Can’t Buy a Bucket: The Sixers’ Abysmal Shooting Percentage in Game 2 Against the Celtics

Everything that could go wrong last night did. Fresh off of winning the league MVP for the first time, and returning from injury, not even Embiid could offset the Sixers’ abysmal shooting percentage. The team as a whole seemed sluggish and uninterested in Game 2. So what went wrong, and how can Philly bounce back in front of its home crowd for Game 3?

The Sixers Had No Shot in Game 2

From Three

The Sixers struggled all night to find their shot. Unfortunately, they never did. Philly went 6 of 30 from three. Coming off of a 45-point performance on Monday where he hit 7 threes, Harden went 0-6 from beyond the arc. The Beard looked tired and slow after giving it his all in Game 1. Harden ended the night with 12 points, 8 of which came from the free throw line.

Tyrese Maxey hit 1 three on 4 attempts and Embiid went 0-2 from the top of the key. Coming off of the bench, Georges Niang opted to pass the ball instead of taking wide-open shots. The Sixers played way too much ISO last night and failed to move the ball to create shot opportunities. The Celtics were +14 from three.

From the Field

Shots did not come easy closer to the basket. The 76ers shot 39.2% from the field. Again, ball movement was practically non-existent. Philly had 13 assists compared to Boston’s 26. Harden and Embiid were foul-baiting instead of focusing on finishing in the paint. That strategy did not pan out as it normally does.

Tobias Harris lead the night in scoring with 16 points, obviously that’s not going to cut it. Down over 20 points in the fourth quarter, Doc River waived the white flag and pulled his starters. Although the game was all but over, the bench didn’t perform any better. The Sixers’ bench scored a total of 26 points, whereas the Celtics’ bench scored a total of 54 points off of a very strong performance from Malcolm Brogdon.

A Clean Slate for Game 3

Embiid is Back, Series is Tied at 1-1

While things seem bad heading into a pivotal Game 3 at the Wells Fargo Center, Sixers’ fans should remain optimistic. The goal has always been to steal one in Boston and we did just that. Embiid only played 27 mins last night. Enough time to get a feel for the game after a couple of weeks off, but not long enough to drain his stamina. Embiid should be fresh for Friday night’s game. He should also have a much better game at that.

Defense Wins Championships

Embiid had 5 blocks in the first half last night. With Embiid on the court, the Sixers’ rim protection is exponentially better. No more easy buckets in the paint. The Sixers should also see an uptick in offensive rebounds and second shot attempts. More scoring opportunities equal more points, hopefully.

Can’t Shoot Any Worse

The 76ers’ shooting percentage was awful in Game 2, but they should rebound nicely in Game 3. Harden will also likely rebound. It’s hard to see him have back-to-back bad games. With fresh legs, the star point guard should come out energized. Expect better ball movement and more assists from Harden in Game 3.

Sixers fans, please remain optimistic. After yesterday’s prime time embarrassment, Philly will certainly come out fighting Friday night. With Embiid set to receive the MVP award in front of a raucous home crowd, the 76ers will take care of business. Game 3 is pivotal. We need a decisive win to swing the momentum our way.