What the Philadelphia 76ers had to say about their defeat in Game 2
For the second game in a row, the 76ers were favored against the Celtics. The Celtics were unaware of their status as underdogs and played like it in Thursday’s Game 2 as they sent the 76ers home trailing 2-0 in the series.
After the game, Marcus Morris was told Vegas had picked Philadelphia to edge Boston once again.
“They couldn’t have been favored the first two games, could they?” Morris asked reporters, per the Boston Globe‘s Adam Himmelsbach.
He was told they had been.
“OK. S***, this ain’t Miami,” the Celtics forward responded.
The underdog’s victory was keyed by a 22-point comeback in the second quarter and made possible by a 1-point effort from Philadelphia’s Ben Simmons. In their postgame comments, the 76ers players and coaches backed their rookie point guard, gave Boston credit for their defensive performance, and looked towards Saturday’s matchup at the Wells Fargo Center.
Here’s what the 76ers had to say about their 108-103 loss in Game 2:
On the Celtics’ comeback
Brett Brown
I think the Celtics’ defensive intensity went to a higher level. I think somewhere at the five-minute mark and we brought Joel (Embiid) and J.J. (Redick) back into the game in the second period. We give them credit. They went on a little run and then they went on another run I think at two minutes left. You know, you’re sitting there wondering about matchups, you’re thinking about timeouts, you’re thinking about all of it. And I feel like if I had to do it again, I would do the same thing. I would have had the same people in the game. Trying to, on the road, make sure you have an ample number of timeouts, you know it’s going to be a close game. That’s the decision I made.
Joel Embiid
I honestly don’t know. I have to go back and watch the tape. They just made shots. They got stops. They were able to score in transition and we weren’t able to get back.
J.J. Redick
It is a long game. It is a game of runs. We were playing really well and had a big lead but there was still 31 minutes left to play or whatever it was when we were up by 20. I think they hurt us in transition tonight. They are not really a running team necessarily, they played a little faster when they could and they got out in transition and converted. But, otherwise, just a hard fought basketball game.
Dario Saric
It is hard. Maybe you can do a timeout, maybe you can make some fouls. Something. Sometimes it is hard. This is the league of the best players in the world. Some guys make it hard to guard them. How we punched them in the first quarter, they punched us back. It is hard to find exactly where we have to start. It is just basketball.
On Ben Simmons’s performance
Brett Brown
I think the way Boston is guarding us in general is something that I respect. I have said, every time either pre or post game and when I see you at practice, I have said this before, (the Celtics) are elite guarding their own men. I think there’s a physicality and switch-ability that they got apples for apples on many, many different matchups. With Ben (Simmons), I give him credit. They do a good job defending him. There’s an element of physicality that I feel that they have applied to all of us and tonight Ben struggled as we see. I do give Boston’s defense a lot of credit and respect.
Ben Simmons
I think it was mainly what I did to myself. I think, mentally, I was thinking too much, over-thinking the plays. Wasn’t just out there, flowing, playing the way that I play, which is free. I think, obviously I know what their game plan is. I got to play my game.
No. I think first series, the way the Heat played is nothing compared to the Celtics. Physically, the Heat were on another level. But yeah, I think it was self – inflicted from myself, personally from my own game. Team wise, I think mentally we made too many errors when we had that lead and we need to stay on it.
J.J. Redick
Ben is very mature, very poised. I know he will bring it on Saturday. I have no doubt. I will encourage him like I always do but there is nothing that I need to say, he brings it night in and night out. It wasn’t his best night but he will be fine.
