Philadelphia 76ers: 3 takeaways from Game 2 vs. Nets

PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 15: The Philadelphia 76ers react during a game against the Brooklyn Nets during Game Two of Round One of the 2019 NBA Playoffs on April 15, 2019 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /

3. Defense was where it needed to be when it counted

Despite what the final numbers may show, the Sixers put forth a solid defensive performance in the Game 2 victory. Through three quarters, they held the Nets to just 44.8 percent shooting from the field and just 34.5 percent from beyond the arc.

Brooklyn had scored just 87 points prior to the final frame, where it would go on to drop 36 points while making five of its seven 3-point attempts. Had the score been within closer proximity in the final 12 minutes, Brett Brown would’ve had his best players on the court, leading to better defensive numbers.

Philly isn’t going to shoot 56.1 percent overall with 145 points on a nightly basis as it did on Monday night. More often than not, the team’s performance will look a lot more like Game 1, where it shot 40.7 percent en route to 102 points. The Sixers got hot, but given the intensity of playoff-level defenses, it’s not sustainable.

So, it’s defensive efforts like the one put forth in Game 2 that will keep them in most postseason games. They certainly have the personnel to stifle even the best offenses, but against a team ranked 19th in offensive rating during the regular season, there’s no reason Philly shouldn’t overwhelm them with length and physicality.