Wagner has his faults, but he at least isn’t afraid to throw his body around. This team lacks toughness. IDK if Wagner can give them any, but he will not back down, at least.
There aren’t enough guys on this roster I’d want want with me in a proverbial dark alley. Smart and Thompson. Maybe Semi, who should play with more of an edge. I liked the toughness Wanamaker brought to this team last season.
Embiid clowned the Celtics for three games. Instead of touch fouling him, they should have been hammering away at him.
Wagner couldn't find the dark alley with GPS, a tour guide, and 2 aircraft Marshalls.
The Celtics problem isn't a lack of toughness, it's a failure to have players make the right decision and movements on defense.
Wagner got benched after he blew 2 switches, lost his man on a non-switch, and generally couldn't figure out where to be.
Hard fouls are dumb in this era, all they do is invite flagrant calls. The biggest problem last night for Rob was he committed DUMB fouls, instead of doing what he should (and what has to an extent worked for us in the past against Embiid) and made good positional play to make Embiid take tough shots.You aren't muscling Embiid or blocking him, you just need to make him take jumpers as often as possible. Some of that is smart positional play, some of that is better work on the perimeter to make entry passes harder.