The game four miracle comeback was inspiring, but all the Sixers really accomplished was getting the series back on track. Being the lower seed, they should be tied 2-2 after four games, and the home team still has a big advantage with two of the final three being on their floor. Win tonight, however, and the Sixers will put themselves in the driver's seat. Come out with the energy they ended game four with, and the Celtics will start to realize exactly how old they are. It's time to kick them, before they get back up.
Not that this stat means a whole lot, but the Sixers haven't won a game five in a series in
nearly 11 years. Of course, they hadn't done a lot of things they've accomplished this season for a long time, so adding another to the list shouldn't shock anyone.
Let's check in on the minutes for the core Celtics heading into game five:
- Paul Pierce: 156 minutes
- Kevin Garnett: 143 minutes
- Rajon Rondo: 161 minutes
- Ray Allen: 127 minutes
Quite a haul over the first four games of the series, and they haven't been easy minutes. These teams have played some of the most intense games you'll ever see, and the Celtics aren't exactly a team that can coast. They have to play an extremely active, taxing defense to even have a shot. When the Sixers are attacking the rim, they increase the pressure on that defense. They have all five Celtics shifting bodies and responsibilities and expending energy, energy they can conserve when the Sixers get lazy on the offensive end, dribble down, isolate and settle for a jumper. By no means do I want to see Evan Turner shoot 5/22 again in this game. I don't ever want to see that again in any game. What I do want to see, however, is 38 attempts in the lane and the 36 free throw attempts that aren't included in that number.
If this game becomes about who can shoot better from the outside, the Celtics will be able to steal some rest on the floor for their old guys and out-shoot the Sixers, most likely. If this game is about penetration, finishing at the rim, interior passing and drive-and-kick threes, the pendulum swings in the Sixers' favor.
A couple of big keys: (1) Lavoy needs to stay out of foul trouble early. Not only is he the only guy who's had success defending Garnett, he's also the only big who gets down there on the blocks and fights for offensive rebounds. His muscle and Thad's hustle led to so many extra attempts in the second half of game four. I'd be worried if he wasn't able to play 30+ minutes due to foul trouble. Also, it's kind of nice to have a center who will dunk the ball when he makes a catch a couple feet from the rim instead of pump faking twice and then taking an underhand scoop. (2) Keep the marginal guys firmly on the margin. Keep this game about the Celtics' big four, don't let some bench player, Brandon Bass or Avery Bradley make a huge impact. Bass is going to shoot those 18-footers. Bradley is going to take corner threes and cut along the baseline for free points when his defender falls asleep. Keep those guys in check, they typically play better at home, for whatever reason.
It's heartening they were able to come back from the disastrous start in game two, and then again in game four. That experience should help them if it happens again, but it sure would be nice to see them start strong and maintain it for a full 48. We haven't seen the Sixers at their best yet in this series. Put it together in game five and you can end it without booking another trip to Beantown.
One final word of caution. Someone asked Jodie (I believe) to describe how the team was feeling after the game four win. His answer, "Confident." A decent answer, but not what I want their attitude to be. I want them to be determined. Determined to do all the dirty work to bring this game home.
The tip is at 7pm on TNT. Game thread will land at 5.
Question for you guys: Give me the odds that Brand will have a positive impact on a game before this playoff run ends.
LOL... He called him Kevin Bass. Zero respect. Love it!
As for EB making an impact. Good question. The answer is more about who he matches up with. For example, were the sixers to pull of the unthinkable and beat the Celtics it is very likely they would face the Heat. Brand could (and better) have a field day down low against their bigs as they're straight garbage. If we faced the Pacers you could expect Brand to continue playing w/o almost no impact whatsoever.
Brian, you do a great job and this blog is awesome...but if the Celtics get any production at all from this guy you name dropped, they'll have big big big issues: http://tinyurl.com/7bumva7
I was thinking he combined Kevin Boss (former NYG) and Bass.
Brian, when the Sixers win the Championship this year, you'll have to change the name of your blog! There's a good chance this season might cure your depression.
:) Go Sixers!
P.S. I think Elton will start hitting those short ranges jumpers and get some post action going before this series is over. He's been missing way to many open looks.
Elton's neck spasms sound pretty bad. Given this I havn't been too upset with his play.
But the missed shots are frustrating. It's not as easy to shoot when the pass comes from the side and the defender is running at you. I think these would go in more if he created his own space.
Going to the game tonight in Boston!!!
Looking for a carryover from game 4! Lou and Thad driving and dishing.
Excellent! I'd love to see some red in that arena!
pretty hilarious
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8KRB2G31Q0
I'm feeling very un-Lavoy today. Can't stop thinking about tonight's game.
I will be rocking my old school Manute Bol jersey...but from the front it looks like Jrue!
These 4 games have been amazing! I still can't believe that the Sixers are still playing on May 21st. They never give up!
They make you pay for your mistakes!
It will be interesting to see what kind of crowd will be there tonight.
Boston sports talk is all about facing the Heat today
http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/7954471/the-philadelphia-76ers-hang-tough-boston-celtics
"Perhaps the problem was an innate knowledge that the Sixers, as presently constituted, are simultaneously a work in progress and a team with a clock that's winding down. Iguodala, signed through the 2013-14 season, has been offered to half the teams in the NBA as trade bait."
"The former no. 2 overall pick has had a stop-and-start two-season stint with the Sixers. Drafted ahead of DeMarcus Cousins, he seems, frankly, soft out on the court."
Let's see how Boston plays down the stretch of this series. I remember an '09 Eastern Conference Semifinal against Orlando, when KG was hurt, where Orlando won by wearing them down. The Celtics went up 3-2 in that series with a couple of miracle wins. They then gave Game 6 away on the road and Orlando wore them out in Game 7 on their way to the finals. No KG on that team, but Big Baby and Rondo playing well along with Perkins to help with shot-blocking.
I guess my point is that the Sixers don't have to win this game tonight. Sure, it would be great to have a shot to close things out at home. Still, it's not the be-all and end-all. What would be nice is what Brian said, keep attacking. I was wondering to myself if the ET love from Game 4 was being oversold. Sure, he was aggressive and that mindset established a tone, but he was awful. Then I look back at all of the minutes these cagey veterans have had to play, all of the jumping KG has had to do blocking shots, all of the screens Pierce and Rondo are fighting through, all of the rotations Ray Allen is unsuccessfully trying to make. THIS ALL COUNTS. Make this physical, make this tough. Even if we do shoot jumpers, try to make them off passes getting into the lane, like Lou and Jrue did with Dre late in the last game. Really, Turner had chances to make kick out passes and ended up getting blocked. He just has to make the right play if three people swarm him.
Not a must-win, but I do feel the Sixers must play an attacking, uptempo style.
Good Point Rich!
This series reminds me of Cavs/Celtics series from 2010. The Cavs were up 2-1 after a blowout in Boston where Lebron went off. Then Celtics won game 4 in overtime i think. Then shocked them in Game 5, and won at home in game 6.
I am not comparing the quality of the teams but the series pattern.
Why can't the Sixers win tonight?
Funny enough, if the Sixers would win the next two, this series will be identical with the '10 Cavs-Celtics one with the Celtics switching into the losing role.
Game 1: Home team "steals" one the underdog lead throughout.
Game 2: Underdog bounces back, wins.
Game 3: Evisceration by the favorite (LeBron went nuts), making everyone question why they even thought the underdog could compete.
Game 4: Miraculous bounceback from the underdog, knotting it up at 2.
If this goes according to plan, a blowout in Game 5 is next. I'd take a one point win all the same too.
game 6 start time is 8 on ESPN
Please tell me Doris Burke isn't announcing the game tonight.
the game is on TNT
Nice. Thanks.
What's your problem with Doris "The only way the Celtics lose is if they choose to lose" Burke? She makes any Sixer win twice as sweet.
I assume the Sixers will get the better broadcasting teams by default as this series grinds on. One is done out West already, the other is about to be. They won't just rest their A team, they have to do some game, they'll get PHI/BOS by default.
Did Eddies' write this one (kidding)? These stats are pretty damning, but I wonder how much of an effect Game 3 and the slow starts have had on them? He did forget to mention the strong play down the stretch of Game 2 and how well he played in the 1st Half of Game 1.
I don't think Turner's minutes need to be curbed all that much.
http://hoopspeak.com/2012/05/evan-turner-holding-the-76ers-back/
Heh. I'd very much like for Turner to start hitting some shots, but I don't think sitting him is in the team's best interests. I do, however, think they should move Jrue onto Rondo when Avery Bradley is at the two. The logic with Allen at the two is sound, Jrue's better at following Allen through all those screens, but I think you're wasting Jrue on Bradley.
Sixers blog (with Thad Young video interview): Young is becoming a bigger factor:
http://www.phillyburbs.com/blogs/sports_columnists/tom_moore/young-is-becoming-a-bigger-factor/article_62d21e77-59db-53e8-8a01-97a0a6a9169b.html
stan van gundy relieved of his duties
and otis smith also fired
Actually ESPN has it in reverse - Van Gundy fired, Otis Smith and Magic 'mutually agree to part ways' - what ever that means
The team is still fracked, and Dwight Howard is still leaving :)
If Howard could hand-pick his coach, who's your money on? I'd say Isiah Thomas gets both jobs.
I think Dwight would target a 'big man' who played in the game cause he'd understand how to cater to Dwights needs...if Isiah Thomas is ever allowed back in the NBA, that owner should just admit he doesn't care.
I think the magic should hire d'antoni - just for the comedy :)
Eddie Jordan could draw some sweet offensive plays where Howard is handing the ball off 25 feet from the hoop.
He was my first thought, but D'antoni still has enough caché to be an NBA coach, Eddie Jordan doesn't have enough caché to replace Isiah at FIU :)
The magic have to compete with the knicks as one of the most messed up franchises in the NBA (Eastern Conference, I'm nominating the lakers for the western conference edition, because the one thing they really should do, trade Kobe, they'll never do)
According to Stephen A., Stan Van Gundy was extremely "underminded (sic)."
If you haven't seen it yet - look up the SNL Stephen A Smith sketch - heard bits on the radio this morning - dude nailed it
Yeah, someone linked to it above.
Tim (New Hampshire)
Of the remaining teams, how would you rank each in terms of enjoyment watching?
mike wilbon
(1:40 PM)
Great, great, great question. Platinum star for you...Spurs, OKC, Miami, Celtics, Pacers, Sixers...
Posted this on another thread and didn't get an answer. I know this is getting ahead of myself a little bit, but what are the Sixers' options for re-signing Lavoy this offseason. Are there any restrictions salary-wise or length of contract that I don't know about or can teams offer whatever they feel like? Also, what kind of market do you expect for him/what do you think the Sixers will offer?
He's restricted, so I believe they have a small qualifying offer ($935K or something), which they'll offer him. And they have the right to match any offer sheet. I'm not 100% sure how much other teams can offer him, but I believe it can't start above the MLE in year one. I doubt anyone offers him that much. If I had to guess, I'd say he signs for something like 3 years/$9M, either with the Sixers or elsewhere. That might even be too high.
I'd be perfectly fine with that. A big man who can give you 15-20 quality minutes a game is worth 3 million a year to me.
Except that there were long stretches of games (in the double digits) wher Lavoy Allen gave the sixers nothing.
A few games doesn't suddenly make him worth more money - that's how guys get bad contracts - people over value playoff play in a small sample size and ignore the big picture.
Lavoys had a nice couple of games - he had some nice games in the regular season too - but he also laid some real stinkers...regular season, and he hasn't been perfect inthe playoffs - just memorable - mostly cause Brand is broken down and Hawes sucks
(Then again, people were fawning over hawes in the first round)
I wouldn't exactly call a 3 year deal for $3 million a year a "bad contract." You need to be careful in being overly critical of rookies. You can't expect them to play phenomenal basketball every single game. Even most top players looked like crap in a lot of games their rookie years.
That aside, would you prefer to just make the qualifying offer to Lavoy this offseason and not match anything higher if offered by another team?
And you need to be careful in being overly joyful when a guy has a few good games (playoffs or not) the Lavoy Allen euphoria is getting out of hand...he's had a couple good games, that's offset by a lot of terrible games, where he couldn't get off the bench ahead of other players - or maybe he just matches up well with the celtics.
If Joel Anthony makes him his bitch in the ECF would you still want him for 3 years or 9 million dollars.
When you have the restrictive salary cap the NBA has and the punitive luxury tax the NBA has, EVERY contract matters, just ask the heat.
Lavoy Allen has earned MAYBE 2 years, MAYBE (i wouldn't guarantee the second year), but honestly, I make the tender offer and let him see what the market will bear, as GM's tend to be less emotional about it than fans of the team.
Guys like lavoy allen are not rare in the NBA...they're all over the place (except in denver where theirs is in trouble with the law)
Jordan Hill had some great playoff games for the lakers - think they should give him 3 years and 9 million dollars?
Eh, this is probably futile disagreeing with you. You have a very pessimistic view and maybe I have an overly optimistic view. I would prefer not to lose a young big man who has shown talent, though, especially on the defensive side of the ball. He has been a very good defensive player and rebounder this entire season - just look at the numbers at Liberty Ballers, so I would completely disagree that he has been "terrible" in most games this year.
A young big man with defensive talent is certainly not a dime a dozen in the NBA as you seem to be implying. However, I do agree that I wouldn't be willing to pay much more than 3 million a year without seeing him play more.
Lavoy Allen is the power forward equivalent of Lavoy Allen
Too many people confuse realism and pessimism...that's ok
I was right about the facebook IPO and I'll be right about Lavoy Allen
Haha. Ok?
I was right about the sun rising this morning. I'll be right about Lavoy Allen.
Posted this on another thread and didn't get an answer. I know this is getting ahead of myself a little bit, but what are the Sixers' options for re-signing Lavoy this offseason. Are there any restrictions salary-wise or length of contract that I don't know about or can teams offer whatever they feel like? Also, what kind of market do you expect for him/what do you think the Sixers will offer?
Oops posted this in the wrong thread again.