At least this series is seven games.

Game 1 started out okay for the Sixers with a small lead. But the Celtics eventually exposed players such as Marco Belinelli and JJ Redick on defense en route to a 117-101 win to take a 1-0 series lead.

Terry Rozier, who was someone to watch in our series preview, went off for the Celtics with a team-high 29 points on the night, including 13 in the final quarter. Jayson Tatum scored 28 points and dominated his matchup against Redick throughout the game. Al Horford also scored 26.

Joel Embiid recorded a double-double with 31 points and 13 rebounds, while Redick scored 20 points. Ben Simmons contributed with 18 points, Dario Saric put up 12 points, and Belinelli had 11. But the problem on offense came from beyond the arc. The Sixers went 5-of-27 from 3, compared to Boston’s 17-of-35.

Will the Celtics have a similar night on offense on Thursday? Probably not. But, Jaylen Brown is expected to come back, which will certainly help their offense in a big way.

During the game, Celtics fans were chanting “not a rookie” at Simmons. How original. Joel Embiid thought the fans weren’t as loud as back home. Donovan Mitchell, who’s previously said he doesn’t care about the Rookie of the Year race, enjoyed it:

Ben Simmons is a rookie and Donovan Mitchell is soft.

At least Will Smith gave us a gem of a video:

Game 2 is Thursday night at 8:30 PM on TNT.

The Roundup:


In non-Sixers playoff news, Heat President Pat Riley didn’t think Hassan Whiteside was ready for the Sixers series. Joel Embiid doesn’t buy it:

Check out the full Australian 60 Minutes interview of Ben Simmons.


The Phillies’ struggles continued last night in Miami, as Jake Arrieta suffered his first loss with his new club in an 8-4 defeat. The ace lasted only 3 2/3 innings, giving up six runs on eight hits with two walks and only striking out two batters. Jorge Alfaro and Maikel Franco each hit two-run home runs in the loss. Alfaro’s was a bomb:

The two teams will play again tonight at 7:10 PM. Zach Eflin will get his first start of the season. Eflin replaces reliever Victor Arano, who was placed on the 10-day DL with a right rotator cuff strain.

Speaking of pitching, did the Phillies give up on Jesse Biddle before giving him a chance?

Above everything, Biddle looks like he’s going to be a factor in a Braves’ bullpen that combined for 3.2 innings of hitless relief in their 10-1 win over the Phillies on Sunday. And Atlanta, at 16-11 and tied with the Phillies for second in the National League East, will be fighting it out with the home team this year for what could possibly be a wild card playoff berth.

Traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates before spring training in 2016 and claimed off waivers by the Braves a few weeks later, Biddle hopes his injuries are in the past and seems to have caught on in Atlanta.

“I feel really good, and this is a good feeling,” said Biddle. “I’ve been getting a lot of positive feedback from the coaching staff here with the Braves. I’ve been injured more than I’ve been healthy with the Braves, but they’ve had my back for a long time now. I’m just happy that I’m being given an opportunity. That’s all (I) ask.”


The Eagles exercised Nelson Agholor’s fifth-year option and is signed through 2019. This is good.

The team also waived cornerback Elie Bouka with an injury. We hardly knew ya.

We recapped the team’s five draft picks, and it’s a good, yet small, class. And what about the undrafted free agents?

I’m really excited to see Dallas Goedert, especially after his college position coach called him a highlight machine:

“He makes the amazing play and has a knack for that highlight-reel play,” Schleusner said. “And the balls that he’s caught one-handed, he’s had to. When the situation presented itself, he would make the play.”

Like Beckham Jr., Goedert likes to work on those one-handed catches as a part of his pre-game routine. It has seemingly served him well.

“Yeah, I mean, I was lucky enough to play at South Dakota State where they used me in the offense a lot, put me in different positions, and I was kind of the go-to guy,” Goedert said. “So sometimes a quarterback would be in trouble, and would throw a ball that was a little bit too high or a little bit too far in front, and I think I have really good ball skills. My athletic ability helped and I was able to make some plays.”

While Schleusner made sure to mention that Goedert is a hard-worker, he also said his former player is a naturally confident person. Goedert showed that Friday night when he was asked for his basketball comparison and he said, LeBron James.

“He’s not going to be afraid in the NFL; I know that,” Schleusner said. “He’s going to go in there with the attitude to dominate.”

Thanks to Alshon Jeffery, we found out that Howie Roseman kills it in the gym.


After an awful end to the season, what’s next for Brian Elliott?


In other sports news, the Stanley Cup playoffs continued. Tampa Bay beat Boston to tie their series at one game apiece, while William Karlsson’s overtime goal gave Vegas a 2-1 series lead over San Jose.

Tom Brady confirmed his intention to play in 2018. He also said this:

Side note: Will Jim Gray ever retire?

Rob Ellis is back on WIP.

Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager is done for the year and will undergo Tommy John surgery.

Top SG prospect Romeo Langford has committed to Indiana.

President Trump has asked African nations to support the joint North American bid for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The vote will be cast on June 13 in Moscow, with Morocco as the only other competitor.


In the news, a cell phone tower caught fire near the Schuylkill Expressway.

The New York Times has obtained questions Robert Mueller wants to ask President Trump.

Ashley Judd said Harvey Weinstein pretty much ruined her career.