After erasing a 16-point second-half deficit in Game 4, the Celtics had a chance to take a commanding 3-1 series lead, but their efforts came up short in overtime, falling to the 76ers, 116-115.
"There is frustration," Malcolm Brogdon said Tuesday prior to Game 5. "There is anger about losing games we feel like we should have won".
Game 4 was certainly one of those games for Boston. The C's trailed by as many as nine points in the fourth quarter, but came storming back due to some extraordinary play on the defensive end.
"We played how we're supposed to in that fourth," said Brogdon. "That's how we want to play, but we want to put it together for 48 minutes."
Staying focused for a full 48 minutes has been an issue for Boston at various points throughout this postseason, and it was what haunted them again in Game 4. When asked what the team learned from Game 4, Brogdon said, "The details. The details ended up biting us in the end."
He's right. Boston led by five with under two minutes to go in Game 4 but couldn't preserve the lead. The lack of focus and attention to detail carried into overtime, where Boston made two inexcusable mistakes that would end up costing them the game.
It feels like Boston is in a similar position they were in following their Game 1 loss to Philly a little over a week ago.
Following Boston's Game 1 loss, there was a clear emphasis on remaining focused and playing with intensity for a full 48 minutes, which seems to again be the message entering Game 5.
"Just focused. Locked in. This is a must-win for us," Brogdon said when asked about the mood of the team entering Game 5.
Brogdon admitted Boston should have come home from Philadelphia having won both of those contests, but is confident his team will come out ready to go in Game 5.
"These are games we should have won," Brogdon said. "We're going to come out the right way tonight."
Responding to losses and adversity is something the Celtics have done a great job at this season and into the postseason, as they enter Game 5 with a 3-0 record when coming off a loss this postseason.
Boston can't afford to lose focus in such a pivotal Game 5 with the series tied, and that message appears to be clear.
"It's a desperation mindset for us tonight," said Brogdon. "We have to have this one."
