Should the Boston Celtics Think BIG?

The strategy of the Philadelphia 76ers this series has been no secret. They wanted to run the Boston Celtics ragged and leave the older team sucking wind while Andre Iguodala stuffed his elbow in the rim. To do that, they implemented a line-up that regularly features blazing speed at four or five of the positions.

They have done this with resounding success. There isn't an unbiased analyst on the planet who would say the 76ers have more talent than Boston. However, Philadelphia has forced a game seven. They have succeeded by playing a superior team to a six game draw.

There is nothing more frustrating in sports than watching a better team play down to their competition. The New England Patriots regularly pummel inferior competition while the Baltimore Ravens show up to the post-season with losses to Seattle and Jacksonville on their rap-sheet. The Celtics have been playing down to their competition in four of the six games this series and it is becoming unbearable.

Earlier, Bohemian posted a story on CelticsLife calling for Doc Rivers to play Sasha Pavlovic in game seven. I'm starting to see his side now. Bohemian is right, a playing-time shuffle is necessary.

A lot of this is Doc Rivers' fault. He has to realize that without Bradley for the remainder of the playoffs, Rondo can't play his gambling style of defense. Ray Allen is not quick enough to back him up when he guesses wrong, nor is Pietrus or anyone else. That is why Jrue Holiday suddenly looked like Allen Iverson Wednesday night. Then, because we are playing small ball, there is no one to protect the rim.

My central point here is, the whole "Celtics matching small ball to win" thing is so outrageously overblown. The five players that see the most court time for Philadelphia are: Holiday (6-5), Lou Williams (6-1), Evan Turner (6-6), Iguodala (6-6), and Elton Brand (6-9). So what is Boston trying to do? Play small ball to match the speed of this line-up.

Why?

Is that not the thing we hate most? The Celtics are appeasing the 76ers style of play. Boston cannot match that line-up, especially without Bradley. They simply are not quick enough and through six games it has been proven.

However, notice the numbers in parentheses, those are the heights of those five players. The main 76er line-up does not feature a player over 6-9. The advantage Boston has is legitimate backup centers, two of them. Boston needs to counter Philadelphia's speed, not by matching it, but by playing big. Philadelphia has no answer for the Celtics size, something we haven't heard since the glory days of Kendrick Perkins.

Allen is not himself and shouldn't be asked to do as much as he is. Let him finish games because he can still hit the off-balance corner three in crunch time, but he can't be out there trying to check Turner all game. Do not start him, slide Paul Pierce to the two-guard and make Turner or Williams try to stop him. Slide Brandon Bass and Kevin Garnett down to the three and four and start Greg Stiemsma.

Giving Stiemsma five minutes in game six was a joke. Greg has averaged just five minutes in Celtics losses this series, including a DNP in game four.

He had finally gotten his confidence up with a 5-5, 10pt, 3blk performance in 14 minutes in game five and Doc jerked him around again. Rivers is getting too caught up in Philadelphia's athleticism. A few fast-break dunks by Iguodala is nothing to lose your mind over. He is trying to match the 76ers where he can't instead of beating them in a way he can.

Another joke from game six, KG's defense. Philadelphia scored 42 points in the paint and Garnett tallied one foul and one block. He was on the court for 41 minutes (85%) of the game, meaning roughly 36 points (18 baskets) were scored in the paint while he was on the court. Essentially that means Garnett was involved with 2/18 or 11% of the made shots in the paint and Philadelphia did not shoot 100%.

Devil's advocate here will say, if KG gets into foul trouble Boston loses anyway. However, that is a screaming reason why Greg "the foul king" Stiemsma needs to get more playing time. Someone has to set a tone on the 76ers guards that paths to the paint won't be as easy Saturday night. That responsibility should fall on Stiemsma or Ryan Hollins. Hell, have Sean Williams play the Dexter Pittman role if you want. 42 points in the paint is unacceptable for the second-ranked scoring defense in the league.

All of these points center around not trying to run with the 76ers, but beat them down. Boston has tried to match Philadelphia all series and they have lost, a 3-3 series against this team is a loss. It is time to do what that great "Celtics in the tunnel" NBA commercial said, get BIG.


You can follow Mike Walsh on Twitter @3rdstringwalsh