Boston advances to Eastern Conference Finals for third time in Big 3 era
The Boston Celtics defeat the Philadelphia 76ers in seven games with a score of 85-75. Boston won this game, and series, on the defensive end as both teams struggled to score 80 points at times. This series was a hard fought battle. As Garnett has been quoted calling this team full of grits and balls. The Garden crowd was loud and the players fed off their emotions bringing another classic game 7 to the Garden during the big three era.
Boston did a great job defensively against the 76ers in the first quarter. They went up early in the quarter jumping out to an 8 point lead. Early foul trouble for Rondo and Greg Steimsma put the 76ers at the free throw line allowing them to hang around. Rajon Rondo missed an easy lay up and continues to struggle outside of his passing. Doug Collins went with Spencer Hawes which benefit the Celtics because Lavoy Allen has done a great job coming off the bench. Eventually, Philadelphia started to be more aggressive and crash the boards, coming up with 5 offensive rebounds in the quarter, helping them close the gap. The quarter ended with both teams tied at 20.
As expected in a physical game seven, scoring was hard to come by. A common trend for Celtic games and even more so during the playoffs. Through the first 16 minutes of the game, the average for made baskets per minute was equal to one. Both teams are struggling offensively. Boston was able to pull ahead in the second quarter to take a 41-33 lead at half. Rondo now has three fouls. Kevin Garnett has been playing fantastically with 9 points and 7 rebounds in the first half. Boston crashed the boards much better in the second quarter, who now have 24 rebounds at the half, tied with Philadelphia. As poorly as Ray Allen has played, he some how has a plus 15 for plus/minus.
The third quarter has been the story of this series. The Celtics pushed the lead to double digits only to have Philadelphia fight back into it by the lack of ball movement by the Celtics and letting their defensive guard down. By the first time out, the 76ers lead the Celtics in this quarter 12-8. Boston is on their way to losing game seven by the performance they gave in the third quarter. They only scored 14 points. Philadelphia outscored Boston 17-14 and if history tells us anything, it’s whoever outscores their opponent in the third will win the game. Boston needs to come out firing in the fourth quarter to win this. Philadelphia only down three is giving them hope that they can pull this off.
Boston came out in the fourth quarter with high energy. Ray Allen hit his first three of the game (although felt like first of the series) while Kevin Garnett turned into beast mode. There was no way Boston was going to let this game get away from them. Rondo hit a big three, which was actually a two (stupid big feet!). Boston’s 7-2 run late in the fourth was the difference maker as they pulled back to a double digit lead. Rondo was in his usual fashion with a triple double with 18-10-10 earning some MVP chants from faithful fans. Well now Celtic fans get the Miami Heat, which is exactly what they wanted. Just be careful what you wish for.
