How much does experience in Game 7s matter? Hard to say, since plenty of other
factors – substantial and subtle – could ultimately influence the outcome of a
series’ decisive finale.
Either way, the subject was certainly timely and worth exploring at the 76ers’
practice session the morning before the club wraps up its Eastern Conference
Semifinals bout with the Toronto Raptors Sunday at Scotiabank Arena.
The Sixers’ roster features five players who have been part of at least one Game
7 (JJ Redick – 5, Amir Johnson – 2, Jimmy Butler – 1, Mike Scott – 1, Greg
Monroe – 2 DNPs). There’s also Brett Brown, and the four Game 7s he coached in
during his stint as an assistant with the San Antonio Spurs.
Here are some of reflections on what Game 7s are all about…
Brett Brown
Sunday will mark Brown’s first Game 7 as an NBA head coach. During his 12
seasons in San Antonio, he was on the sideline for Game 7s in the 2005 and 2013
NBA Finals, and the 2006 and 2008 Western Conference Semifinals.
“It’s a life experience. It’s for sure a sporting experience, but playing in
Game 7s are different. I coached in two Game 7s in the NBA championship, I’ve
done it in the Western Conference semifinals, and a few places earlier days. My
experiences and my memory are one of the possession per possession mentality is
heightened. Everything is just zoomed in, it’s just raw. It always gets back to
in my opinion defense, and there will be no great shots. Everything is
contested, lots of times you just hope to get a shot.”
Mike Scott
In Scott’s second season as a pro, he and the Atlanta Hawks let a 3-2 lead
against the Indiana Pacers slip away in the opening round of the 2014 playoffs.
Scott scored 15 points in Game 7 of the series.
” Finals. It’s very hard to win in this NBA, and we have an opportunity to go
far. We have to get over this hump. It’s fun to do it with these guys, these
great teammates, and we’ll see what happens.”
Player: Jimmy Butler
Player: Amir Johnson
Player: Mike Scott
Media Content:
https://www.nba.com/sixers/news/playoff-voices-you-give-everything-youve-got
Media Keywords: NBA, Sports, Philadelphia Sixers, Jimmy Butler, Amir Johnson,
Mike Scott, Brett Brown, Philadelphia 76ers
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