After Monday’s low scoring snail pace of a scoring loss to the Sixers, many media members and fans were quick to be critical of the Celtics. “Pierce’s knee…” among other excuses were brought forth as only an ugly loss can bring out.
Tonight the Celtics silenced the critics in a 16 point road win. Three Celtics double doubled including Rajon Rondo (23 points 14 assists), Kevin Garnett (27 points 13 rebounds), and Paul Pierce (24 points 12 rebounds). While each were ultra efficient, Paul Pierce’s line stands out. Making only six shots, Pierce found his way to the hoop and not only finished with authority on three occasions but hit eleven free throws. Needless to say Pierces offensive prowess is a large part of the Celtics’ winning potion.
The C’s have stolen back home court in the series which is a good thing because ideally the Celtics would not want to see this guy in a potential game six:
Celtics' reserve center Ryan Hollins fights for the ball against the Philadelphia 76ers' Lavoy Allen
The Boston Celtics are hobbling to Philadelphia after blowing an opportunity to take a commanding 2-0 series lead over the 76ers with their Game 2, 82-81 loss on Monday.
This has been a strange series where both squads feel they should be holding the edge despite the fact that the teams are even. The unusual statistic about the first two games is that Paul Pierce has made only five field goals on 20 shots combined in the initial contests. Sixers forward Andre Iguodala is keeping Pierce from controlling the pace of the action like Pierce did against the Atlanta Hawks in Games 2 and 4. While Iguodala is an above-average defender, Pierce’s knee continues to be a hindrance.
The Celtics can get by without Pierce putting the ball in the basket if the rest of the roster picks up his lack of scoring. This was not the case in Game 2 against the 76ers because the 76ers were trapping Kevin Garnett. Doug Collins and the 76ers coaching staff would rather leave Brandon Bass open to make Bass beat the 76ers. This strategy worked because he was forcing up shots. Bass actually took the most shots in Game 2 with 15 attempts. Even though he knocked down a couple of jumpers early, the ball clanged off the rim in the middle quarters. This helped make the Celtics a passive team on the offensive end in the second and third quarters when they scored one less point than in the opening 12 minutes.
From 1965-68, the Celtics-76ers battle was a de facto NBA title fight.
The Boston Celtics head to Philadelphia for Games 3 & 4 of their second-round NBA playoff series with the 76ers and from the first two games in Boston these series has all the makings of a fight to the finish. These two franchises are more than familiar with taking each other to the limit. In 1981-82 they played consecutive seven-game series. TheSix Days That Formed The Bird Era came in ’81 with the Celtics winning, and though the C’s lost a Game 7 the following year they showed America how to handle Defeat With Honor. Indeed, not until the 2003-04 Red Sox-Yankee wars in the ALCS, would the city of Boston see such closely fought rivalry battles with so much at stake.
But before Larry and Dr. J, there was Russell and Wilt and the late 1960s were dominated by the Celtics and 76ers. If you haven’t had the chance to take a look at the outstanding video collection put together by Carl Desberg here at BST&N, please take a look at the great moments of this rivalry in that period captured on film. Here, we’ll focus on a run through the players and the great moments that defined those old Celtics-Sixers playoff battles—four straight years form 1965-68.
Boston had won five straight NBA titles coming into the 1965 season and six of the last seven. But Bob Cousy had retired after the ’63 campaign and with Wilt Chamberlain at center, Philadelphia was hungry to supplant Red Auerbach’s C’s. In addition to Chamberlain, Philly came into that season with a quality wing shooter in Hal Greer, a decent rebounding forward in Chet Walker and another solid inside presence in Luke Jackson.
The Celtics were a more balanced team, with Bill Russell’s rebounding and shotblocking skills controlling the middle—unfortunately, blocked shot stats weren’t kept then, so we have to rely on anecdote, but praise for Russell’s ability in this area is widespread, particularly his gift for controlling the block, making sure it didn’t go out of bounds and starting the fast break. There was plenty of offensive talent for the big man to get the ball to, with future Hall of Famers Sam Jones and John Havlicek, and supported by K.C. Jones, future coach of the Celts’ 1984 championship team and Tom Heinsohn who was in his final year as a player.
There were only nine teams in the NBA in 1965 and though that number would grow to 12 over the four-year period we’re covering, the fundamental alignment never changed. The league was split into East and West Divisions, the top three in each division made the playoffs, with the first-place teams getting byes and the first two rounds of the postseason took place exclusively among division members. Philadelphia was a mediocre team in ’65 at 40-40, but they took third place, won their first-round series and got a crack at the 62-18 Celtics. What was a mismatch on paper proved to be one of the legendary playoff series in NBA history.
Well it’s been over two weeks since the Bruins were eliminated from the playoffs and I need a Bruins fix something fierce. So this promotional video for G-Form iPhone cases will hit the spot.
Of course Tim Thomas stops all of this dude’s feeble slap shot attempts, just wish he stopped Joel Ward’s OT dribbler.
A questionable Garnett foul late gave the Sixers the big win.
The Philadelphia 76ers weren’t going to just sit there and let the veteran Boston Celtics roll them right out of the playoffs.
After winning their first playoff series since 2003, the Sixers won their first playoff game in Boston since 1982, 82-81.
Behind a timely ref assist and a late Evan Turner bucket, Philadelphia stole homecourt advantage as the teams head to the Wells Fargo Center for Wednesday night’s Game 3 tilt.
Sure, the offensive foul call on Kevin Garnett last night was a moving screen; there is little denying that. However, that is a call that is made in the second quarter of a game and not in a one possession playoff game with seconds remaining.
It was not the prettiest game, but for over 47 minutes, the Green Team chipped away and kept the game close only to be undone by the whistle.
Sadly, as much as Celtics fans hate this call, the angst should be from the possession before when Rajon Rondo settled for a jump shot at the top of the key in what was bad execution down the stretch. Pounding the ball into the floor with the shot clock winding down, Rondo took a shot that was not best for the team and that is the play that cost them down the stretch.
People will be down on the Celtics today. With the series tied 1-1 heading back to Philadelphia, perhaps rightfully so. This team does not make things easy, but a win in Philly is imperative to winning the series.
Andy Brickley’s voice is familiar throughout New England and to those of us out-of-market fans who get the NESN broadcasts via the NHL’s Center Ice package. Brickley is the top TV analyst for Boston Bruins’ hockey games. Most fans know he was a part of Boston’s 1989-90 teams that reached the Stanley Cup Finals. What many fans may not know is how hard Brickley has had to work for everything in his career. To pay tribute to his effort and to acknowledge his tremendous contributions to the culture of Boston Bruins hockey is why he is BST&N’s Vintage Athlete Of The Month for April.
The need to prove himself to skeptics started right away in college. Brickley went to school at New Hampshire, but had to walk on the hockey team. He made the squad and played all four years, from 1979-82. By the end of his career he had made first-team All-American and led New Hampshire to the Frozen Four in his senior year.
Two years into his college career he was selected in the NHL Entry Draft, but by the skin of his teeth—Brickley was the final player chosen in a 210-player draft, going to the Philadelphia Flyers. He began his pro career there in the fall of 1982, but a year later he was traded to Pittsburgh, as part of a package involving multiple players and draft picks.
By rights, this should have been the point when his career took off. He scored 18 goals in 50 games, the highest goal output of his career and also had 12 assists. But he ended up demoted to the minor leagues for the egregious sin of breaking curfew. To put the early 1980s in perspective, this was a time when frequent reports of players’ cocaine addictions were becoming public—in all sports. Seen in that light, the idea of demoting Brickley because he broke curfew seems absurd beyond belief.
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