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Philadelphia 76ers: T.J. McConnell has always been a fighter

By John W. Butler III

PHILADELPHIA, PA - MAY 7: T.J. McConnell #12 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts as he walks towards the bench in the fourth quarter against the Boston Celtics during Game Four of the Eastern Conference Second Round of the 2018 NBA Playoffs at Wells Fargo Center on May 7, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Celtics 103-92. 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. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - MAY 7: T.J. McConnell #12 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts as he walks towards the bench in the fourth quarter against the Boston Celtics during Game Four of the Eastern Conference Second Round of the 2018 NBA Playoffs at Wells Fargo Center on May 7, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Celtics 103-92. 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. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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T.J. McConnell has always been a fighter, and the Philadelphia 76ers needed every bit of him to stave off elimination

The Philadelphia 76ers avoided what would have been a disappointing sweep with a Game 4 victory over the Boston Celtics as the series now shifts back to TD Garden.

Coach Brett Brown made the decision to insert T.J. McConnell into the starting lineup. The third-year guard didn’t disappoint, scoring 19 points to go along with five assists and seven rebounds.

"“I was just letting the game come to me,” shared McConnell following Game 4. “I wasn’t trying to do too much.”"

With zero turnovers in 39 minutes of action, you could say that he executed the game plan perfectly.

McConnell didn’t just shine on the offensive end of the floor. His defensive efforts were noticeable, helping the Sixers hold Terry Rozier to just 11 points on 4-11 shooting. Rozier averaged 22 points in the first three games of the series.

Monday’s performance was nothing new for McConnell. He seems to come up big whenever the Sixers need an extra jolt of energy. Remember his game-winning shot against the Knicks last season?

The point guard depth chart for the Sixers features the last two No. 1 overall draft picks in Markelle Fultz and Ben Simmons. Undrafted out of Arizona, McConnell doesn’t let any of that disrupt his ability to perform. His gritty style of play has made him a fan favorite in Philadelphia.

That much was evident on Monday night as the Wells Fargo Center crowd sparked a “T.J.!, T.J.!” chant in the fourth quarter.

Perhaps T.J. McConnell is able to accept his role on the Sixers because of his family background. The Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania native faced his toughest critic early in his basketball career. His dad, Tim McConnell, was his high school coach at Chartiers Valley High School. “He demanded perfection,” said T.J. of his father in an interview with go90.

The McConnell basketball legacy doesn’t stop there. T.J.’s Uncle Tom played for Davidson, and his Aunt Kathy played for Virginia, before coaching at Colorado and Tulsa. And you can’t forget his Aunt Suzie McConnell-Serio. She was an All-American at Penn State, two-time Olympian, WNBA star and a member of the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.

T.J. has fought to make a name for himself in a family with a strong basketball legacy. He’s fought to make it into the NBA. Now he’s helping his teammates in a battle that seems nearly impossible. In NBA history, 129 teams have taken a 3-0 lead in a best-of-seven playoff series. Not one of those teams failed to advance. “Why not us?” shared Coach Brown.

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McConnell seems to agree.

"“We have nothing to lose. We’re just playing our hearts out and just trying to be that one team.”"

If the Sixers are going to make history, having a fighter like T.J. McConnell in the lineup isn’t a bad idea.