CAMDEN, N.J.–The Philadelphia 76ers and the Boston Celtics will continue this Eastern Conference semifinal series on Friday night as this series now shifts to the Wells Fargo Center. The Sixers took home-court advantage from the Celtics and they will look to use it well in these next two games.
In order to do so, they will need to have a much better performance than they did in Game 2. The Celtics used a big third quarter, they outscored the Sixers 35-16, and they were able to run away from the rather easily.
As they head into Game 3, the Sixers are preaching more discipline in order to regain control of the series.
“I think the biggest thing is coming out to play Game 3 not the same way,” said De’Anthony Melton at shootaround on Friday morning. “Coming out with more aggressiveness, more discipline. The first to four wins and we just gotta keep doing it, keep fighting, and play our game.”
A big reason for Boston’s third quarter success was the fact that they were constantly getting into the paint. They were getting into the paint, drawing defenders, and then kicking it out to shooters in the corner.
The Sixers want to limit those opportunities this time around to bounce back.
“We just gotta guard the ball,” said Melton. “I think we can guard the ball better and not give them so many straight-line drives. I felt like Game 1, we were making them do two or three moves to get to the basket. In Game 2, they were doing a little more straight lines. We just gotta talk, rotate, communicate, and have discipline on defense.”
Tip-off from the Wells Fargo Center is set for 7:30 p.m. EDT on Friday.
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Story originally appeared on Sixers Wire
