Whether or not Simmons should be considered a rookie has been a hot debate this season, but the phenom looked every bit the part of a first-year player as the Philadelphia 76ers blew a 22-point lead in the 108-103 loss to the Boston Celtics in Game 2.
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Boston’s rising stars stalled The Process and led the Celtics to victory in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. Throughout their lengthy history the Celtics have never lost a series when they’ve gone up 2-0. The Sixers held a 91-88 lead with seven minutes left in regulation. This time, they blew a 22-point second-quarter advantage en route to the setback. The game is scheduled to begin at 8:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, May 3, 2018. The Celtics wound the clock down before Al Horford drove to the cup and made it a two possession game with 8.3 seconds left. But their talented point guard was devoid of confidence on that end of the floor. “I dreamed of having big moments and having a big role”. He attempted just four shots – all misses. They do a good job defending him.
And trust that they won’t get so battered in the Rookie War.
JJ Redick had a game-high 23 points while making 5 of 9 three-pointers. Robert Covington added 22 points, nine rebounds, two assists, two steals, and two blocks. Brown is not too far behind, tallying 17.9 points and 4.7 rebounds per game.
As much as Brown’s return was about him wanting to contribute, it also speaks to the level of trust he has established with the Celtics’ medical staff. Brown came off the bench as he returned from a hamstring injury that sidelined him in Game 1, and Monroe was playing for the first time in a week.
His highlights invoked euphoria at the TD Garden Thursday night but it often wasn’t without a bit of nervousness immediately after, too. The second-seeded Boston Celtics are on the road as they play Game 3 of their best of seven series against the third-seeded Philadelphia 76ers Saturday afternoon. I do give Boston’s defense a lot of credit and respect.
Boston would take their first lead of the game on an Aron Baynes 3-pointer at the 7:45 mark of the third quarter 64-63.
The Celtics responded by ending the half on a 25-8 run.
With the C’s gnarly run, they were able to pull within four of Sixers at 56-51, to start the second half. The Celtics are sticking with the same starting five they used in Game 1, with Marcus Smart starting alongside Terry Rozier in the backcourt.
The Celtics now lead the series 2-0 as it shifts to Philadelphia.
Redick scored the first eight points for the Sixers en route to scoring 13 on 5-of-6 shooting in the opening quarter. Meanwhile, Boston connected on 17-of-35 on 3-point attempts. Marco Belinelli added six points and five other Sixers added at least a point. Let’s just say things didn’t go so well for Hart and his beloved Sixers. How we punched them in the first quarter, they punched us back.
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Philadelphia’s rookie sensation Ben Simmons vowed Friday that he’d bounce back from his dismal performance in the 76ers’ 108-103 National Basketball Association playoff loss to the Boston Celtics.
