Sixers discuss their offensive struggles in Game 1 loss vs. Celtics

BOSTON -- The Philadelphia 76ers began their playoff run with a dud in Game 1 to the Boston Celtics on Sunday. They shot only 38.9% from the floor compared to 50% for the Celtics and they shot just 4-for-23 from deep compared to 16-for-44 for Boston.

The Sixers got a lot of wide-open looks, but they could not convert as Kelly Oubre Jr. and VJ Edgecombe combined to shoot 0-for-10 from deep and Maxey was 1-for-4 himself. Paul George shot 4-for-8 from the floor overall, but scored 17 points as he was able to get to the free-throw line nine times and knock down eight of them.

The Sixers had trouble finishing at the rim, knocking down shots in the mid-range, and from deep as the offense could not find a rhythm in a playoff setting.

"I thought we had a lot of good looks," George said after the loss. "I thought we turned down some shots, but we also had a lot of good looks. A lot of chippy ones that we usually make at the rim. I thought it was just one of those days where we missed some easy ones, to be honest."

To George's point, the Sixers got the shots they wanted. They just didn't drop and that's going to happen in this league. Basketball can be a make-or-miss game at times, but when the shots aren't falling, a team has to do other things to make it close. The Sixers didn't play good enough defense to get the job done against a team like the Celtics.

"Would it have made a difference? I don't know," George added. "You give a team 123, and they shoot 50%. You're not gonna win like that on the road. You let a team shoot 50% at home. It's gonna be tough in the playoffs, but it would have made the game a little better, and kept us in striking distance had we made some of those easier ones, but you know, again, it's one game. Hopefully, we'll be in a better rhythm Game 2."