Kemba Walker pleased with Celts’ win, still wary of Sixers in Game 3

Starting Boston Celtics point guard Kemba Walker was pleased with his teammates’ play vs the Sixers, but still wary of them in Game 3.

The success of the Boston Celtics’ bench in Game 2 of their first-round series against the Philadelphia 76ers was not too much of a surprise for starting point guard Kemba Walker, who lauded his teammates after their 128 – 101 demolition of the Sixers Wednesday night.

“We’ve always had confidence in our bench,” offered the UConn product. “Tonight, they really came out and showed the world that well they’re really good.”

“Those guys, whenever their name is called, they’re always ready,” he added. “Grant [Williams], Romeo [Langford], two of our rookies were unbelievable tonight.

“Brad Wanamaker, who is one of our leaders, who’s been there for us all year, holding it down on the bench, he was tremendous. he might not post a lot of points or anything like, that but his leadership right out there, on the court — he was great. Those guys came in, they stepped up and Enes [Kanter], he was great as well.”

Asked about his seeming ability to get his shot off against Philly, Walker seemed to grin a bit under his mask as his eyes wrinkled in the corners; “It’s different — it’s different for me; I haven’t seen that kind of space in a very long time, to be honest.”

The New Yorker doesn’t think that the Celtics have the series sewed up quite yet, though — in fact, he preached vigilance for himself and his teammates.

“It really doesn’t matter, you know, we’re going to come out and play hard regardless. The next game is really important and these guys have no quit in them and one of the best players in the world, some other great talent so, you’ve got to be prepared.”

“You have to stay locked in, and ready to go,” he added.

While it’s not unheard of for teams to come back after dropping the first two games of a seven-game series, it’s certainly the exception rather than the rule.

And with the look on the faces of their Atlantic Division rivals late in the third quarter onwards, it’d be easy to relax in Game 3.

But the Connecticut product is correct in his assessment that now is the time to lean into the fight, and put the Sixers in a near-insurmountable three-game hole on Friday.

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