Celtics Head to Philadelphia Intent on Proving Themselves: 'It Doesn't Mean Anything if There's No Carryover'

The Celtics' delivering a performance like they had in Game 2 was never in question. But in Philadelphia, their championship resolve will get tested.

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Game 1 was a defensive disaster. James Harden stepped into one open three after another, erupting for 45 points.

The Celtics' crunch-time offense also betrayed them as they got outscored 12-4 in the final three minutes. They committed two costly turnovers in the last 30 seconds: throwing the ball to Tyrese Maxey for a breakaway layup and squandering their last chance to prevent a golden opportunity from slipping away.

Determined to redeem itself after losing the series opener to the Sixers 119-115 despite Joel Embiid's absence and the game on its home floor, Boston knew it had to tighten up offensively and recalibrate defensively.

The Celtics did just that, minimizing the number of clean looks they passed up beyond the arc, letting those shots fly without hesitation. They also took better care of the ball, going from committing 20 turnovers to seven.

Three after three after three pic.twitter.com/PkV5bVmthD

— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) May 4, 2023

But everything started with their defense. There was a heightened focus, tighter on-ball pressure, more physicality, and a better overall effort.

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"I think we've just got to take more pride in ourselves, and that's it," Jaylen Brown expressed after Boston's 121-87 series-tying win. "We feel like we underperformed last game, and we wanted to come out and play to the best of our ability, and that's what we did."

The two-time All-Star set the tone Wednesday, taking the assignment of guarding Harden. He limited the three-time scoring champion to one shot and one point in the first 6:13. 

Brown never let the latter get comfortable and continued taking away his air space all night, pressuring him, often picking Harden up at or in front of half-court, sometimes meeting him as he received the inbound pass, and fighting through screens to recover as the separation they provided was typically short-lived.

"Defense is all about pride. Defense is all about effort. We got to do a better job, no matter who’s out there," Brown conveyed post-game. "Our team defense and our team intensity have been lacking throughout the playoffs, and going forward, we got to make sure that we embrace each and every challenge with ball pressure, with intensity, and stuff like that."

Doing so on Wednesday translated to holding Harden to 12 points on 2/14 shooting, including 0/6 from three-point range. Embiid only put 15 on the board in his series debut.

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The newly minted MVP demonstrated an effective burst in short areas, evidenced by his five blocks, but struggled to cover ground and keep up with the hosts' up-tempo operation.

Collectively, Philadelphia shot 39.1 percent from the field, went 6/30 (20 percent) from beyond the arc, and the Sixers coughed the ball up 13 times.

Wednesday was the Celtics at their best. Their delivering a stellar two-way performance like this is far from surprising. But it took dropping the ball in Game 1 to bring this out of the defending Eastern Conference champions. Returning to the Finals and capturing the Larry O'Brien Trophy requires maintaining the approach and focus they demonstrated while tying the series.

When asked if he's convinced his team will take the intensity it played with in Game 2 to Philadelphia, Joe Mazzulla responded, "I'm convinced that we have a great locker room and a great team. And that, when we play to our level, we have a chance to win."

Malcolm Brogdon, who registered 23 points off the bench, and like Brown, did an excellent job against Harden as the point-of-attack defender, cited the role locking in on defense played in Boston performing up to its standard.

"It really started with our defense. We were able to get stops and get out; shots get easier when you get stops, when you’re not getting the ball out of the net over and over. So, we were getting open shots, and we were shooting them with confidence."

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The former Virginia Cavalier, who said after Game 1, the Celtics needed to "send a message" on Wednesday, emphasized after the victory, "It's about setting the tone for the next game," adding, "It doesn't mean anything if there's no carryover."

Further Reading

Celtics Praise Jaylen Brown for Setting Tone in Game 2 Win vs. Sixers: 'It's as Good of a Game as I've Ever Seen Him Play'

Here's What Stood Out in Celtics' Game 2 Win vs. Sixers: Renewed Defensive Commitment, Three-Point Barrage Even the Series

Film Room: Recalibrating Celtics' Defense for Game 2 Against Sixers

Joe Mazzulla Discusses Game Mismanagement Leading to Losing on the Margins and a Series-Opening Defeat to Sixers

Celtics Address Letting Guard Down in Game 1 Loss to Sixers Team Missing Joel Embiid

Jayson Tatum Reflects on Game 1 Loss to Philadelphia 76ers

Here's What Stood Out in Celtics' Game 1 Loss vs. Sixers: The Perplexing Defeats Have Become More Predictable

Jaylen Brown Discusses Celtics and Sixers Rivalry, Bill Russell's Legacy