The crowd won that game for Boston, plain and simple. And that's to take nothing away from the players. They cut the lead to 17 and the crowd erupted like they had tied it. Myself being the type of dork that loves to study crowds and the impact they have on games, it sounded like they took it up a notch. I had been pouring over the ticket market this week hoping to attend one of the games and I noticed the prices were much steeper for game two. The rare 8:30 start time and it being a Thursday night presumably allowed people to drink and still get to the game on time. It's funny because I think it was Ilyasova who was talking about the difference between the Boston crowd and the Miami crowd. I'll hand it to them being a non-Boston sports fan who lives in the area - for all the winning they've done, it can get about as loud as it does anywhere for the Bruins, Celtics, and Sox. The Patriots are a different scene but I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and and chalk it up in part to acoustics.
I counter that Philly lost the game moreso than the crowd won it. They inexplicably took their foot off Boston's throat to end the first half and took quick, first look, bad shots and let Boston back in the game.
Very weird game as the first 18 minutes Philly looked like the team everyone picking Philly expected and Boston was slower, much more passive and either a step behind or not strong enough. Inexperienced Philly squad let Boston back into the game. If TJ McConnell was in to do what he did late in the 2nd half I think Philly wins that game.
Whatever dynamic that occurred during the first 18 minutes will definitely re-occur at Philly and if sustained they'll likely win one of the next two in a rout. But if Simmons keeps playing like LSU Simmons and the Celtics continue to exhaust Embid, the Celtics will win the last 5 minutes (Game 1: 17-11, Game 2: 17-10)of every close game this series and likely then the series. Keeping TJ in the game in the 4th Q definitely would have given Philly a better chance to win last night, but I agree with Brett Brown that big picture more important and getting Simmons reps in long run will payoff. Again where BB blew it was not going to TJ to close the first half (Simmons & Embid combined for about 6 TO's in that stretch).
Incidentally Reddick played as well as he can possibly play, sparking the Sixers to start and finishing 9/17, 5/9 from 3, no FT, 3 boards, 2 assists, 1 steal = he is a great shooter but that's it and late in 1st half when he tried to make big one-on-one plays he threw up desperation shots and throughout the game JJ's drives to the basket were denied. Great game by JJ but on a night when he was red hot and took over at times, he's simply not capable of controlling a game or being a 'go make a bucket happen guy' (i.e. why Crawford was a good complimentary player/option with him on Clips) at points necessary.
, yet another eastern finals with the Cavs....
