To save themselves from a humiliating four-game sweep, the Philadelphia 76ers turned to T.J. McConnell, one of The Process’ hidden gems that has been contributing pure hustle to the Sixers since arriving three seasons ago. Philadelphia’s 103-92 win in Game 4 on Monday couldn’t have happened without him.
T.J. McConnell outlived The Process and saved the Sixers in the playoffs
It may not last long with Philly’s season still on life support, but for a game, McConnell was a savior.
Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images
McConnell almost fell out of the rotation in the first round, playing single-digit minutes in four of the five games against the Miami Heat. In Game 1 against the Boston Celtics in this series, McConnell only appeared for six minutes, going scoreless. But with Philadelphia desperately needing something and McConnell being as reliable a fixture as anyone on the team over the past three years, it made sense to give him the nod.
In response, McConnell scored 19 points on 9-of-12 shooting from the field, adding seven rebounds and five assists without turning it over once. While plus-minus data can be wonky, McConnell’s plus-18 was telling. The 76ers eventually only won by 11 points, of course.
McConnell has a typical underdog story, and you really never would have expected him to be starting NBA playoff games when he was at Chartiers Valley High School in the Pittsburgh area, or when starting at Duquesne, a Division-I mid-major. Even when he transferred to Arizona, earning a first-team All Pac-12 nod in 2015, it seemed unlikely that McConnell had any NBA future in him. And sure, McConnell played all 82 games for Philadelphia during his rookie campaign, but that was a 10-win roster that featured many players who quickly flamed out of the league.
But now McConnell has endured the end of The Process, and he has stuck around long enough that he’s a crucial player keeping Philadelphia’s season alive. No, McConnell won’t be the series shifting tactical move, but that’s no reason to knock what he did on Monday. He allowed the Sixers to find new life against Boston, who had thoroughly whacked them in three straight games.
McConnell is plenty skilled, but you could describe the main reason why he made the league and continues to have success is sheer force of will. McConnell sprints the floor every possession, lays out for loose balls, and generally out-efforts his defenders and defensive assignments in nearly every aspect of the game. After three games of Boston punking them with superior team basketball, McConnell was the exact shot in the arm that was sorely needed.
But you can never take the McConnell Game away from T.J., or from our hearts.
See More:
