76ers Possess A Quiet Confidence For Game 7
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76ers Possess A Quiet Confidence For Game 7
BOSTON -- The 76ers have a quiet confidence as they prepare for the pressure-packed deciding Game 7 in tonight’s Eastern Conference semifinal against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden.
If the Sixers are as poised with their play as they were dealing with the media after today’s shootaround, the results could be favorable.
The players and coach Doug Collins were asked repeatedly how the Sixers could overcome the vaunted Boston Celtics, with the likes of Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett, not to mention the raucous crowd.
Collins and the players were measured in their responses, but firm in their belief that the Sixers are here to compete favorably against the veteran Celtics.
“In the regular season we beat them twice and in the playoffs we have beaten them three times,” Collins said. “…From our standpoint, if you have beaten a team you should have confidence you can do that.”
The Sixers understand that few are picking them to win and their response is they really don’t care.
“Nobody expected us to be here in a Game 7 with us in Boston,” said Jrue Holiday, coming off a 20-point performance in Game 6’s 82-75 win. “We aren’t worried about it.”
The players simply can’t wait for the opening tipoff.
“This is my first Game 7 and playing vs Boston, I grew up a Lakers fan and don’t really like Boston that much and I am ready to play,” Holiday said.
In what is going to be a frenzied atmosphere, Andre Iguodala put in simple terms what the Sixers have to do.
“We have to play with a calmness about ourselves and execute,” he said.
Of course it’s easy to be poised when the building is empty. Still, one gets the impression that this Sixers team won’t be overwhelmed by the moment.
It almost appears as if they are embracing the situation, and are certainly not just happy to be there. And in all honesty, it seems as if they would like to prove all the naysayers wrong.
One thing that the Sixers feel they can’t do is to get off to a slow start.
“We have to get off to a good start, maybe not a fast start,” Elton Brand said. “We have to compete and be right there and we can’t get behind (by a lot) in a Game 7 with the crowd and energy, there is no way to catch up.”
Brand likes his chances with his young teammates.
“These young guys are just fearless and they just want to play, want to win,” Brand said. “I don’t know if they even know the historical stuff that happened 30 years ago when Jr. J and Larry Bird played; they are just here to win.”
For video of Jrue Holiday speaking to the media, click here.
For video of Elton Brand, click here.
Poll: Who has been the Sixers' playoff MVP thus far?
GO SIXERS!!— zwarte piet- Win or lose, Sixers, you've already given me my thrill for 2012. Having already exceeded everyone's expectations, there's no pressure.
Relax, enjoy yourselves, and beat the Depends off the "Geriatrics." - thanks marc. i think the philly fans are quietly confident as well. at this point we're playing with house money, with nothing to lose, but the chance to make a huge statement about the organization.— rzzzzz
- HEY,-LONEWOLF11 GUESS WHAT AFTER TONIGHT THE CRAPADELPHIA POSERS ARE GONNA BE PLANNING A LONG OFFSEASON'S WORTH OF GOLF AS WELL AS PLANNING A FISHING TRIP IN FLORIDA WHILE THEY GET TO WATCH THE CELTICS TAKE ON MIAMI IN THE CONFERENCE FINALS GREEN & WHITE FOREVER GO CELTICS C'S TAKE GAME 7 PLUS THE SERIES 4-3 ENJOY YOUR OFFSEASON— celticsfan2884
- So by your calculation the Sixers will have their boats in the Gulf of Mexico roughly ten days before the Celtics. Man, that must feel great for you.— Ollie Brown
John Mitchell is in his second year covering the 76ers for the Inquirer after joining the paper in November 2011. He covered the Washington Wizards for the Washington Times from 1998 to 2008. He's also worked at the Philadelphia Tribune, the Wilmington News Journal, Courier-Post, Trenton Times and Elmira Star-Gazette.Born and raised in West Philadelphia - not too far from Will Smith - he graduated from Overbrook High School the same year the 76ers won their last championship. He's a proud graduate of Howard University and the proud father of two sons, Jared and Jordan.
ABOUT MARC NARDUCCI
Marc Narducci has served in a variety of roles with the Inquirer since beginning in 1983. He has covered the 76ers as a backup and a beat writer. In addition, Narducci has covered everything from the Super Bowl to the World Series and a lot in between. Narducci also has a true passion for South Jersey scholastic sports, which he has covered for many years.
