
The Philadelphia 76ers prepare to face the Boston Celtics in Game 1 of Round 1, focusing on slowing down star wing players Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. Paul George emphasizes the need for a tough defensive strategy to challenge Boston's experienced players.
CAMDEN, N.J. -- There are a number of factors the Philadelphia 76ers have to take into account for ahead of Game 1 of Round 1 on Sunday afternoon at TD Garden. The Sixers will be looking to make a statement and steal a game in Boston before the series shifts to Philadelphia for two games.
In order to do that, they will need to find a way to slow down the star wing players on the Boston Celtics. Jaylen Brown averaged 28.7 points in the regular season and has his name in MVP talks as he kept the Celtics moving at a high pace despite Jayson Tatum being limited to only 16 games as he returned from an Achilles injury.
The Sixers will rely on Paul George and Kelly Oubre Jr. to slow both of them down as they did against Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner in the play-in tournament on Wednesday to get to this position.
"Those two guys have won," George said of Boston's wings. "JB and JT, like they've won and they're mature, they're experienced. They've been together for a while, but same thing goes. We got to make it tough. We got to challenge them, and same mindset for me and Kelly. We kind of have to—if we got a shot to beat him, we got to make it as tough as possible for those two guys."
A 16-year veteran, George was unable to play in any of the four matchups against the Celtics in the regular season, but he isn't worried about that. He has had his battles with Tatum and Brown in the past and will lean on those experiences in order to get ready for this series.
The 76ers are focusing on defensive strategies to slow down Celtics' star players Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum.
Paul George highlighted the need to challenge the experienced Celtics wings, stating that they must make it tough for Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum.
Jaylen Brown averaged 28.7 points during the regular season and is in MVP discussions as the Celtics prepare for the playoffs.

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"I've had my shares of playing Boston with Jayson and Jaylen, so I know what to expect," George said. "I've never--in all of my years of playing--I've never played playoff series in Boston, so I think that's more of a adjustment to prepare for just the environment that's going to be there, but I played against those two guys multiple times. I personally know how I will have to prepare and get ready for that. So for it to be a playoff mindset, it's no difference. Whoever's thrown in front of us, in front of me, like it's a series. We got to try to figure out how to beat them."
Game 1 of Round 1 is set for 1 p.m. EDT on Sunday.
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: 76ers' Paul George talks prep for Celtics wing players ahead of series