Evan Turner hit two go-ahead buckets and a pair of free throws late in the fourth quarter to lift the Philadelphia 76ers over the Boston Celtics, 82-81. Turner finished the game with 10 points and 6 rebounds and was aided by teammate, Jrue Holiday’s 18 points as the Sixers pulled even with the Celtics in their Eastern Conference semifinal matchup, 1-1.

Celtics Fail to Execute Despite Strong Performance From Allen

The Celtics had a chance to extend a one-point lead with under two minutes to go, but settled for a Rajon Rondo jump shot late in the shot clock. With 12 seconds to go and the Celtics down three, Kevin Garnett was called for an illegal screen on Andre Iguodala that essentially ended the game. Continue reading Celtics Miss Shots, Opportunity and Fall to Sixers in Game 2 »

If you had told me two months ago that the Boston Celtics would host the first two games of a second-round playoff series, I would have laughed. Or maybe I would have scoffed and said I’m just looking forward to Red Sox season.

Either way, I would have been very, very wrong.

Before the Celtics blow a golden chance at the Eastern Conference Finals (dare I say the NBA Finals? No, you’re right, I dare not.), let’s look back and appreciate their Round One match-up against the Atlanta Hawks.

Suspensions, bone spurs, MCL sprains, extra gas, and heaven-sent 22-footers straight from the Gospel of Josh Smith? We’ve got it all in the Celtics Report Card: Playoff Edition. Continue reading Celtics Playoff Report Card: A Moment of Appreciation »

That was a thrilling first round. We saw a #8 seed upset a #1 for the second year in a row, New York briefly stopped their historic playoff losing streak and a pair of Game 7s matching up with two sweeps out West. That will be sure to make a big difference in the next round.

But for the last round, it was easy enough to pick most of the winners. The 76ers were the biggest surprise, of course, and a minority of experts picked the Clippers, but there were no other surprises. It was more difficult overall to pick the lengths of series, but there were still a good amount of successful picks there.

So what does that mean for all our panelists? The standings are very close; in fact, everyone is within four points of each other. And most are even closer than that. So check below for the results, and check back later for the next round’s selections. Continue reading 2012 NBA Playoffs Expert Picks: First Round Results »

The Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers are no strangers to each other. Along with sharing the same division and the rivalry that goes along with it, the Celtics and Sixers have had stretches in history where the two have had to battle each other in the playoffs for Eastern Conference supremacy year after year.

Historical Precedent

Whether it was the Wilt Chamberlin-Bill Russell era, the Larry Bird-Julius Erving era or the early part of this century when the up-and-coming Celtics, led by youngster Paul Pierce, were destined to meet Allen Iverson’s Sixers in the playoffs, the Celtics and Sixers have fought in some memorable series.

If history is any precedent, than the upcoming Celtics-Sixers matchup in the Conference Semifinal round of the 2012 NBA Playoffs looks to be a contested one. Continue reading Celtics-76ers Round 2 Preview: Can Ray Allen Contribute? »

The Boston Celtics clinched their first-round series against the Atlanta Hawks Thursday, winning a thriller Game 6 at TD Garden, 83-80. Kevin Garnett led the way for Boston, scoring 28 points and adding 14 rebounds.

Continue reading Garnett Leads Celtics to Series-Clinching Win »

Al Horford recorded 19 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks, helping the previously lifeless Atlanta Hawks survive the Boston Celtics Tuesday night, 87-86, to force a Game 6.

Rajon Rondo stole a Josh Smith inbounds pass with 10 seconds left in the game, giving the Celtics a chance to win the game. Horford and Smith forced Rondo along the baseline, and Rondo lost the ball as time expired. Rondo led the Celtics with 13 points, 12 rebounds and five steals.

Continue reading Horford, Hawks Survive Celtics to Force Game 6 »

Atlanta Hawk Joe Johnson drained a jumper 19 seconds into Sunday’s Game 4 against the Boston Celtics at the TD Garden.

The Hawks never led after that. What should have been a basketball game turned out to be a massacre.

Between Paul Pierce‘s lethal shooting and Rajon Rondo‘s mesmerizing passing, the Celtics crushed the Hawks, 101-79, taking a 3-1 series lead in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals.

Continue reading Pierce, Rondo Help Celtics Crush Hawks in Game 4 »