Nikola Vucevic's disappearing act cost Celtics in Game 7
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Nikola Vucevic disappeared.
The Boston Celtics big man, known for being a star as a center back in the day for the Orlando Magic and even more recently for the Chicago Bulls, was Boston's big trade deadline acquisition.
In Game 7 against the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday night, Vucevic didn't play.
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Neemias Queta got into foul trouble. Then Luka Garza got into foul trouble.
Vucevic had averaged 19 minutes per game in the first six games of the series.
Yet he didn't get a chance. The Celtics used a bunch of small forwards as de facto centers trying to guard Joel Embiid, and in the end, they lost.
Maybe Vucevic wouldn't have changed the game, but maybe he would've.
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At the time of the trade, which sent away Anfernee Simons, it seemed logical. If there was anything Boston lacked, it was depth inside.
The depth only helps if you actually allow it on the court, though.
And unless Vucevic had an unknown injury or illness, the Celtics simply decided they couldn't trust him in the biggest moments of their season.
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He's heading for free agency this offseason, and you can sure bet Boston doesn't have a lot of interest in bringing him back.
It's just the oddest of endings to his time with the Celtics.
Vucevic at least would've provided size that Boston didn't have with the others in foul trouble, but they didn't even give him a shot.
Why trade for him in the first place then? It's not going to go down as one of the best deals Boston has made.