want to poke a hole in the Celtics' early success, it really isn't that hard.
asserted
it → want → success
Here is who they've beaten this season: Knicks, Bulls, Nets, Bulls, Magic, Bucks, Hornets, and Bucks.
asserted
Knicks → beat → who
The Knicks had some early struggles, and the Magic have been injured.
asserted
Magic → have → struggles
Everyone else is going to struggle to make the play-in tournament.
asserted
Everyone → go → tournament
Their two losses, both by nine or more points, came against the Pistons and Rockets.
asserted
losses → come → Pistons
The Philadelphia 76ers are basically going all-in this season.
asserted
76ers → go → ?
They have LeBron James for two seasons, and they really need to show progress this year.
asserted
they → have → progress
They added Jaylen Brown in the offseason, so clearly this is a huge game, as it will be the first time they face his former squad.
asserted
they → add → squad
Normally, teams that have a really strong lineup take some time to come together, but for now, the 76ers look great.
asserted
76ers → have → time
They are 9-2 for the season and have gone 4-1 in home games.
asserted
They → go → games
The biggest surprise about this team is that Tyrese Maxey has been balling out even with Brown and James added into the mix.
asserted
Brown → ball → mix
One thing that doesn't surprise me at all is that James is leading the team in assists.
asserted
James → surprise → assists
It makes the most sense for him to orchestrate the offense and pick his spots to score.
asserted
him → make → spots
Maxey has been efficient when the other stars are off the court, and there isn't much of a drop-off in production.
asserted
stars → be → production
It is worth doing the same exercise for the 76ers as we did for the Celtics.
asserted
we → do → Celtics
They've beaten the Knicks, Cavs, Bucks, Pacers, Knicks, Hornets, Bulls, Pistons, and Bulls.
asserted
They → beat → Knicks
Early in the season, Tatum and Brown were discussing their relationship a lot.
asserted
Tatum → discuss → relationship
Brown seems to have a significantly larger chip on his shoulder, and I expect him to be very aggressive in this game.
asserted
him → seem → game
His overs will be heavily wagered on, but I don't have a ton of confidence in them.
asserted
I → wager → them
I think this is one where the team will come into focus first.
asserted
team → think → focus
Philly is better, at home, and even with the Celtics wanting playoff revenge, they just aren't a better team.
asserted
they → want → revenge
Both sides will be motivated, but give me the 76ers.
asserted
sides → give → 76ers
The Aporia
