Philadelphia -- Derrick White hadn't stepped foot in the Xfinity Mobile Arena yet, and the trash-talking had already begun.
"Derrick White's not right tonight," yelled a local construction worker.
It was an early welcome from a passionate fan base in a city that loves the game and has cultivated one of the most hostile environments in sports. They've created a pressure that White enjoys playing in.
"It's fun," he said after Friday morning's shootaround. "We've played a lot of big games in this arena, so we know what to expect, and it's definitely a fun atmosphere."
It's also one that the Boston Celtics have had a lot of success in. They're 5-2 in playoff tilts in this building in the Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown era.
"This is what you want to play for, and especially in the playoffs, you look forward to, and you expect to have these atmospheres and go out there and compete," voiced White. "It's gonna be just us together on the team here. So that's kind of the fun part about it."
Celtics ready for Game 3 challenge
With this first-round rivalry clash tied at one, the stakes are high entering Game 3 on Friday. Much like the environment they're in, it's a pressure that Boston relishes.
"I feel like it's just the will to win," said Pritchard after Friday's shootaround when asked about this group being better in situations like the one that they find themselves in. "So, back against the wall, you get to see the true character of people and what brings the best out of them in those situations."
To prevail, schematic adjustments are required. The Celtics' pick-and-roll defense and ability to cover for each other must be sharper than it was in their 111-97 loss on Tuesday night at TD Garden. They've also got to shoot better than 13/50, a frigid 26 percent, from beyond the arc.
However, the other half of the formula needed to triumph through these challenges boils down to the intangibles. It's about what team can collectively balance remaining even-keeled, maintaining their poise, while playing with the intensity required to get the best of their opponent.
Boston has a history of being that team. Outside of Game 2s, the Celtics are 20-5 in all other playoff matchups since 2024. It's a group that has earned trust. They have repeatedly proven they can step into hostile environments, such as the one they're already getting reacquainted with in the "City of Brotherly Love," and emerge victorious.
Add us as a preferred source on Google