PHILADELPHIA -- Adjustments happen all the time in a playoff series, but a lot of head coaches are a bit slow at making big ones. In a seven-game series, it’s crucial to be proactive, rather than reactive, something Brad Stevens took to heart last round when he elected to start Semi Ojeleye for the final three games of a 2-2 series.
Luckily for the Celtics, Brett Brown waited until his team fell into a 3-0 to shake things up, but his adjustment finally came at the start of Game 4. The Sixers coach turned to T.J. McConnell, an undrafted point guard out of Arizona, who had been one of the best Sixers in the series throughout the first three games despite his modest role. He initiated the offense well in those limited minutes, applied additional defensive pressure against the Celtics guards and just had a strong all-around basketball IQ that makes a difference in playoff games on both ends.
McConnell got the nod ahead of a struggling Robert Covington in a move that Marcus Smart said the Celtics were ready for.
“Exactly what we knew they were going to do,” Smart said after the game. “We knew they were probably going to start T.J. He brings energy off the bench. Chaos. He creates the spark that they need.”
McConnell brought life to what has been an otherwise predictable Sixers starting five over the first three games and had a hell of a night for himself, posting a career-high 19 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists over 38 minutes to key a 103-92 Sixers victory.
So how exactly did a guy who averaged 6.3 points and four rebounds per game in the regular season make such a big impact, especially if the Celtics’ were expecting it?
The answer lies within a number of factors, but starts with a lack of focus on the high-energy guard.
McConnell isn’t a high volume shooter, but he is a respectable one, unlike Ben Simmons. The 26-year-old shot 43 percent from 3-point range this year but is normally a hesitant shooter. However, he came out aggressive on Monday night, looking for his offense just as much as he looked for his teammates. His 12 field-goal attempts were one short of a season high and seven of his attempts came at the rim. He took advantage of the lack of focus Boston had on him as a scoring threat as he tried to give other players additional attention with him on the floor.
TJ McConnell is doing it all!
17 PTS, 7 REB, 5 AST for the @sixers guard.#PhilaUnite pic.twitter.com/RfkqngDHGe
— NBA (@NBA) May 8, 2018
You can't teach grit. pic.twitter.com/jOezxPcWAI
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) May 7, 2018