It’s one thing for Joel Embiid to guard Jayson Tatum 1-on-1 in drills over the summer. It’s a whole other thing to be matched up with Tatum from tip off, as Embiid was in the Boston Celtics thorough dismantling of the Philadelphia 76ers, 105-87, on NBA Opening Night Tuesday at the TD Garden.
The Celtics noticed the advantage early, as Tatum scored five of Boston’s first seven points, and had his number called often.
On the play above, Tatum comes up to screen for Kyrie Irving, but the screen is just a decoy to sucker Embiid into helping.