BOSTON ( Associated Press) – Joe Majulla’s Game 7 experience as an assistant coach has been stellar, including last year when the Celtics won two of them on their way to the NBA Finals.
One of those was a 28-point blowout.
The second was a one-possession play in the waning seconds.
“We know how to win easily and we know how to fight to the death,” the rookie head coach said Saturday.
The Celtics will face the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday for the last remaining spot in the NBA Final Four. This is only the second series so far this season to reach a seventh game.
“We know what we have to do,” said Sixers center Joel Embiid, who was crowned NBA Most Valuable Player during the series. “It’s going to be a lot of fun. Game 7. That’s how we play for these kinds of games.”
The Celtics gained home-field advantage by finishing three games ahead of Philadelphia in the standings; Boston also won three out of four meetings in the regular season. (The winner of Sunday’s game will also have home court advantage in the NBA Finals if they can eliminate Miami in the Eastern Conference Finals.)
But playing at TD Garden hasn’t been much of a boon for Boston: The Celtics have gone just 7-9 in their last 16 playoff games at home, compared to the days when playing on the hardwood was almost a certainty.
Boston forward Jaylen Brown has listened to the complaints of fans, who have seen the team blow away games and blow away games in both playoff series so far this season.
And the feeling is mutual.
“Celtics fans, you like to catch our eyes, don’t you? So I’ll call them this time,” Brown said after the Celtics won Thursday night to force a seventh game in Philadelphia. “The energy in the Garden was fine during the playoffs.
Game 7, I don’t care if you’re there or if you’re not there, if you’re looking at a bar, if you’re looking at a friend’s house across the street. I need you to rise, I need you to come with energy, cause we need it. That’s why I’m calling you. Let’s make sure the Garden is ready to go.”
