The Philadelphia 76ers are in a tough position. They entered this series as the clear-cut underdog missing their best player in Ben Simmons, but a lack of effort in Game 2 and a lack of execution down the stretch in Game 3 cost them a couple of games and they now face elimination.
The Sixers were right there. They had the lead late against the Celtics, but they blew it as Joel Embiid committed a couple of turnovers that were converted into points for Boston and they were able to close the game out 102-94.
Now, the Sixers really have their backs against the wall and they are on the verge of a major flameout in Round 1.
“You can’t give up. We can do it,” said Embiid. “Looking at the game tonight, we couldn’t make a shot. I thought defensively, we did a better job. We got to lock in, but defensively we’re good. Offensively, nobody could make a shot. You can’t give up. You got to keep fighting. I don’t want to be swept. I don’t want that on my resume. I’ll be playing my butt off and I’m going to come in and do everything that I can to make sure that we win a game and take one game at a time.”
Sixers’ Joel Embiid on 0-3 hole vs. Celtics: “You can’t give up. I don’t want to be swept. I don’t want that in my resume. I’ve been playing my butt off. I’m going to come in [Game 4] and do everything that I can.” pic.twitter.com/8zQTEWebek
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) August 22, 2020
Coach Brett Brown and his team were in this position against this same Celtics team in 2018. They trailed it 3-0 before winning Game 4 and then getting bounced in the fifth game. The message right now is to not give up and continue to fight.
“I’m not rolling over,” explained Brown. “I get it. Everybody would assume that this series is over now that we’re down 3-0. I’m not trying Knute Rockne, but my sincerest opinion is we’re going to come in and play the game to get a win. It’s to keep a series alive. That’s my message to them. That’s my message to my staff. That’s what I think.”
Tobias Harris, who has continued to struggle in this series, had 15 points and 15 rebounds in Game 3, and his message to the group is simple. They cannot pay any attention to the fact that no team in NBA history has ever rallied from an 0-3 deficit to win the series.
“Truly, we’re not worried about that stat,” said Harris. “All we can do is control the next one. We’ll try to get one so we can gain some momentum and hopefully, turn this thing around. It’s still one game at a time so you have to look at in the playoffs. We know we’re down. We just have to be ready for the next challenge.”
The Sixers will have to rely on heart, effort, spirit, and their defense again on Sunday. Unlike Game 2, there was a lot of effort in Game 3. They just were not able to execute down the stretch. They will now have to correct those mistakes in order to get on the board in Game 4. [lawrence-related id=37049,37046,37041]