76ers encounter recurring playoff outcome as Celtics control Game 1
BOSTON — Since the Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Celtics in a Game 7 at the former Boston Garden in 1982, the two division rivals have faced each other six times in the playoffs. On each of those occasions, Boston has come out on top.
While various factors can be noted following the Celtics’ dominant win over the 76ers in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series, it will require significant effort from Philadelphia to prevent that streak from extending to seven.
“That was Celtics basketball,” Celtics star Jaylen Brown remarked after Sunday’s 123-91 victory. “We’ve been a hard-working team all season, and that cannot change now that the playoffs have begun. It’s about concentrating, focusing on the details, and winning the battle. Being the team that plays harder and defending well.”
“Our offense alone cannot win us this series. While our offense is crucial, we must ensure our defense is solid. I believe we did an excellent job of that tonight.”
Describing this game as one-sided would be an understatement. Philadelphia struggled to find their rhythm, shooting 2-for-16 from beyond the arc in the first half and finishing 4-for-23 for the game, while allowing Boston to gain a 22-3 advantage in points off turnovers. This is the opposite of what an underdog, particularly one missing star Joel Embiid, can afford if they wish to remain competitive in the series.
On the other hand, Boston was able to dictate the pace throughout the game, leading wire-to-wire and at one point extending their advantage to as much as 35. Jayson Tatum was a standout performer, contributing 25 points on 9-for-17 shooting, along with 11 rebounds and 7 assists in 32 minutes.
Sunday’s game marked another milestone in Tatum’s impressive return from a torn Achilles tendon, following his season debut against the Dallas Mavericks on March 6.
After gradually increasing his playing time in the final weeks of the regular season, including 39 minutes in a win over Charlotte and a loss in his return to New York, Tatum appeared on Sunday as if he had hardly missed any time.
“It’s part of the process,” Tatum said regarding the ongoing inquiries about his recovery. “It will always be a part of my narrative, and it’s still fresh. It has been forty-eight weeks since the injury this past Tuesday, so no, I don’t tire of it.”
“I recognize the significance of the injury and the story surrounding my return. I take pride in what I have achieved and my ability to return to play. There were many days when I wasn’t even sure I would play this season, let alone have the opportunity to play today, so I am extremely grateful to be in this position now.”
Boston finds itself in the position it aimed for after Game 1: with a victory secured and control of the series. The objective now is to maintain that momentum heading into Game 2 on Tuesday night, where they have the opportunity to put Philadelphia in a challenging situation.
“A lot went wrong, that’s for sure,” 76ers coach Nick Nurse stated. “I thought from the second quarter to about midway through the third, we finally found our footing and played decent basketball.”
“However, the minutes surrounding that were absolutely unacceptable.”
Embiid, who underwent an emergency appendectomy in Houston on April 9, remains out indefinitely. He made his first appearance with the team since the surgery on Wednesday, sitting on the bench during Philadelphia’s 109-97 win over the Orlando Magic in the 7-8 play-in game. He stayed in Philadelphia on Sunday to continue his recovery.
The 76ers’ goal now is to prolong the series as much as possible to enhance any chances of Embiid’s return.
For Philadelphia to achieve that, their immediate priority must be to start making shots. The key for an underdog to secure an upset, especially in today’s NBA, is to convert 3-pointers and have their star player perform at the highest level.
Not only did the 76ers struggle with their shooting (or even attempt many 3s), but Tyrese Maxey also had a relatively average performance (21 points on 8-for-21 shooting and 8 assists), falling short of both Tatum and Brown (26 points).
“The strange part is we had some good looks,” Maxey commented. “We just missed wide-open 3s. But defensively, we had numerous breakdowns, and a lot of things we had discussed that cannot happen.”
Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla cautioned his team to be ready for an improved version of the 76ers in Game 2.
“We need to understand that — I thought we started the series well, but ultimately, it doesn’t matter anymore, because in 48 hours, we have to do it again, and we should expect a better version of both teams,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said. “We must anticipate an improved version of both our opponent and ourselves.”
