NBA Playoffs 2012: Soft-Touch Sixers Now Thorn in Celtics' Side

For six minutes Friday night, the veteran Boston Celtics seemed to have eased their ride to the Eastern Conference finals into cruise control.

On the heels of a Game 3 spanking, Boston’s efficient offense had converted eight of its first 11 possessions.  The uncertain Sixers had stumbled to four turnovers, five missed field goals, two missed free throws, no shots for their All-Star Andre Iguodala and a 15-point hole.

Far-too-young-to-really-know Celtics fans and pundits were gearing up to wax rhapsodic on the merits of a good siesta, coach Doc Rivers was still managing minutes and nursing nagging injuries and our heroes were maintaining a double-digit lead through halftime.

It was so enticing to assume that these overachieving 20-somethings had reached their moment in time against a team way too long on “been there and done that.”

The Celtics stars continued to launch daggers—Rajon Rondo’s 15 assists, Paul Pierce’s marksmanship (8-for-13, 4-for-6 treys), three Kevin Garnett blocks, even a Ray Allen trey.

But before long, these daggers were of the “keepin’ us in the game” variety, rather than padding to a comfortable lead.

What happened with this team that had been booed off its home court on the short end of a 46-31 score?

Even the cagey Doug Collins seemed to be searching for anything that would work in a first quarter during which he’d make eight substitutions and utilize nine players.

From out of that early wreckage, the Sixers seemed to adopt a “what have we got to lose?” attitude, led perhaps by matchup nightmare Evan Turner.

Though Turner managed to brick 17 of his 22 shots, his contagious feisty aggressiveness inspired backup frontcourt men Thaddeus Young and Lavoy Allen to 20 points and 10 offensive rebounds.

Lou Williams brought some game to the second half.

Quite soon, the double-digit deficit was gone, as was any “what have we got to lose?”—replaced by a determined “we can do this!” outlook.

Needless to say, the Celtics are complicit in the re-establishment of this Sixer swagger.

Following that opening six-minute salvo, the Boston offense managed 22 field goals on 35 percent shooting.  They converted a measly 38 percent of their 81 possessions in those final 42 minutes.  Yuck!

The last dagger was left to be thrown by Iguodala, a trey that gave Philly a non-refundable 88-83 lead.

Coach Collins and his troops may indeed be ahead of schedule and “playing with house money.”

But, like the Chicago Bulls before them, the Celtics have discovered that the 76ers won’t “fold.”

This series seems predestined to go seven games.