dailyloe.com – The Philadelphia 76ers need a powerful Game 2 response against the Boston Celtics on Tuesday. They aim to make it a competitive four-quarter game after a lopsided Game 1 loss. Tip-off is at 7 p.m. ET on Peacock and NBC Sports. The Celtics won the series opener easily, putting pressure on the 76ers.
Jayson Tatum is rounding into shape for a deep Celtics playoff run. Logic and the Celtics’ star power are now against Philadelphia. Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla warns his team the 76ers are not pushovers. He cautions that any lapse or overconfidence could cause trouble.
Sixers coach Nick Nurse must find motivational tricks for his squad. Pulling Joel Embiid from his bag would do wonders for Philadelphia. Embiid’s availability remains a key question for Game 2. His presence could significantly alter the series dynamic.
Containing Tyrese Maxey is a primary Celtics strategy for Game 2. Making it hard for Maxey to score makes it hard for the 76ers to win. Boston plans to throw multiple defenders at the star guard. The goal is to wear him out and frustrate him.
The Celtics want to leave Maxey with little energy for the fourth quarter. If successful, they gamble his teammates cannot counter effectively. Rookie VJ Edgecombe’s readiness as a volume shooter is uncertain. Kelly Oubre Jr. has never been a primary scoring option.
Paul George is a sensible candidate to step up for Philadelphia. He has extensive experience in a leading scoring role. George has not filled that role since joining the 76ers, however. The team struggled from three-point range in the opening game.
Philadelphia shot only two for sixteen from beyond the arc in Game 1. This forced them to tap into other scoring options unsuccessfully. The Celtics can deploy Jaylen Brown and Derrick White against Maxey. Their defensive pressure will be a major factor in the contest.
