East Conf. Semis - Game 2: Philadelphia 76ers 103-108 Boston Celtics - 5 Talking Points
After their 16-game win streak to end the regular season, everybody saw the talent in the Philadelphia 76ers and how potent they could be on both ends of the floor. Some even said, based on their potential opponents in the Playoffs that they could make the NBA Finals. The young Philadelphia squad has failed to adjust not only on the fly within games but even between games of a particular series (Miami Heat wasn't really a litmus test).
Two games into the Conference Semifinals against the Boston Celtics, the Philadelphia 76ers don't look unbeatable anymore. They are currently in a 0-2 hole against the undermanned Celtics.
While their disappointing Game 1 loss could be credited to rust from their lay-off, given they had close to six days off since eliminating the Miami Heat in 5 games, there were no excuses for the loss in Game 2.
Here are the five major talking points from the game:
#5 Is Boston's run sustainable?
So since March 11th, the Celtics had been playing without Gordon Hayward, Kyrie Irving and Marcus Smart. However, they didn't give in. In that span of 15 games, they went 9-6. Not bad at all for a team playing with one border-line All-Star (Al Horford) and multiple players on their rookie contracts.
Everybody sort of played their 9-6 record down to it being the regular season and certain teams taking an off towards the end. Well, in the first round, they beat a Milwaukee Bucks' squad that had the best player in the series (Giannis Antetokounmpo) in 7 games. That was played down to Milwaukee failing to unleash itself and not reaching its true potential.
And here they are again, sitting with a 2-0 series lead in the Conference Semifinals against a more talented 76ers team. At some point, we have to give them credit, right?
When do the Celtics get credit for reaching the stage they are at? And at some point, we have to start thinking, whether this run is sustainable? Have these guys gotten so accustomed to doing this, that they could advance another round? What about reaching the Finals?
Game 2 brought up some serious questions, some we weren't contemplating earlier and some that we still don't have the answers too.