Sixers ‘stuck In Mud' For Game 1 Vs. Knicks, Aim To Repeat Celtics Series Script

Sixers ‘stuck in mud' for Game 1 vs. Knicks, aim to repeat Celtics series script  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

NEW YORK — The Sixers played just as the circumstances suggested Monday night.

They looked like a tired team still feeling the effects of a grueling, exhilarating, seven-game first-round playoff series win over the Celtics and not yet ready to compete against the Knicks. The result was a 39-point Game 1 loss.

“I won’t use that as an excuse, but that was an emotional roller coaster (last series),” Paul George said. “One day off and then right back into another matchup. I think there was some carryover with us trying to get up and get prepared for this matchup. But we should’ve come out and done a better job.”

The Sixers’ situation now closely resembles what they faced after a blowout Game 1 loss in Boston. They must improve in many areas. 

New York’s offense never endured a drought. The Knicks finished the night at 63.1 percent from the floor and 51.4 percent from three-point range. Both Joel Embiid (14 points on 3-for-11 shooting) and Tyrese Maxey (13 points on 3-for-9 shooting) were far less productive than usual. 

“We just were kind of stuck in mud at both ends and they put it on us,” Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said. “They had a great shooting night and we didn’t guard well enough. They put it on us.”

Nurse was not at the Sixers’ film session Tuesday morning because he was dealing with a personal matter, a team official said. The Inquirer and The Athletic reported that Nurse was away to attend the funeral services of his brother, Steve Nurse, in Iowa. Of course, such things are bigger than a basketball series. 

Nurse was expected to rejoin the Sixers later Tuesday, according to The Inquirer. Game 2 is Wednesday night and the Sixers don’t sound uncertain about being capable of tying up the series. 

“Confident group,” Kelly Oubre Jr. said Tuesday. “We don’t feel too high or too low. I think that we kind of stay even-keeled. We also know in the back of our heads that we’re always capable of doing better and doing more. We owe it to the city of Philadelphia and to our families to just go out there and put on a better display of basketball.’

While Oubre and the Sixers generally highlighted the problems with their own play in Game 1, Jalen Brunson’s name also popped up plenty.

Brunson torched the Sixers for 35 points, going 12 for 18 from the field and 8 for 8 at the foul line. When Embiid was asked postgame about his own foul drawing in Game 1, he began his response with Brunson. 

“You’ve got to ask Jalen Brunson,” Embiid said. “I don’t think I got to the free throw line as much as I wanted. 

“But that’s not the reason we lost. I think defense was the biggest reason. We just weren’t good enough or physical enough. All their guys were too comfortable. I want to focus on what we could’ve done better on defense.”

And when Oubre fielded a question Tuesday about Brunson being the “head of the snake” for the Knicks’ offense, his reply was … quotable.

“He has a big head,” Oubre said. “It’s definitely tough to guard him with his head doing all that.”

Oubre imitated Brunson bobbing his head around in an effort to draw fouls and create favorable contact.

“He’s a great player,” Oubre continued. “We’ve played against him plenty of times and we have to make the adjustments that we saw on film. Kudos to him. … They did what they had to do at home and it’s up to us to respond.”

None of the Sixers’ opinions on Brunson’s style of play will be relevant Wednesday night.

They’ll need to play sharper defense on him and make a heap of upgrades from Game 1 to keep following the Celtics series script, which included a surprising Game 2 victory in Boston that featured VJ Edgecombe’s 30-point performance.

“They’re a really physical team and they’re good,” Edgecombe said Tuesday. “If we lack physicality and effort, the score’s going to be like that.”

George expects the series to begin in earnest with Game 2.

“Just get settled in,” he said. “Yeah, we had breakdowns tonight, but they also shot the s— out of the ball. … They came out on fire, but it’s a game of adjustments. We’ll make adjustments. 

“It’s the same as last series. They don’t get any extra points (in the series) for going up big tonight.”