Seeing a Game 4, 15-point halftime lead evaporate in the second half against the 76ers was a sour pill for the Celtics to swallow.
It was doubly hurtful when the 76ers, who were held to just 31 first-half points, scored 61 in the second half en route to a 92-83 win that evened this Eastern Conference semifinals series at 2-all.
So now the question for the Celtics: How do they move on after missing an excellent opportunity to go up 3-1 in this series? Guard Rajon Rondo says the disappointment can be overcome.
“We’re a strong-minded team, a veteran team,’’ Rondo said, per a report by The Boston Globe. “We know we let this one slip away. They feel like they let a couple slip away early, so regardless of how each team feels you still have to go out and play the game. So, we’ll be ready for Game 5.’’
What the Celtics might have to do is remember to get Kevin Garnett more involved. In Boston’s two wins in this series, he’s averaged 28 points. In the two losses, including Friday night’s 9-point output, he’s averaging 12.
“I don’t know, I’m going to have to look at that one and figure it out for myself,’’ Celtics coach Doc Rivers said of Garnett’s low output Friday, per The Boston Globe. “I don’t think we ever established him. I thought he was a passer a lot. We’ve to got to get him back in the middle of the paint and being aggressive. So, that’s on us, we’ve got to figure that one out.’’
Garnett turned 36 on Saturday. He and the Celtics are back in action against the 76ers in Boston on Monday.
