The Boston Celtics evened the score in the Eastern Conference Semifinals Wednesday night, earning a loud 121-87 Game 2 victory and knotting the series at one game apiece with the Philadelphia 76ers. A 34-point victory helps erase some of the frustrations that came from Monday’s Game 1 clunker, and now the action heads down I-95 to Philly this weekend.
The Sixers welcomed back newly-minted MVP Joel Embiid into the fold, who is dealing with an LCL injury and missed Game 1 entirely. This obviously changed things on both ends for Philadelphia in a very big way, who traded spacing for more muscle and size. Embiid ended the game with 15 points and 3 rebounds, as well as 5 blocks, simply not enough to help the Sixers grab a win.
Importantly, Embiid’s return also changed how the Celtics approached the game, and the style and tenor from Boston in this one was noticeably more physical than what we saw on Monday night. This was especially true on the defensive end, where the Celtics were aggressive and physical right from the jump.
In the end, a more truculent defensive attack paired with another efficient night scoring the ball helped ice an easy Celtics victory. Here’s what you may have missed from Boston’s Game 2 win over the 76ers.
Can you name them all without checking first? https://t.co/Zd92EHjuYs
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) May 4, 2023
Boston's offense
The Celtics scoring prowess was once again on full display tonight. The team shot 46.7% from the field, including 20-for-51 from deep. More impressively, Boston logged 26 assists on the night compared to just 6 turnovers.
It was Jaylen Brown who led the way for the home team on offense. While 3-point shooting was critical to Boston’s victory, Brown also attacked the rim at a fair clip. This kept Philly’s defense on its toes, allowing much more spacing for the trigger-happy Celtics. Brown ended the night with 25 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists in just 30 minutes of action.
Jayson Tatum was in foul trouble for much of the night, and only logged 7 points in 19 minutes player for the evening. Al Horford also didn’t do much offensively. But it didn’t matter.
Most teams can’t survive, let alone thrive, with two key players going cold. Credit Boston’s excellent depth and poise.
While there were some fans who thought the novel means of getting a new angle on the action was interesting, the consensus on the drone seemed to be pretty strongly negative,. https://t.co/LaFajHwOAD
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) May 4, 2023
Boston's defense
Boston’s defense was considerably more proactive against Philly in Game 2 than it was in Game 1. Rather than sit back and try lock down the paint, the Celtics got right into the chest of the Sixers guards. This afforded the visiting team less time and space to work with, changing the terms of engagement considerably.
James Harden, for example, managed just 12 points, massively different than his 45-point masterpiece in Game 1, where he patiently picked apart Boston’s more relaxed backcourt defense. The Celtics defense noticeably knocked Harden off his rhythm. As a team, Philly shot just 20% from deep after going 17-for-38 from 3 on Monday.
A more forthright defensive approach could be a key factor for Boston moving forward, and this starts with Marcus Smart. Not only was the longest-tenured Celtic a key contributor on offense, but his tenacity and focus on defense anchored Boston’s ability to take control. It’s not hyperbole to suggest Game 2 was one of Smart’s finest performances as a pro.
The notion that Redick sees White as the most underrated role player in the NBA certainly tracks with how important the Celtics see the Colorado native. https://t.co/gZobWv8Tqi
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) May 3, 2023
Looking ahead
After tonight the action heads to Philly for Games 3 and 4, where the Sixers went 29-12 during the regular season. This includes a loss to the Celtics back in February. For posterity, Boston was 25-16 on the road for the year.
The Celtics have been heavy favorites so far this series. They have the depth to really challenge Philadelphia, and as was evidenced here in Game 2, will be hard for the Sixers to match if they stay focused and healthy. Boston’s 35-16 third quarter helps punctuate how the rest of the series could play out.
This version of the Boston Celtics is the real deal, and as much as it was a nice reminder for the fans, Game 2 may more importantly have served to remind the players what this team is capable of.
Should we be worried about the Boston Celtics playing the Philadelphia 76ers? https://t.co/TDlQI8vLbH
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) May 3, 2023
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