BOSTON - The memory of eliminating the Heat is not far from Brett Brown's mind. After all, the Sixers did so less than two weeks ago. He still knows what it feels like to be one win away from advancing and can anticipate the Celtics' mindset heading into Game 5 on their home court Wednesday up 3-1 over the Sixers in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
"There's no mystery of how this game tomorrow night in the Boston Garden will be played," Brown said Tuesday.
The Sixers traveled to Boston on Monday night following their 103-92 win. On Tuesday, they held workouts for low-minute players to be followed by a team meeting and dinner.
There is only one day between games to plan, adjust and prepare for any changes the opposition may make. The Sixers threw a major curveball in Game 4 by starting T.J. McConnell in place of Robert Covington to defend Terry Rozier. McConnell went on to be the standout player of the evening (see story). The Celtics undoubtedly will scheme new ways to limit the point guard, but the Sixers aren't getting wrapped up in the possibilities of the Celtics' approach as they map out their own strategies.
"How they choose to make adjustments, toggle with lineups, I feel equipped to handle whatever we see," Brown said. "To predict they're going to come up with some clever way to exploit T.J. just because we played him yesterday, that isn't on my mind."
The Sixers have their hands full with their own defensive tasks. Rookie Jayson Tatum has been a consistent threat on the offensive end, averaging 23.3 points against the Sixers. He holds the Celtics' record for consecutive 20-point games by a rookie in the playoffs. The Celtics drafted Tatum last year with the third overall pick after trading the No. 1 pick to the Sixers.
Sports
In partnership with NBC Sports Philadelphia
"He is really good. Like, he is really good," Brown said. "He's got a package that he shouldn't at such a young age (20 years old). They post him, he'll come off and hit spot-up threes. He's got stuff off a live ball that has caught me off guard where he really can dance in an isolation situation. That set that they put him in in the fourth period gave us problems. How we stop him is completely related to ‘team.'"
The Sixers also have to be aware of Al Horford on both ends. The 6-foot-10 Horford has the versatility to play the four and the five while stretching the floor. The Sixers held him to 10 points off six field goal attempts, his fewest of the playoffs, but he still posted 10 rebounds, three assists and three blocks. Horford came up with a key steal and bucket in Game 3 to ice the Celtics' victory. Brown is seeing exactly what former Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer, who was on the Spurs' staff with Brown, had been telling him.
"He just is A-plus to me all over the place," Brown said.
The Sixers will look to get their own offense going. They have been affected by the Celtics' tough defensive approach on the three-point line, where they are shooting 29.6 percent. But those offensive struggles have carried over to the free throw line, too (74.2 percent).
"I think in general we just haven't shot the ball well," Brown said. "Oftentimes you look and it's not like people are draping on their shot. There's lots of open looks that we need to make. You could almost sing the same song at times with the free throw line. I think we're leaving points on the table."
Instead of leaving points, the Sixers have to leave all their energy on the court in order to win Game 5 and keep their season going.
