dailyloe.com – Nikola Vucevic is navigating his first postseason with the Boston Celtics after being traded from the Chicago Bulls before the 2026 trade deadline. The Celtics faced challenges in their playoff series against the Philadelphia 76ers, particularly in Game 5, where they suffered a loss. Vucevic highlighted the need for improvement in their matchup against Sixers star Joel Embiid.
In the aftermath of the Game 5 defeat on April 28, Vucevic stated, “I think the physicality was a big thing.” He noted that the 76ers were more physical, which disrupted the Celtics’ offensive positions. He emphasized that both physicality and execution were critical issues that needed to be addressed.
Vucevic elaborated, saying, “A lot of things we talked about (were) that we just didn’t execute as a team.” He stressed the importance of doing their job earlier in the game. He recalled a moment from Game 3 where Embiid was able to get to his spot too easily.
To counter Embiid’s effectiveness, Vucevic mentioned the need to make it tougher for him to receive the ball. He stated, “Make him not get to balls a little further away from the basket and then put up a little more resistance on that first, second dribble when he’s getting to the paint.” He acknowledged the difficulty of defending against Embiid if he penetrates quickly.
Vucevic admitted he struggled in Game 5, saying, “He got a couple on me in that game five, so I’ll have to do a little better job with that.” He recognized Embiid’s talent and highlighted the necessity for the Celtics to make things harder for him in the upcoming games.
