Strong Finish For Tatum Gets Boston Home For Game 7
By Samori Benjamin
Philadelphia – The stage was set inside the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA ahead of game 6 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals as the 76ers faithful was ready to punch their ticket to the Conference Finals for the first time in 22 years.
But the home team did not deliver. Facing elimination, the visiting Boston Celtics jumped out to a fast start and led by as many as 16 in the first half. Philadelphia fought back and even held a five-point lead midway through the third quarter, in large part due to the ineffectiveness of Boston’s star player Jason Tatum. Tatum made just one of his first 13 shots and had three points heading into the fourth quarter. That is when he erupted for 16 points in that final quarter to push Boston ahead late, as they won 95-86.
I kept looking at the time, I’ve got time, I’ve got time to make a difference,” Tatum said after the game. “I believed that the whole time.” Boston first year Head Coach Joe Mazzulla told Tatum that he loved him during a timeout in the final seconds, as many would have blamed the novice coach had they only made it two rounds before where they made it last year which was the NBA Finals. Now Doc Rivers is also on the hot seat as his critics will be ready to pounce on his shaky playoff record if they lose in Game 7, where Rivers has lost nine times, which is four more times than any other coach in league history.
