VJ Edgecombe did not hide behind the box score after the Philadelphia 76ers’ 108-102 loss to the New York Knicks in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals on Wednesday at Madison Square Garden. His message centered on execution, confidence, and missed opportunities.
“Yeah, I think we got a lot of great looks, wide open looks,” Edgecombe said. “I say every day we’re just missing. We were pretty satisfied with what we looked at again.”
Philadelphia generated clean perimeter chances throughout the game, but the shooting gap proved decisive as New York delivered in key stretches behind Jalen Brunson’s late scoring.
“In the fourth quarter. No, you just got to keep shooting,” Edgecombe said. “That’s the most important thing. We don’t lack confidence. If you don’t lack confidence, we’re going to keep shooting the ball regardless if you make it or not.”
He framed the offensive approach as unchanged despite the result. “We’re going to keep shooting the ball. That’s the only way we got a winning if we make shots and shoot the ball.”
Edgecombe also described the game’s tone as physical and volatile. “It’s gonna be a dogfight. It’s going to be a real dogfight. So yeah, I think that’s what it’s going to be. A dogfight.”
The rookie guard emphasized consistency across the series, noting how tight margins defined the matchup. “They did what they had to do to protect home court. So I said we won’t give up. We’re going to keep playing hard regardless.”
Shot-making became his central explanation for the outcome. “I say it came down to shot making. That was the identity of the game. They were making shots, we weren’t.”
He also pointed to Jalen Brunson’s late-game efficiency. “I feel like Brunson made a lot of tough shots towards the end of the game. We missed wide open ones. So it was even.”
Turnovers were another key factor in his assessment. “Bad passes, to be honest. I know I had a few bad passes. So like I said, we know we got to cut down on turnovers. That’s not who we are as a team.”
Defensively, Edgecombe acknowledged effort against elite shot creation. “He played great. He got like two blocks… I mean, he’s 6’11”. I mean, he made a really tough shot over him and it was great defense.”
Looking ahead, the 76ers guard stressed adaptability around Tyrese Maxey’s gravity. “I just want someone else to beat us, regardless of who it is, just not Tyrese. So I said I’m gonna do my part, create for everyone.”
With the series shifting to Philadelphia, Edgecombe’s message remained direct: more control, fewer mistakes, and continued aggression.
