If you were looking to teach a clinic on what it takes to win an NBA basketball game, this would be exhibit A. The Boston Celtics, visiting the Philadelphia 76ers Wednesday night, showed what happens when you combine protecting the basketball with a powerful scoring offensive. Stunned by losing their game with Philadelphia on Monday night by one point in an anemic offensive display, the Celtics regrouped and took the crowd out of this game by the second quarter.

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In Monday’s disaster in the T.D. Garden, the Celtics scored a whopping 57 points in three quarters. Wednesday night, they improved that total to 89. Three of Boston’s starters logged double-doubles:  Paul Pierce, sprained MCL and all, logged 24 points and added 12 rebounds; Kevin Garnett was his ageless self again, with 27 points and 13 rebounds, and Rajon Rondo sharpened the last tine on the trident, with 23 points and 14 assists. Mickael Pietrus was strong off the bench, hitting three of four three-point shots at strategically important times and helping to give starters much needed rest.

In fact, the score wasn’t even as close as it would suggest – the starters were out of the game by the fourth quarter. Boston’s field goal percentage for the game was 52 percent, which was 11 percent better than Philadelphia’s.

During the regular season, the Celtics were 24^th
in the NBA in total offense efficiency; in other words, fourth from the bottom. Critics have justifiably suggested that the Celtics could be their own worst enemy if they don’t pick up their offensive output – that their margin for error is very narrow. It would appear, for the moment at least, that the Celtics have silenced those naysayers.

As to their defense last night, the Celtics had only seven turnovers all game; in fact, it was a relatively tight contest in that sense, with Philadelphia having just nine of their own. Until that time, both teams were fairly careless with the ball – Boston having committed 30 turnovers over the first two games of the series as opposed to Philadelphia’s 27. And the Celtics succeeded in holding the 76ers, who clung to a five-point lead over Boston in the first quarter, to a total of 33 during the second and third stanzas.

Along with the gutsy play of Pierce, fighting through physical adversity, Kevin Garnett was the definitive leader – his furrowed brow, animated banter, and impassioned shooting serving to coalesce the team around him – almost daring the whole of Philadelphia to take him on. It’s sufficient evidence that if you can build momentum, regardless of whose court you’re on, you’re going to be tough to defeat – particularly if you play aggressive, fundamental basketball. And the Celtics appear to see this as a trend in subsequent games. As Garnett added after the blowout, “When you beat a team like this at home, you have to expect them coming out with a lot of energy … But we’ll be ready and we’ll have a lot of energy ourselves.”

The 76ers, this humbling performance at home aside, would seem to have more work to do. Their starters have been inconsistent, with the bench trio of Thaddeus Young, Jodie Meeks and Lou Williams adding 48 of the team’s 91 points. Young led the 76ers with 22 points. Guard Jrue Holiday’s scoring from game to game has been like a sound wave with its ups and downs, and the ordinarily unflappable Andre Iguodala was thoroughly frustrated all game long – he scored only ten points. In fact, the starters scored only 36 of the team’s entire scoring output.

The 76ers job in the remaining games is to cut through the Celtics’ tight and opportunistic defense, while forcing Boston to make ill-advised shots from the outside, as they often did against Atlanta in the first round. If they don’t, Philadelphia’s in real trouble. 

The Philadelphia 76ers had learned that the Boston Celtics didn’t make them look as overmatched as most expected. Sixers fans like myself were told that the Celtics’ superstars and experience would overwhelm the younger, inexperienced, lucky eighth seed. But it didn’t play that way in Boston, as the Sixers got a split and looked ready to take the lead going back to Philadelphia.

Instead, Game 3 on May 16 looked every bit like how most thought the series would go. It made a difference when virtually all of the Celtics’ stars were at their best, and the Sixers looked ill equipped to keep up for much of their 107-91 defeat.

It seemed to be a bad sign when Boston actually gave up 33 points in the first quarter and fell behind early. Yet the defense tightened up as much as it did in the first two games – and this time, the Celtics actually scored a lot of points in the meantime.

For only the second time in the postseason, the Celtics won a blowout and slaughtered their opponent on both sides of the ball. They did it in Game 4 of their series with the Atlanta Hawks, yet Boston was already up by 2-1 and was playing at home. Breaking a 1-1 tie on the road against a team that was riding high is much more impressive, however.

This was the Celtics team that was supposed to show up from the start of the postseason. But much of the time, Boston has struggled and has had to go through low scoring thrillers in all but two games. Yet this was that second game, and with two more like it, this series will be over and the Celtics will be on track for their final run to a championship after all.

Perhaps they are only capable of one dominant game per series, with a few more 77-75 or 82-81 battles to come later. However, this was the right time to have one of those commanding performances, as it put the Sixers back down to earth just when they thought they were in control.

Maybe the Celtics needed those two lackluster games in Boston to wake up and take this round seriously. Whether they can stay awake for a few more and not get overconfident again is another matter.

Yet if they don’t take their foot off the gas, the Celtics may just end this series as quickly as most expected them to. After the way they finally overwhelmed the Sixers, they have less of an excuse to take it easy again.

Robert Dougherty is a life-long Philadelphia resident and 76ers fan – who has become quite familiar with the Celtics in that time.

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The Philadelphia 76ers rode into Game 3 against the Boston Celtics on May 16 with a lot of momentum. Sixers fans like myself welcomed them back to Philadelphia after they split two close games with the Celtics, and nearly winning both of them. Considering the home court advantage they enjoyed against the Chicago Bulls, we thought that the Sixers had a real chance to keep it going and take command of another series.

But instead, the Sixers lost all pretense of having control and have to wonder if they will get it back. For the first time, Philadelphia and Boston actually scored a lot of points – but it was the Celtics who scored a bunch more in a 107-91 statement win.

Game 3 got off to an unusual start, considering how the Sixers and Celtics combined for 61 points in the first quarter – instead of 61 in the first half. But with Philadelphia racking up 33 points in the first 12 minutes, things were looking up. Unfortunately, the Sixers then combined to score 33 points in the next two quarters.

Meanwhile, the Celtics racked up 61 combined points of their own and broke out after struggling twice in Boston. Not only did Paul Pierce wake up with 24 points, Rajon Rondo and Kevin Garnett dominated more than usual as well. With Pierce, Garnett and Rondo all getting double-doubles, Boston finally looked as dominant as it was expected to be when the series started.

Now that the Sixers finally looked like the overmatched eighth seed they were expected to be when the playoffs started, they are back to square one. Hours earlier, it looked like they could seize control over the Celtics and control their own destiny towards the conference finals – and perhaps even avoid the Miami Heat if they got there. But all of a sudden, Philadelphia has its backs against the wall and has a virtual do-or-die Game 4 ahead on May 18.

It took nine games for the Sixers to finally succumb to the pressure of the postseason – and to face a superior team that actually played like it was superior. They must hope that this was just a one-time hot night from the Celtics and that things will be tighter next time out. Otherwise, if Boston has finally settled down after a rough start to this series, Game 4 could be the last pro sports event at the Wells Fargo Center for the next several months.

Was this a temporary setback in a long series, or a sign that the Sixers may flame out of the second round as suddenly as the Flyers just did? The potential answers weren’t too promising in Game 3, so hopefully some better theories emerge for Game 4.

Robert Dougherty is a life-long Philadelphia resident and 76ers fan.

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After a pair of one-point games to start the series, the Boston Celtics dominated the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 3 to take a 2-1 lead in their Eastern Conference semifinals series. After allowing 33 first quarter points, the Celtics held the Sixers to 33 combined points over the next two quarters to build a lead as large as 27. Rajon Rondo, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce combined for 74 points as the Celtics rolled to the 107-91 win.

The Sixers started the game shooting the ball well, but Rondo and Garnett went into attack mode for the Celtics and kept them close early. After struggling to score in Game 2, the Celtics needed Rondo to take a game over offensively and that’s exactly what he did in the first-half. He repeatedly drove to the basket and broke down the Sixers’ defense with his quickness. The Sixers allowed the fewest points in the paint of any team in the regular season, but in Game 3 they never responded to Rondo’s penetration and Garnett’s post-up game. The result was an extended stretch of dominance by the veteran team. Three Celtics already had double-doubles as the team held a 23-point lead through three quarters.

The game was also an important one for Pierce who scored 24 points after combining for just 21 in the first two games of the series. While he hasn’t been shooting well from the perimeter since his knee injury, he continues to attack the basket effectively and his driving game sent him to the line 14 times in Game 3.

The Celtics’ strategy hasn’t changed much since their series with the Atlanta Hawks. Both opponents are good defensively and strong in transition, but vulnerable in a halfcourt game. Through the first three games of the series, the Celtics have held the Sixers to just 11 fast break points per game and 88 points per game overall. In Game 3, Boston committed just seven turnovers and outrebounded the Sixers by seven, preventing them from getting into the open court. If they replicate that performance in Game 4, it will be very difficult for the Sixers to even the series.

Boston’s win puts the pressure on the Sixers in Game 4 as they can’t afford to fall behind three games to one on their home court. Game 4 will take place on Friday, May 18, at 8:00 pm.

Sources:

Boston Celtics, Yahoo! Sports

NBA.com

NBA Stats, TeamRankings.com

William Menna is a native New Englander and longtime Boston sports fan.

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It appears the series between the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers will be a nail-biter if the last two games are any indication as to what to expect. Boston took Game 1 on Saturday, May 12 by the score of 92-91 while Game 2 belonged to Philadelphia on Monday by the score of 82-81.

Boston now has two home games remaining in what becomes a best-of-five series with the next two games being played on the Sixers’ home court. Philadelphia has gone 3-0 at home during these playoffs against a talented, yet injured Chicago Bulls squad.

For momentum to swing back in favor of Boston for Game 3, they will need to rely heavily on their defense while the offense will simply have to step up. Be it Paul Pierce or Rajon Rondo–someone will need to take control and lead the team. An eight-point game for Rondo and a seven-point game for Pierce on Monday are not going to win a championship.

The matchup:

The Boston Celtics will take on the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center located in Philadelphia, Penn. on Wednesday, May 16, 2012 at 7 p.m. EDT.

The standings:

Boston comes into Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semis finishing the regular season with a 39-27 record and was 15-18 on the road this year. They defeated the Atlanta Hawks in the Eastern Conference Quarters in six games.

Philadelphia enters the matchup having finished the season with a 35-31 record and was 19-14 on their home court this year. They defeated the Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference Quarters in six games.

The playoff series:

The playoff series is currently tied at 1-1.

Where to watch:

The game can be watched live nationwide on TNT.

The playoff statistic leaders:

Boston: Kevin Garnett- 19.5 points per game, Rajon Rondo- 12.7 assists per game, Kevin Garnett- 10.8 rebounds per game.

Philadelphia: Jrue Holiday- 16.9 points per game, Jrue Holiday- 4.4 assists per game, Spencer Hawes- 8.3 rebounds per game.

Injuries to note:

Boston: Chris Wilcox (aortic abnormality), Jeff Green (aortic aneurysm), Avery Bradley (sore left shoulder).

Philadelphia: Thaddeus Young (ankle), Elton Brand (sore neck).

More Boston Celtics Commentary from Paul Rados:

Philadelphia 76ers at Boston Celtics, Eastern Semis Game 2: Fan Playoff Preview

Philadelphia 76ers at Boston Celtics, Eastern Semis Game 1: Fan Playoff Preview

Atlanta Hawks at Boston Celtics, Eastern Quarters Game 6: Fan Playoff Preview

Boston Celtics at Atlanta Hawks, NBA Eastern Quarters Game 5: Fan Playoff Preview

Atlanta Hawks at Boston Celtics, Eastern Quarters Game 4: Fan Playoff Preview

Sources:

All data provided by NBA.com

Paul Rados is an avid Boston Celtics fan and a Featured Contributor for the Yahoo! Contributor Network. Follow him on Twitter @PSRados or leave him a message on Facebook.

The Philadelphia 76ers weren’t expected to be a huge obstacle for the Boston Celtics in the second round of the playoffs. Although Sixers fans like myself rejoiced at merely winning in the first round, the Celtics have bigger goals than just one series win. In fact, with the Chicago Bulls gone, Boston was expected to breeze into the conference finals for a mega showdown with the Miami Heat.

However, facing the Heat looks like a long ways off after the Celtics couldn’t even pull away from the Sixers. They could still feel confident after surviving Game 1 on May 12, when their rallies seemingly proved that Philadelphia didn’t have enough to win late against them. Yet now that the Sixers did just that in Game 2 on May 14, things have gotten much tighter.

In fact, the Sixers’ 82-81 victory in Game 2 makes their 92-91 come-from-ahead defeat in Game 1 look like more of a lucky break for the Celtics. Without that comeback, Boston would be down by 2-0 and would be in bad shape heading into Philadelphia, where the Celtics got blown out twice in the regular season. Yet while the series is even at 1-1 instead, Boston has to realize that it has not been the better team so far.

That was easy to ignore when the Celtics came back in Game 1 and erased an eight-point fourth quarter deficit in Game 2. If they had finished off two straight late rallies, it probably would have crushed Philadelphia for good and sent Boston on its merry way as expected. But all it took was one minute to change the complexion of this series and prove the Sixers would not go away.

With an Evan Turner layup, six-for-six free throw shooting in the final seconds, missed shots from Rajon Rondo and Ray Allen and a Kevin Garnett offensive foul, the Sixers found the late luck they didn’t have in Game 1. So now the Celtics’ poor starts, Paul Pierce’s disappearing act and an exhausting schedule are much harder to brush aside for the favorites.

If facing the Heat in the conference finals wasn’t the furthest thing from the Celtics’ minds already, it needs to be now. Since the Sixers have now won late in a tight playoff game, and didn’t need any injuries to their opponent’s superstars to do it, they are starting to make a case that they might be for real. Boston needs to examine that case very closely as it returns to Philadelphia – or else risk returning to the Garden as the new underdogs in this series.

Robert Dougherty is a life-long Philadelphia resident and 76ers fan – who has become quite familiar with the Celtics in that time.

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The Philadelphia 76ers had a real chance to take an early lead over the Boston Celtics in their second round series. However, Sixers fans like myself lamented how the team reverted back to their old fourth quarter problems in Game 1 on May 12. Although the Sixers pulled out three close wins over the Chicago Bulls in the first round, winning down-to-the-wire games over healthy contenders is still a recurring problem for them.

As such, when the Celtics made another fourth quarter rally in Game 2 on May 14, the Sixers looked ready to fall off the ledge again. Yet instead, Philadelphia found the kind of resiliency and late clutch play it struggled to find most of the season, which gave it the 82-81 win and the early split it needed.

Two consecutive narrow defeats in Boston would have likely shattered Philadelphia for the rest of the series. While the Sixers have exceeded expectations in pushing the favored Celtics so far, that is something they need to prove they can do for 48 minutes instead of 40. They couldn’t do it when they blew two double digit leads in Game 1, and it didn’t look good when they blew an eight point lead in the fourth quarter of Game 2.

But despite the Celtics creeping back into things, the Sixers still refused to give up the lead for the most part. And when Boston finally went ahead by 72-71, Jrue Holiday hit his fourth and biggest three-pointer to erase the brief deficit. Then when the Celtics went ahead again with another three, Evan Turner drove to the line – while possibly getting away with a foul – to take back the lead for good with 40 seconds left.

Philadelphia then used the same formula it did to knock out Chicago in its previous three wins. Defense kept Boston from coming back again, while perfect free throw shooting for the Sixers put things out of reach. Six straight free throws for Philadelphia in the final 12 seconds, along with a late Kevin Garnett offensive foul, denied Boston the chance to get some distance in this series.

Now that the Sixers know they can beat the Celtics late in playoff games and give them a taste of their own medicine, Boston no longer has a psychological hold on them. The gap in playoff experience, superstars and last minute heroics barely matters anymore, considering how Philadelphia nearly won the first two games on the road anyway.

If the Sixers carry these lessons back to the Wells Fargo Center, they could be the ones in a position to take a stranglehold on things before long. This isn’t as much of a farfetched notion anymore, as it shows what a difference one nail biting statement win can really make. It is certainly a more positive statement than two straight nail biting losses.

Robert Dougherty is a life-long Philadelphia resident and 76ers fan.

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