The Philadelphia 76ers are facing some serious pressure on Friday night as they prepare for Game 3 of their Round 1 playoff series against the Boston Celtics. Facing the possibility of going down 0-3 and not being able to rely on the Wells Fargo Center crowd, they have to find a way to get a win.
This is where Al Horford steps in. The 13-year veteran has been in the playoffs for the entirety of his career and this is where he needs to call on the wisdom of his past experiences to help his younger Sixers teammates.
“It’s trying to get everyone to understand that it’s really one game at a time,” explained Horford. “We’re obviously in a 2-0 deficit. My whole thing to the team is we just have to prepare and be ready for Game 3. I feel like a series really gets started when the other team wins whether it’s 1-1 or 2-1. This next game for us is important and I just want the group to focus on that and make sure that we come out and better job.”
Philadelphia was miserable in Game 2 where they saw a 14-point lead turn into a 28-point deficit and they never really threatened to get back into it. However, in the playoffs, anything can happen over the course of a series. Comebacks happen all the time and that is what the veteran is trying to get his teammates to understand.
“I think for us, it’s just the fight that we must show and I think that we will,” Horford added. “We understand that our backs are against the wall and me being in the playoffs long enough, I understand that it’s all about winning that first game and things can change. They can change quickly.”
Boston has received some elite play from the likes of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown in this series and the team has to make some serious defensive adjustments to help the series turn in their favor. However, they also need to come out with the correct sense of urgency which is what was missing in Game 2. They started out strong, but they needed to keep it going for the full 48 minutes.
“Obviously, the Celtics are playing well at a high level,” the veteran finished with. “I do believe there needs to be that sense of urgency we need to come out with to put ourselves in a position to win the game.”
Game 3 tips off at 6:30 p.m. EST and it remains to be seen if the young Sixers will heed the warnings and the advice of the veteran on the roster. [lawrence-related id=37041,37038,37032]