If Smart's killer goal hadn't timed out, it would have been a game for the Celtics. They trailed by as many as 16 points at one point, and set off a comeback in the final quarter to run a 17-4 lead. Tatum, who pulled his crotch in the first half, suddenly woke up in the second half and hit a crucial 3-pointer in overtime.
It's a pity that Harden made that flat throw before the end of regular time, but it was a pity that Smart missed an open three-point shot in the final moments of regular time, and Sethsmart shot a "kill" three-point shot in overtime, but unfortunately it was overtime.
The Celtics had many opportunities to turn the series into a 3-1, but they missed them, which made James Harden what he is today.
After the last game, I said that the series suspense was already very small, and Harden shot 5-of-28 in two games, leaving the 76ers looking helpless under the Celtics. The Harden and Embiid duo has never been able to play chemistry, and the problem may not be the coach, after all, the ball is in the hands of Harden and Embiid.
Hesitation is the word we use most when we talk about Harden in the first two games, and in the fast-changing playoffs, a second of hesitation can lead to a missed shot/shot opportunity. In a life-and-death moment, James Harden finally stopped hesitating.
In the first attack of the opening, Emperor Dengdi blocked and dismantled, showing a new look. Embiid's blocking quality was excellent, completely blocking White, and Harden did not hesitate to hit the basket after facing Horford.
At the same time, Embiid did not stay on the outside waiting to catch the ball, but followed Harden's rhythm. Harden didn't watch people pass the ball to Embiid, and Smart who came over couldn't interfere with Embiid at all, who scored easily.
In the fans' mind, this is the shape of the Harden and Embiid pair, rather than both facing each other outside the three-point line, and the Celtics can wrap Embiid at will without worrying about Harden punishing them.
Today's Harden, I think is better than the G1 Harden who scored 45 points. When he led the team alone in the second quarter, Harden was not vague at all, and after calling a block, he did it himself, and the inside and outside shots finally showed his true colors as a top single-hander.
Of course, Harden's ability to single out this season is not comparable to his peak self, but he can still score more than 1 point per single round in the regular season. When Harden is facing defenders like Brogdon and Smart, you have to believe that his ability to pick alone can still prevail.
In the second quarter, Harden scored 15 points on 6-of-8 shooting, made 3 three-pointers, had four assists and one block. Embiid went 7-of-12 in the first half for 19 points and 11 rebounds. It may have been Harden and Embiid's best half since teaming up, but it was limited to one half.
In the fourth quarter, Embiid's fitness bottomed out, and both the offensive and defensive ends fell sharply, and this time should actually let Embiid go down to rest, and his many speechless choices on the offensive end allowed the 76ers to be quickly caught up by the Celtics and overtaken.
In the final moments of the fourth quarter, starting at 96 points, all but Tucker's 2+1 hit were taken by Harden, including the final equalizer.
The final shot of the 76ers in the fourth quarter came to Harden, who still faced Horford. G1 Harden hit a three-point shot on Horford's head, and this time Horford chose not to give Harden a three-point chance. Then Harden broke straight through, threw off Horford, and scored against Smart's assistive throw, dragging the game into overtime.
It was Harden's 39th point of the game, and for a long time in overtime I thought Harden's scoring would stop at 39 today, and then Harden hit that quasi-killer three.
Still the same old routine, Embiid attracted opponents under the basket to pinch the shot, and the 76ers trailed by two points. Jaylen Brown, who came to pinch the shot, was convinced that Harden did not dare to shoot three-pointers, and then Jaylen Brown lost the bet. Harden received the ball and shot a three-pointer, without a hint of hesitation, he didn't think about taking a two-pointer, hitting a three-pointer, and the balance of victory tilted to the 76ers.
Jaylen said after the game: "I read the game badly in that round. That's it. There shouldn't have been a bet on that one, and Harden hit the crucial shot. But it's my fault, and I'm fully responsible. ”
In the first two games, Jaylen will definitely have no problem pinch Embiid to empty Harden, and Harden may not shoot, after all, he has 7 seconds left in the offensive time when he catches the ball. But today Harden has only the basket in his eyes, and he pulled himself out of the quagmire of the first two games and redeemed himself.
In the whole game, Harden played 47 minutes, shooting 16 of 23 efficiently, scoring 42 points, 8 rebounds and 9 assists, shooting 6 of 9 from three-point range, and only 1 turnover. This is Harden's 11th playoff game 40+ in his career, and the only guards who have done the same are Jordan, West and Kobe.
Before the game, Harden also invited Hao Qiang, a Chinese student who survived the previous Michigan shooting, to watch the game. After the unfortunate incident, Harden heard that Hao Qiang was his fan and immediately sent him a video greeting.
After today's game, Harden signed the boots of the game and gave them to Hao Qiang, and Harden's shoes were embroidered with Chinese "to the top", which are the best descriptions of Harden's performance today.
Harden said: "John Hao is my lucky charm, we have always kept in touch and I feel it is my duty to give a little light in his life. ”
After G3, during video class, the team watched the two rounds where Harden should have shot but chose to pass. Rivers said: "I asked him. 'Do you want to shoot those two shots?' He said 'yes'. I said, 'We can take those two shots from you.' We need you to play aggressively, shoot shots. ’”
Strike when it's time to strike, don't hesitate and don't look back. If Harden stays like this, the series will be acceptable to everyone, no matter what it ends up like.
The sky is as high as climbing a building, do not worry, do not look back.