Boston Celtics: Philadelphia Sixers are going to be tough to put away in six games – NBA Report
Boston Celtics are leading their Eastern Conference semi-final series against the Philadelphia 76ers by 3-2 and have a chance to wrap things up in the 6th game on Wednesday.
To do that, especially in Philadelphia’s own backyard, will be nothing short of a herculean task.
The series so far has been on and off for the C`s and they have not been able to win two in a row. Boston took game one of the series by one point, and Sixers then repaid the favour with an 81-80 triumph in game 2. Game 3 again belonged to the Greens and they had their best chance to win twice in as many games in game 4, when they held an 18 point lead.
However this Philadelphia unit has is not programmed to go down without a fight. Sixers turned that deficit around in the final quarter and came out winners to even up the series.
After winning Game 5 and having a chance to close out the series, Boston will now look to address their mistakes and not look over this young Sixers team.
Ray Allen has echoed a similar kind of opinion, stating very clearly that they have to continue what they are doing on a consistent level to have a chance of advancing to the conference finals.
"I don't think we've ever looked at it like, 'Win this game and move on,' because you have a tendency to look past this team," Ray Allen said. "We have to go into Philly and start the same way we started [Game 4], only continue to push through and run through the finish line. They aren't going to quit or give up, so we have to continue to do our job."
One thing that can was always expected from the experience line up of the Celtics, going into post season, was that they would be able to hold their own when given the chance to put their opponents away. However that has not been the case in the series so far and this Sixers side is earning some due respect for their efforts.
Paul Pierce has labelled the Sixers as one of toughest opponents they have played in a while and did concede that the Celtics are up against it as they try to close out the series in six games.
"We know they're not going to go away, so we've got to have our hard hats on for the next game," Pierce said. "Game 6, try to put them away."
A lot of credit should be given to performance of Brandon Bass who put up 18 points alone in the third quarter of the game 5 victory for Boston, however given the way this Sixers team has responded back every time they have been down, the old legs of this Celtic unit will surely have their work cut out for them come Wednesday night.
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