Sports of Boston » Kevin Garnett

Avery Bradley Injury Status: Out for Rest of Postseason

Nick Bohlen — Sat, 26 May 2012 03:02:53 +0000

When the Boston Celtics embarked on the 2011-2012 season — heck, two months ago — would anyone have imagined that Avery Bradley missing the rest of the postseason would be devastating news?

After suffering innumerable shoulder separations all season, including three during the playoffs, Bradley underwent season-ending surgery on his left shoulder on Friday. According to this article by Greg Payne on ESPN Boston, sources say Bradley will have four months of rehab ahead of him.

Having missed the Celtics’ last two playoff games, Bradley was unlikely to return to play in Game 7 against the Philadelphia 76ers at the TD Banknorth Garden on Saturday night. But Bradley’s presence has been sorely missed, especially when the Celtics were in desperate need of a stop down the stretch in Game 6 but couldn’t keep the Sixers’ guards out of the lane. If (I repeat, if) the Celtics can manage to win Game 7 and advance to the Eastern Conference Finals, his absence will be even more notable against Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat.

After a rookie season where Bradley barely saw the light of day between the lines, Bradley has emerged late this season as an integral part of the Celtics’ success. When Ray Allen went down with an ankle injury, Bradley stepped in as the starting shooting guard and didn’t miss a beat, playing so well that he held onto the starter’s job even when the future Hall of Famer returned. While his scoring has declined in the playoffs, he has still remained effective with the occasional corner three and timely backdoor cuts to keep defenses honest.

In fact, according to ESPN Stats & Info, the Celtics’ best lineup was with Bradley on the court. The starters with Bradley at the two-spot have outscored playoff opponents by 53 points; the next-best playoff lineup (Allen, Kevin Garnett, Rajon Rondo, Paul Pierce, Mickael Pietrus) has outscored the opposition by all of 18 points. In case that doesn’t illustrate his importance clearly enough, Bradley also has the best plus/minus on the Celtics roster (+63) just behind Garnett, who is merely playing at an MVP-type level so far this postseason.

Get well soon, Avery.

Celtics Loss Lowers Expectations

Michael Ricci — Fri, 25 May 2012 03:21:12 +0000

The Philadelphia 76ers didn’t show us how tough they are last night, nor how strong their will is, nor how much fortitude they have. Instead, last night, the Boston Celtics showed us how complacent they are, how uninterested they can be, and how little they want to fight.

After scoring 36 points in the first half and finding themselves ahead by three, conventional wisdom would tell us that the older, more seasoned Celtics would finish off the 76ers in the second half. But the 76ers, led by Jrue Holiday’s 20 points, proved that the Celtics weren’t ready to take advantage of a team that could barely get out of its own way. Instead, when it mattered most, the “indestructible” Celtics defense watched Holiday slice his way to the rim without breaking a sweat.

But don’t credit Holiday. It’s fairly easy to get to the basket when there’s no one trying to stop you.

Bad Defense Cost Celtics

The 76ers played a typical 76er game. They shot poorly from the free throw line. They shot poorly from the three point line. The 76ers did exactly what the Celtics expected them to do. The problem, however, was that the Celtics managed to play just as poorly, and dare I say, worse. The Celtics shot poorly from, well, everywhere (33 percent overall), including 3-14 from beyond the arc. But the Celtics certainly could have won that game in spite of their poor offensive performance.

What really cost them is that the 76ers anemic offense managed to score 27 points in the third quarter. Twenty-seven? From the same team that scored 11 points in the second quarter? Yes.

Did they all of a sudden find their shooting stroke? No. Instead, the Celtics invited them to score, and score they did.

So after the Celtics gave away a chance to beat an inferior team on the road in Game 6, it begs the question: what should we expect of the Boston Celtics?

If they lose in Game 7, should we be amicable? Are Avery Bradley’s injury and Ray Allen’s ghost-like performance enough to justify losing a series to a team whose “best player” is, well…who is their best player, again? The Celtics should beat the 76ers Saturday night, and they should be able to beat them by simply scoring over 85 points.

Boston Won’t Reach NBA Finals

If losing Game 7 isn’t an option (and it’s not), then should we expect them to beat Miami or Indiana in the Eastern Conference Finals? Without Bradley to guard Dwyane Wade, and without a two-legged Paul Pierce to guard LeBron James, do they really stand a chance? Could Kevin Garnett and Brandon Bass realistically match up with Roy Hibbert and David West in the paint?

My answer to both questions is “no.” Wade and James would run through the Celtics “tough” defense like a hot knife through butter. Garnett and Bass would make Hibbert look like Patrick Ewing (and for the record, Roy Hibbert is not Patrick Ewing).

It’s time we stopped pretending the Celtics are still a great defensive team and instead look at the reality: they’ve played Atlanta and Philadelphia in the first two rounds. These are two teams that wouldn’t know how to score during a playoff game if the rim was as big as a swimming pool. It will be the Celtics defense, and its defense alone, that undoes their season. Not injuries. Not age. Not lack of depth.

As we heard Doc Rivers say to his team during a huddle in Game 4: “It’s about defense.”

Philly Writer Calls Boston Sports Fans “Bigoted” and “Racist”

KC Downey — Wed, 23 May 2012 22:25:18 +0000

Are Boston sports fans racist? Bigoted? Why are we asking this question again?

Well, take a moment (that’s all it will take) to read Philly.com sportswriter John Mitchell’s 243-word (wow!) masterpiece of a “column” titled “KG: ‘fair-weathered’ beats bigoted any day.”

West Philadelphia born and raised, as the writer so eloquently describes in his biography, Mitchell did not take kindly to the words Kevin Garnett had about his beloved fanbase.

“You’ve got (Boston) fans and then you’ve got fairweather fans. Take it how you want it,” said Kevin Garnett after Monday’s Game 5 win.

So, Mitchell used KG’s comments as an opportunity to open up a can of worms he didn’t really need to open up.

“You think we’re the fair weather type, do you? Ok, to that I say that it’s better to be fair weather than to be anything remotely akin the cretins that unleashed their racist vitriol via Twitter upon Washington Capitals defenseman Joel Ward, a Black hockey player, last month after he eliminated Boston’s Bruins from the NHL playoffs with an overtime goal,” Mitchell wrote.

You tell him, John! Wait, what does this have to do with basketball? Or Philadelphia? Or Kevin Garnett?!?

Mitchell, of course, is referring to the disgusting tweets made after Ward’s game-winning goal to beat the Bruins in the first round of the NHL playoffs last month.

The tweets ignited a national conversation about race with the microscope again focused on the Boston area, but what Mitchell and several others fail to realize is that a majority of the few dozen people who sent out the tweets were not from Boston. They hailed from Canada, Connecticut, and other parts of the U.S. and world. Some were from Boston, but several weren’t.

So, that makes Boston a racist town? Or, did Mitchell (like several others before him) just paint the city with an unbelievably broad brush? I’ll acknowledge the city has a history of racial conflicts and some race-charged incidents, but if we’re talking about right now (which we are), I’ll go with the latter.

Mitchell then takes his column down a disgusting path with a largely empty threat to Kevin Garnett, who is black, if he cannot win an NBA title this year.

“So my advice to you, KG, is that you’re better off winning this series, the next one and then the next. Because if you let those stalwart fans down, who knows what they’ll unleash on you. We do know what they are capable of. Take that how you want.”

It’s just dangerous to accuse a large group of people (in this case, millions of people) of something so inflammatory. It’s even more dangerous to write an equally inflammatory column threatening an active player.

And it’s downright baffling Mitchell struggled to hit the 250-word mark about a topic he’s clearly passionate about.

(For those counting, I’m at 477 words.)

Brandon Bass Scores Playoff-High 27, Boosts Celtics Past Sixers

Nathan — Tue, 22 May 2012 03:34:35 +0000

Brandon Bass set a playoff-high and tied his career-high with 27 points, as the Boston Celtics cruised past the Philadelphia 76ers, 101-85, in Game 5 Monday night at TD Garden. The Celtics now hold a crucial 3-2 over the Sixers in their best-of-seven Eastern Conference Semi-final series.

Rajon Rondo recorded 14 assists and 13 points, scoring seven crucial points in the fourth quarter to push the Celtics’ lead to double-digits. Kevin Garnett scored 20 points, and Paul Pierce added 16.

Pierce struggled from the field but imposed his will on the game by getting to the foul line, going 9-for-9 on free throw attempts. Pierce said that his right knee is at “20 percent.”

Bass Stars in Strong Third Quarter

Bass, who was the certainly star of the Celtics on Monday night, made nine of his 13 field goal attempts, pulled in six rebounds, blocked two shots and grabbed two steals.

The Celtics trailed by three at the half but came out on fire in the third quarter, outscoring the Sixers, 28-16, behind 18 third-quarter points from Bass. Seven Sixers turnovers aided the strong quarter for the Celtics.

Iguodala, Sixers Struggle with Consistency

Elton Brand led the losing effort for the Sixers with 19 points. Evan Turner had 11 points and 10 rebounds but connected on just five of 13 shots. Jrue Holiday recorded 10 points, seven assists and four turnovers in a flawed Sixers effort that saw them shoot over 50 percent in the first half and under 40 percent in the second.

After willing the Sixers to a Game 4 comeback victory, Andre Iguodala struggled to get his game going in Game 5. Iguodala scored just eight points and shot 30 percent.

Stiemsma, Celtics’ Bench Help Put Sixers on the Brink

With Ray Allen starting for the injured Avery Bradley, the Celtics’ bench stepped up and scored 20 points. Greg Stiemsma led the Celtics’ reserve effort with 10 points and three blocks. Bradley sat out for the first time in the postseason because of shoulder soreness. He is listed as day-to-day going forward.

The Celtics face the Sixers in an elimination game Wednesday night in Philadelphia. If the Sixers win, Game 7 will be played back in Boston Friday night. If the Celtics win Wednesday they will await the winner of the Pacers-Heat series to determine who they will face in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Celtics Implode in Second Half of Game 4; Series Tied 2-2

Matt Goisman — Sat, 19 May 2012 06:20:23 +0000

The Boston Celtics built a big lead Friday night in Philadelphia, then quit.

The Philadelphia 76ers, on the other hand, never quit. And once they pulled back into the game, that sustained effort translated into unstoppable momentum, a 92-83 victory over the Celtics in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, and a 2-2 series tie.

Game 5 takes place Monday back in Boston.

Bad Third for Celtics Keys Comeback Fourth for 76ers

The Celtics built a 17-point lead on a Paul Pierce (game-high 24 points) technical just over two minutes into the third quarter. Elton Brand picked up the technical, but his physicality ignited the previously lazy 76er defense. Over the first seven minutes of the third, the Celtics didn’t score a field goal. The 76ers, meanwhile scored 10 unanswered to cut the Celtics’ lead to 50-43.

Pierce’s three-pointer (one of four) built Boston’s lead back to 54-46 with five minutes left, but Philadelphia played the rest of the game fully confident they could win. Boston held just a 63-59 lead after three, and Philadelphia tied the game on back-to-back buckets from Thaddeus Young to start the fourth.

The two teams traded baskets throughout most the final quarter, with neither team building too big a lead. Pierce’s free throws put the Celtics up 74-72, but Young tied it again, then backup point guard Lou Williams hit a jumper for a 76-74 76er lead.

Ray Allen‘s three-pointer – his only field goal of the night – put the Celtics back up by one, and Kevin Garnett‘s free throws stretched the lead to 79-76. But the 76ers answered again, with Andre Iguodala tying the game with a three. Iguodala scored eight of his 16 total points in the closing 3:11, combining a jumper with a three-pointer to break an 83-83 tie and put the 76ers up five.

The Celtics couldn’t answer the 76ers again, and the 76ers finished the game on a 9-0 stretch. They out-rebounded the Celtics 52-38 Friday, using a 17-5 advantage on the offensive glass to extend possessions and exhaust a Celtics defense that had held them to 23 percent shooting in the first half.

Celtics Bench Useless

As Garnett has struggled or succeeded during these playoffs, so have the Celtics. But Garnett (nine points on 3-for-12 shooting) can’t perform every single night, especially when a defense focuses on him the way the 76ers did in Game 4. And either due to fouls or the basic human need to rest every once in awhile, Garnett has to sit now and again, as does every starter.

So far, the Celtics’ reserves have had numerous chances to prove their worth, and they’ve failed every single time. Celtics fans cringe whenever they sub in.

Five Celtics bench players combined for a whopping 12 points in Game 4. They shot a horrific 4-for-16 from the floor, forcing Doc Rivers to play Garnett, Pierce (looking even more recovered from his MCL sprain) and Rajon Rondo (15 points, 15 assists) for 40-plus minutes apiece.

By comparison, four 76er reserves combined for 44 points on 46.9 percent shooting. Williams (15) and Young (12) scored in double figures, as did Iguodala, Evan Turner (16) and Jrue Holliday (11) from the starters. And while backup power forward Lavoy Allen only scored eight, he grabbed 10 rebounds – one more than the entire Celtics bench.

All of Philadelphia’s bench players posted positive plus-minus ratings. All of Boston’s posted negative ratings.

Celtics Take Crowd Out Early

Though the Wells Fargo Center boomed with thunderous cheers by the end of the game, the crowd remained silent through much of the first half, save for occasional booing. The Celtics crushed the 76ers in the first half, out-scoring them 46-31 and mixing dynamic offense with smothering defense.

The Celtics opened the game with a 14-0 run that showed off Pierce’s mobility, Rondo’s always-mesmerizing passing and Garnett’s defensive prowess. A Garnett steal turned into an Avery Bradley three-pointer on the other end that made it 12-0. Brandon Bass (15 points, 6-for-10 shooting) then hit a jumper to cap the run.

The 76ers didn’t get on the board until the 8:25 mark in the first, but a beautiful bounce pass from Rondo to Pierce in traffic put the Celtics up 18-3, and they finished the first up 24-12.

Missed free throws kept the 76ers from cutting too much into the Celtics’ lead in the second, but the 76ers finished with 17 more free throw attempts (36-19). And despite a lack of execution in the paint and at the line, the 76ers realized in the second their front-court depth gave them a significant advantage inside.

That advantage meant more opportunities, and in the second half the 76ers finally tuned those opportunities into points.

Can the Celtics Carry Momentum Into Game 4?

Nick Bohlen — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:00:01 +0000

With a stunning 82-81 loss Monday night to the upstart eight-seed, the Boston Celtics found themselves knee-deep in questions.

What happened to the Celtics’ advantage in big-game experience and late-game execution? Would Paul Pierce‘s knee injury kill the Celtics’ enough offense? And why was Brandon Bass shooting more than anyone on Boston’s roster, considering Kevin Garnett seems to have swapped places with his 2004 MVP-self?

After shellacking the Philadelphia 76ers with an impressive 107-91 win on the road, consider those questions answered.

Hence Fourth

Okay, so maybe the fourth quarter crunch time question from Game Two wasn’t really answered when Boston emptied its bench for the final three minutes of garbage time. Up by 19, Doc Rivers subbed in Marquis Daniels, Sasha Pavlovic, Keyon Dooling, and E’Twaun Moore (orm as they’re more commonly known, the Tiny Four). The Celtics scored all of two points the rest of the way.

That said, it was incredibly refreshing to see the Celtics assert their will and take charge early, not letting the Sixers stick around until the very end when anything can happen. (Lavoy Allen’s line drive bank shot with 0.9 seconds on the shot clock, Evan Turner’s spinning, flailing prayer of a go-ahead layup) TNT might not want a game decided before the final minute, but as a Celtics fan, that’s alright by me.

Truth Be Told

Whereas his box score from Game Two drew comparisons to his worst career playoff performances, Game Three was more like the vintage #34 Celtics fans are accustomed to. Pierce only shot 35 percent, but 24 points and 12 rebounds? Soaring dunks? Fourteen free throw attempts? Maybe Pierce’s refusal to acknowledge his sprained MCL wasn’t a classic case of denial after all.

Of course, who knows how Pierce’s knee will respond after playing 37 minutes just 48 hours before Game Four. Maybe he’ll limp than ever on Friday night. But at least we know he can still carry the scoring load for stretches if need be. I “Tebow” with gratitude.

Blast from the Past

In the Celtics’ two wins this series, Garnett is only averaging, oh, 28 points and 12 rebounds. He’s also been the defensive captain/tour de force. Even in the loss, though Garnett had just 15 points, he scored 11 of them in the fourth quarter. With Pierce somewhat slowed, Garnett has become the primary scoring option, abusing the Sixers in the low post with an array of fade-aways and bank shots. At this point, I’m surprised when he misses.

This Minnesota-era KG blast from the past is much better than any blast from the Bass, who inexplicably jacked up roughly 1,000 jumpers without making any in Game Two. Bass took a much more reasonable 10 shots on Wednesday, making half and staying within the offensive flow. Garnett’s 12-of-17 shooting and seemingly scoring at will also helped.

Will Momentum Last 48 Hours?

From the rubble of the Wells Fargo Center, a new question emerges: can the Celtics carry their momentum from Wednesday’s dominant victory to Friday night?

I’d like to think so, especially with a chance to step on Philadelphia’s throats and put them in a 3-1 hole going back to Boston. Wednesday showed just how much more talented the Celtics are: not just Pierce and Garnett, but also Rajon Rondo (running the show with 23 points and 14 assists) and even Mickael Pietrus (3-of-4 on three-pointers and 13 points). The veteran Celtics can smell 76er blood in the water.

Unfortunately, I said “I’d like to think so” for a reason. This Celtics team can be wildly inconsistent from night to night, both in terms of results and, more criminally, effort. Sometimes the C’s just seem unmotivated, uninterested or unchallenged, and they play accordingly.

You could certainly make that case for the first two games of this series, both of which required fourth quarter comebacks. One resulted in a last minute loss, the other could’ve just as easily.

It’s hard to blame Boston after exuding such authority over their opponent (in their opponent’s own house, no less). They just controlled every facet of the game – what’s there to be worried about? My fear heading into Friday is that after coasting to an easy win and reclaiming home-court advantage, the Celtics will rest on their laurels instead of pressing the attack. That’s how they lost Game Five in Atlanta, and that’s how Philadelphia could re-tie the series Friday night.

But with some luck and a little hard work, the questions remaining after Game Four won’t have anything to do with age or injury, but only whether the Celtics can close it out in five.

Celtics Miss Shots, Opportunity and Fall to Sixers in Game 2

Nathan — Tue, 15 May 2012 03:04:48 +0000

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.

Ray Allen led the Celtics with 17 points off the bench while Garnett added 15 points and 12 rebounds. Brandon Bass scored 8 points in the first quarter to get the Celtics off to a hot start, but a 5-15 shooting performance hurt himself and his teammates the rest of the way. Bass finished with 12 points.

Pierce Struggles; Celtics Out-Hustled

Paul Pierce struggled mightily for the Celtics with just 7 points, 2 made field goals, and a whopping 5 turnovers. The Celtics were terrible in the third quarter and made just 4-of-17 field goal attempts.

Pierce and the Celtics were simply out hustled when it mattered. The Celtics turned the ball over 17 times, were out rebounded 47-36, and shot 9 free-throws to the Sixers 21.

Bradley Re-injures Shoulder as Celtics’ Health Remains a Concern

Avery Bradley left the game in the second quarter when he appeared to dislocate his injured left shoulder on a drive to the hoop. Bradley would return and hit a big three in the fourth quarter. Bradley (shoulder), Allen (ankle), Pierce and Mickael Pietrus (knees) all remain question marks going forward.

Health permitting, the Celtics will put this one behind them and focus on coming out strong in Game 3, Wednesday night in Philadelphia.

Celtics Playoff Report Card: A Moment of Appreciation

Nick Bohlen — Mon, 14 May 2012 19:53:12 +0000

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.

Starting Backcourt: B+

16.8 points per game, 11.8 assists per game, one triple-double, the audacity not to tally double-digit assists in Game Six, one ejection, a botched wide-open layup, and one ongoing enigma of a player. Ladies and gentlemen, Rajon Rondo! Alternately indifferent and exceptional, Rondo managed to both single-handedly almost sabotage and then salvage the Celtics season. There was the inexplicable/inexcusable referee chest bump that could have easily derailed the Celtics, then a 17-12-14 the game after his suspension to put the C’s in the driver’s seat. There were dazzling bounce passes through the smallest of windows, and puzzling passes with a wide open layup right in front of him (not to mention the non-pass to end Game 5). I give up.

Separated left shoulder? No problem! Avery Bradley may not have continued the scoring pace he had before (12 ppg pre-injury vs. 4.7 after), but he still applied manic defense to Jeff Teague and even the six-inch-taller Joe Johnson (then again, he’s still Joe Johnson, no matter how tall he is). Bradley and Rondo will be crucial in setting the tempo and keeping pace with the Sixers on the break.

Starting Frontcourt: A-

Paul Pierce continues to be nothing short of a warrior on the court for the Celtics. With Rondo suspended for Game 2, Pierce submitted a heroic 36-point, 14-rebound, four-assist refuse-to-lose effort. Then, after hurting his knee in a shootaround and tweaking it further in the second quarter of Game 4, Pierce dragged his bum leg up and down the court for another 38 minutes per game in Games 5 and 6. I can’t dock him too many points for shooting under 50 percent in those two games.

It’s probably for the best that Brandon Bass didn’t play a crucial role in Round One, taking no more than ten shots in any one game. He has been the weak link in the Celtics starting frontcourt, shooting just over 41 percent from the floor. Luckily for him, though…

…Kevin Garnett has been playing out of his mind, which is separate from my assumption that he’s borderline insane. He averaged 18.7 points and 10.5 rebounds, and that doesn’t even begin to quantify his contributions on the court. Closing out the Hawks at home, Garnett took a trip back to 2004, abusing the Hawks in the post and submitting a vintage 28 points, 14 boards, two assists, three steals, and five (!) blocks.

My sincerest thanks to Hawks owner Michael Gearon, Jr. Keep on flapping those gums and pretending they’re wings.

Bench Backcourt: B-

If I weren’t a scrawny, pasty six-footer with the athletic ability of a 53-year-old, I would absolutely donate my ankles to Ray Allen. God knows the bench needs his scoring (over 11 ppg against Atlanta), and maybe then the pain wouldn’t make him clank four (!) free throws in Games 5 and 6. A healthy Allen also keeps Sasha Pavlovic and Marquis Daniels (and his stupid inbounds fouls) from seeing the light of day.

Revelation of the First Round: Keyon Dooling might actually be kind of somewhat mildly reliable off the bench. He brought the ball up the floor without causing me too much stress, hit a couple of big corner threes despite the ugliest looking jumpshot this side of Blake Griffin, and even pulled off the Nelly Band-Aid look surprisingly well.

Bench Frontcourt: B-

Who are you, Ryan Hollins, and what have you done with Greg Stiemsma? For whatever reason, Stiemsma is out of the rotation and Hollins is in. Not that there is much of a difference between the two – each gives you a handful of rebounds, a couple of blocks, maybe a putback or two, and fouls. Lots and lots of fouls. Maybe Hollins has finally figured out enough for the Celtics to put his athleticism to use defensively.

Meanwhile, Mickael Pietrus is struggling to find his shot from three-point range but still chipping in on defense with his length and versatility. Nonetheless, the Celtics could really benefit from him stretching the floor, giving them some spacing so Rondo can penetrate into the lane or Garnett can go to work on the block without an immediate double-team.

Coaching: A-

Doc Rivers has leaned heavily on his starters, playing an aging Garnett and an injured Pierce especially long minutes. But I can’t say he’s had much of a choice, considering the Celtics’ bench scoring. Strategically, his decisions to end Game 6 (foul up by three, let Rondo win a track meet to run out the clock) went brilliantly – even if it left me with my heart in my throat pondering every imaginable way it could horribly backfire.

Now I can only hope home court advantage and a win in Game 1 against the Philadelphia 76ers means a more straightforward road to clinching (and grading) Round Two.

Celtics-76ers Round 2 Preview: Can Ray Allen Contribute?

Nathan — Sat, 12 May 2012 18:09:37 +0000

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.

Celtics X Factor: Ray Allen

Allen was relatively quiet in the four games he played for the Celtics in their series with the Atlanta Hawks. The bone spurs in Allen’s ankle obviously hindered his performance, as he shot just 6-for-18 from 3-point range and just 60 percent from the free-throw line.

With the Celtics’ offense struggling and the long and staunch Sixers defense awaiting them, Allen’s ability to connect from deep could be the difference between a short series and a lengthy grueling one.

Sixers X Factor: Andre Iguodala‘s Two-Way Game

Iguodala is the heart and soul of the Sixers defense (like a Kevin Garnett lite), so it is only fitting that he draws Pierce in this series. The Celtics’ Captain is having as good a year as he’s ever had, and for the Sixers to have a chance, he has to be stopped by Iguodala.

Iguodala rarely puts his team on his back offensively, but when he does- look out. In Game 6 against the Bulls, Iguodala exploded for 20 points and scored the game-winning free throws on an aggressive full court drive. Iguodala’s aggressiveness on offense in Round 1 made the difference for the Sixers. Can he do it in Round 2?

Key Matchup: Brandon Bass vs Elton Brand

If there is a current NBA player for Brandon Bass to shape his game after, it’s Elton Brand. Both are undersized and have an unmatched knack for knocking down 18-footers. Bass’s post game and rebounding ability are miles away from Brand’s and that’s what he can learn from the veteran.

Bass struggled against the quicker, more athletic front line of Atlanta, but with the slower, more stationery Brand matched up against him now, Bass has to be on the attack. The Celtics desperately need Bass to rebound better and there’s no better place to start than with boxing out Brand.

Prediction: Celtics in 7

The Sixers scored less than 80 points in three of their six games against Chicago and barely shot 40 percent on the series. The Celtics allowed just 82 points a game against a Hawks team that averaged 97 on the season. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Celtics won a game in this series by holding the Sixers to 60 points. Basically, the first team to 80 wins.

The stats suggest the Celtics should win this series easily, but they won’t. Pierce, Allen and Avery Bradley are all playing with injuries that would take a full week of rest to heal if it were the regular season. Compounded with health is the Celtics’ collective penchant for falling asleep for long stretches of games. If they do this frequently, the Sixers will make them pay.

If Rajon Rondo controls the pace and the ball consistently and if Garnett can stop the bleeding on the glass, this series could be easy.

What’s really going to win this series, though? Home court.

Garnett Leads Celtics to Series-Clinching Win

Stephen Garcia — Fri, 11 May 2012 03:21:09 +0000

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.

Hawks Take Early Lead, Celtics Keep it Close

The Hawks finished the first quarter up 23-20 after a buzzer-beating jumper from Kirk Hinrich. Atlanta shot 50 percent from the field in the first while holding the Celtics to just 7-for-20 shooting.

Marvin Williams started out hot for the Hawks, leading the team with eight points after one. Paul Pierce led Boston with seven points in the quarter despite playing with a sprained MCL.

The Celtics were able to stay close by forcing four Atlanta turnovers in the first 12 minutes.

Defense Puts Boston in Front in Second

Atlanta pushed the lead to eight after Williams’ third three-pointer of the game early in the second quarter, but Boston stormed back behind tough defense and Garnett.

After going just 1-for-5 in the first quarter, Garnett went 3-for-3 for eight points during a 21-3 run to give the Celtics a 41-31 lead. He also had a steal and a block during the stretch.

The Celtics out-rebounded Atlanta 11-6 in the second quarter. The Boston defense held the Hawks to 8-for-21 shooting while forcing six Atlanta turnovers.

Boston outscored the Hawks 27-18 in the quarter, giving them a 47-41 advantage at halftime. Garnett led the Celtics with 13 points in the first half, while Josh Smith lead the Hawks with 12.

Ugly Third Quarter Turns into Wild Finish

Early in the third quarter, the Hawks forced a Boston timeout after nailing back-to-back threes to cut the Celtic lead to just two. Neither team shot well for the quarter, both going 7-for-18 from the field.

Joe Johnson scored a nice 10 points in the third, hitting on 2-of-3 three-pointers. But Boston seemed to answer with buckets at key moments, and the Celtics went into the final quarter with a 67-63 lead after a Rajon Rondo buzzer-beater.

The Celtics increased their lead to nine after a 7-2 run to open the fourth quarter. Atlanta then cut the lead to one with just under four minutes to play after a 10-2 run sparked by Al Horford’s six points.

Smith gave the Hawks their first lead of the second half with a dunk to put Atlanta ahead 77-76. Horford then continued his hot quarter with another bucket to increase the Hawk lead to three.

After Pierce cut the deficit to one, Boston stopped Atlanta’s three-point attempt. But Rondo was called for traveling on the Celtics’ next possession.

After another defensive stop, Ryan Hollins was fouled after he grabbed a big offensive rebound off a Garnett miss. The Celtics then put it in the hands of Garnett, who hit a jumper with 30 seconds to go to give Boston a one-point lead.

The Celtics then grabbed the rebound from Smith’s fade-away jumper. Ray Allen hit one of two free throws after being fouled. The final chance for Atlanta came after Pierce blocked a potential game-tying layup from Williams.

With three seconds left, Horford was fouled after receiving the inbounds pass. He missed the first of his free throws before hitting the second. Pierce then hit two free throws to seal the game for the Celtics.

Smith led Atlanta with 18 points, while Horford, Johnson, and Williams each scored at least 15.

Boston will now face the Atlantic Division-rival Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Philadelphia became the fifth-ever No. 8 seed to defeat a No. 1 after beating the Chicago Bulls in six games.

Game 1 of the series is scheduled for Saturday.