Quentin Grimes and Justin Edwards will play crucial roles in defending Celtics stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown in Game 3. The Sixers aim to slow down Tatum, who is recognized as a top player in the league.
PHILADELPHIA -- As the Philadelphia 76ers prepare for a pivotal Game 3 against the Boston Celtics on Friday night, more responsibility will be placed upon Quentin Grimes and Justin Edwards to give the Sixers a spark off the bench on both ends.
When it comes to the defensive end, their main assignments will continue to be Celtics stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown as this series continues. Tatum and Brown are two of the elite stars in the NBA, and they are looking to give the Celtics a big edge, and it will be on Grimes, Edwards, and others to slow them down.
Of course, the Sixers didn't see Tatum in the regular season, but through two games, Grimes knows how much of a challenge he presents.
"He's a top 10 player in the league for a reason," Grimes said at shootaround on Friday morning. "He comes back, he's dynamic, his playmaking, his scoring, his rebounding. He affects the game at all three levels offensively and defensively. It gives them a whole different spark and different energy about their team. So, they're a whole different team than what we saw in the regular season. So, you gotta be conscious of how good a player he is when he comes in and be able to respect him and not let him get to his spots."
Tatum is averaging 22.0 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 8.0 assists through two games so his impact is certainly felt on the floor. Brown is averaging 31.0 points as he has found a groove and a rhythm early and often in this series thus far. Luckily for the Sixers, they have gone to plenty of 3-guard lineups in the past and have asked Grimes and Edwards to defend these types of wings many times. Those reps help.
"You definitely want to have some consistency with the reps in the regular season to prepare you for the playoffs," Grimes added. "You know the intensity is a little different. It’s amped up a little bit more so I feel like I’ve done a good job of just paying attention to detail and knowing guys’ tendencies and just sticking to the game plan."
The Sixers are focusing on Quentin Grimes and Justin Edwards to take on the defensive assignments against Tatum and Brown in Game 3.
Jayson Tatum is considered a top 10 player in the league, known for his dynamic scoring, playmaking, and rebounding, making him a significant challenge for the Sixers.
Tatum's presence provides the Celtics with a different energy and spark, making them a more formidable team compared to their regular-season performance.
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Then, there's Edwards who is going through his first playoff run as a second-year man in this league. The Philadelphia native saw a lot of matchups against Brown and Tatum in the past--such as the 2024-25 season when he had to play a ton due to the injuries and the way the season went--so there is something for him to lean on, but he's still taking it game by game in this setting.
"It’s kinda different," said Edwards. "Just because the way our season went last year, I only played against them twice. So, for those, their intensity went up on their end, too. Just being able to play solid and match their physicality."
The Sixers and the Celtics will tip off at 7 p.m. EDT on Friday.
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Sixers' Quentin Grimes, Justin Edwards talk defending Celtics' wings