Boston Celtics vs Philadelphia 76ers Game 2 emotional game log

The following is a live recap of Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals between the Boston Celtics and the Philadelphia 76ers from the perspective of an overly emotional Boston fan. Thoughts were edited for clarity and dramatic effect. 

Pregame, watching NBA Today on ESPN at 3:34 pm

This Joel Embiid MVP party ends today. The Celtics cannot allow this victory lap to continue beyond this evening. It’s time to lay the smackdown.

Pregame, taking a seat on the couch at 7:55 pm

Is this a must-win? It feels like a must-win, but it technically is not a must-win. What does “must-win” even mean? Does it mean that we really, really, really, really, should win? In that case, this is a must-win. But if it means that we literally must win the game, it isn’t. Is any game ever a must-win? Even if you get eliminated, life goes on, so you never really have to win, right? I’m not freaking out, you’re freaking out.

Tip-off, several deep breaths are taken, 8:00 pm

Let’s do this, Al. Win this tip-off, Cs will win the game. (He lost the tip-off)

10:55 left in the 1st Quarter, Philadelphia 76ers lead 5-3

Pretty good vibes in the room from pregame up through this point. The general sense is that the Celtics have to win this game, but I’m reading a healthy amount of optimism about that actually happening. People are comfortably seated, with not much animosity thus far. Through the first minute of play, the Celtics have exhibited great defensive intensity, with Smart and Jaylen sporting the “I-am-going-to-drive-you-nuts” defensive stance. Let’s hope this continues, as it has never been about starting off intense. It’s about sustaining it and finishing that way.

8:07 left in the 1st Quarter, Boston Celtics lead 8-7

Al Horford has a psychotic look in his eye, so that’s something we should continue to monitor throughout the game. Perhaps he senses that his reputation as “The Embiid Stopper” is under threat in this game. Great job forcing Embiid to move his feet thus far. He looks like he’s limping out there, so exploiting his lack of mobility is key.

Also props to the TD Garden crowd for the MVP chants for Tatum right after Embiid just won it. Solid psychological warfare right there.

5:47 left in the 1st Quarter, Boston Celtics lead 12-8

Is that a drone? Is somebody illegally flying a drone in the arena? Why haven’t the refs stopped the game, this is probably unsafe… (Camera cuts to drone-cam) Wait what!? There is a drone-cam? I’ve never seen this before.

Wow, this is incredibly distracting. Did they have to fly the drone right in front of the standard camera angle? Everyone in the room seems to agree that this drone is not adding to the experience, someone call TNT and let them know.

0:56 left in the 1st Quarter, Boston Celtics lead 23-20

If Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, and Deandre Jordan were Lob City, Embiid and Harden are Flop City. You’re telling me that Joel Embiid—and all his 280 pounds—can get toppled over by Grant Williams shuffling forward half a step? Preposterous!

Also, I am starting to wonder if Reggie Miller is watching the game. He seems to believe that Grant Williams is 6’3”, which is about three inches off the mark. Grant is doing great against Embiid though, and the defensive intensity has lasted an entire quarter!

End of 1st Quarter, Boston Celtics lead 28-22

Marcus Smart is a national treasure. With the last shot in hand, he just waved off Tatum, got blocked, grabbed his miss, and proceeded to hit a fadeaway over his left shoulder as time expired.

What a hilarious basketball player. That sequence—combined with him picking up Harden full court and refusing to give him an inch in the half court—is why Marcus is the ultimate tone-setter.

11:45 left in the 2nd Quarter, Boston Celtics lead 30-22

Well, the Marcus Smart insanity continues, as he just caught a backdoor lob from Jayson Tatum. The 76ers are asleep on defense, but Smart sleeps with both eyes open.

9:33 left in the 2nd Quarter, Boston Celtics lead 37-27

Grant seems to be a real part of the rotation tonight, and he’s out there doing Yeoman’s work against Embiid. Grant is moving his feet and putting a body on him 25 feet away from the basket, which is all the Celtics need from him.

I hope Reggie Miller has figured out by now that he isn’t six-foot-three.

4:56 left in the 2nd Quarter, Boston Celtics lead 47-38

P.J. Tucker is at it again, committing fouls I did not even know were possible. He just looked at Tatum with utter disgust and catapulted his chest at him like it was a lethal weapon. That was an offensive foul in both definitions of offensive.

Also, what should we call that move? The Chest Bump Attack? The Pectoral Push? The Shoulder-Slash-Screen?

1:43 left in the 2nd Quarter, Boston Celtics lead 50-45

Send help! We’re blowing it! It’s happening again! Where is the defensive effort? What is happening to us on offense? Someone grab a bucket of cold water, we need to wake up!

End of the half, Boston Celtics lead 57-49

Other than those last four minutes, that was a solid 8.5/10 first half. Amazing defensive intensity, especially against Harden. Smart and Jaylen were completely unwilling to let Harden out of their sight. Incredible stuff.

I am a little worried about the 76ers lurking around this whole game though, what if they start hitting threes? They were only 1/13 in the first half, surely that won’t continue.

9:28 left in the 3rd Quarter, Boston Celtics lead 66-54

That was maybe the drunkest play I have ever seen on a basketball court: a Celtics turnover into the Embiid missed layup into Jaylen getting blocked into the offensive rebound into the Jaylen 18-footer. I need a glass of water.

7:22 left in the 3rd Quarter, Boston Celtics lead 68-54

I don’t want to get comfortable with this lead, but getting comfortable with a lead is really batting its eyelashes at me right now. Smart is continuing his antics, and he just dove under a pile for a loose ball, only to discover all 280 pounds of Embiid crashing down directly on top of him. The things this man will do for a loose ball foul. I sure hope he’s okay.

5:27 left in the 3rd Quarter, Boston Celtics lead 73-55

18-point lead! The 76ers can’t score! It’s all coming together! (Please don’t blow this, please don’t blow this, please don’t blow this)

1:59 left in the 3rd Quarter, Boston Celtics lead 86-60

Woooo! We’re hitting everything! Even with the lead, the Celtics’ defense hasn’t wavered! We have a swagger that we lacked for the whole Atlanta series and Game 1 of this one. The lead is so big, they took out Embiid! Is Doc Rivers giving up already?

What an incredible stretch, I think every shot is going to go in! (Maniacal laughter)

0:52 left in the 3rd Quarter, Boston Celtics lead 92-63

What a run. What a pallet cleanser after Monday night’s debacle. Jaylen is incredible, Smart set the tone from the opening tip, and Tatum gets to take the night off! I’m not sure if he sees it that way, but silver linings are important, JT.

In other news, I have ascended beyond normal levels of happiness, and my body is now involuntarily inventing new ways to celebrate. To name a few:

(Grant Williams 3-pointer): Double-running-air-fist-bump

(Malcolm Brogdon 3-pointer): Sideways-alternating-open palm-jabs

(Robert Williams III block): Mutumbo-finger-wag + spinning-chicken-dance

Entire Fourth Quarter, Boston Celtics Win 121-87

Apparently, Doc Rivers decided that his guys were wholly unable to hang with this level of offensive smoke, and punted on the entire fourth quarter. There is a special type of satisfaction when your playoff opponent is subbing in guys I have never even heard of, and I watch a lot of basketball.

Also, the consistent trend of Payton Pritchard going into “this is my team now” mode in garbage time has apparently made its way to the playoffs. And now he’s just outscored Tatum. What a game.