Sixers have frank film session before Game 4 vs. Celtics, say what needs to be said
The Sixers benefited from dishing out uncomfortable truths Saturday.
As Tyrese Maxey described it, the teams lengthy film session after dropping Game 3 of their second-round series to the Celtics contained plenty of candor.
I think the biggest thing today is that we were real with each other, Maxey said. And thats good. Family has to be real with each other. Family has to express themselves. They have to express their emotions that theyre feeling. You have to get that off your chest. I think weve done a great job of that all year.
Maxey noted a lot of people spoke up and said that wasnt a problem, since the Sixers have the ultimate respect for each other.
Sixers head coach Doc Rivers thought the film session played a significant part in Sundays intense overtime win starring James Harden to even the series at 2-all. His team squandered a 16-point second-half lead, trailed by five late in the fourth quarter, and eventually emerged with a vital game.
Honestly, I think the film yesterday said what we had to do, Rivers said postgame. Theyre going to make a run. Were going to make a mistake. Things are not going to go well, and just keep playing. Two days ago, we didnt do that. Tonight, we did that. So I think thats what it says: That were in a bar fight, and weve just got to keep slugging.
Rivers on Saturday mentioned several strategic areas he highlighted, such as instances of over-helping on Jayson Tatum, committing costly turnovers, and repeatedly being imprecise with spacing. He also showed our guys our body language on bad plays and invited players to say their piece.
He called it an extremely frank dialogue.
P.J. Tucker, whos been the epitome of extreme frankness, sat next to Harden at the postgame press conference podium. When asked about the film session, Harden looked over at Tucker, assuming hed offer his insight.
However, the 38-year-old forward amusingly opted to stay silent, deferring to Harden.
Film is always honest, honestly, Harden said. When were doing bad things and were not playing together offensively, or were not engaged and together defensively, we see it. So it was another great film session for us.
We know what were supposed to be doing. Were at Game 4; they know our plays, we know their plays. Its a matter of who wants it more, who wants to win. Tonight, we did a really good job of that.
The Sixers collective honesty does indeed seemed to have meaningfully enhanced this year. Tucker has been a vocal, veteran tone-setter on that front, but it hasnt been rare to hear players discuss unacceptable transition defense or talk about a teammate needing to play with greater aggression.
As Georges Niang said in December, the concept of Do you want to keep losing the same way, or do you really want to tell the truth about whats going on? has resonated with the Sixers.
That hasnt all been happening behind closed doors, too.
After scoring a huge put-back, and-one layup with 1:06 left in regulation, Tucker walked right back up to Joel Embiid, who was hunched over and wiped out in his third game back from a right knee sprain. Tucker got in Embiids ear literally, almost about what the Sixers required from their MVP big man.
The three-point play is just will and determination just wanting to win, Tucker said. I had just gotten back in the game, so I had to leave an imprint somehow and usually its offensive rebounding in those moments when James, Jo or Tyrese (Maxey) are attacking.
And the Jo play is just me. Nobody can guard Jo 1-on-1. Theres no way. Im sorry, its not a disrespect to Al (Horford) or anybody else, but I guarded him for a lot of years and when hes aggressive and assertive, its impossible. And I saw him two or three plays in a row not do that, and we cant have that. We cant have that not with the season on the line. We cant have it.
Regardless of exactly who shared what in Saturdays film session, we think it’s fair to say that message from Tucker was characteristically honest and effective.
