76ers vs. Celtics: Despite Game 5 Collapse, Sixers Should Still Take Series
The Philadelphia 76ers were in firm command of Game 5, leading 50-47 at half. They had the Boston Celtics right where they wanted them, led by a vintage effort from Elton Brand, who finished with 19 points.
However, something happened in the third quarter—the Sixers became unglued, and the C's ran away with the rest of the game. Brand came back to reality and the Celtics got hot. Brandon Bass scored a career high in points and it only got worse from there.
Game 6 is in Philly Wednesday night, and it comes with do-or-die circumstances: Win or go home, where the Sixers have been 4-1 this postseason in Philly.
The Sixers have found themselves in this position before earlier in the series, though the consequences not so dire.
They played Game 4 down 2-1, knowing if they lost they would have most likely folded the series heading back to Boston. They fought back from an 18-point, second-half deficit to even the series. It was probably their strongest game of the playoffs and probably the one that sparked in fans, critics and even the players themselves the belief they could accomplish anything.
The Sixers have been solid at home during this year's postseason, only losing one game and that was Game 3 of this series. They beat the Chicago Bulls three times at the Wells Fargo Center in Round 1.
The Sixers' biggest weakness is not knowing whom to turn to when things are not going their way. They were clearly lost in the second half and needed someone to step up and failed to regroup. That is where the blame on coach Doug Collins lies; he has to know what is going on and be able to do something about it—there was no way the Sixers should have let Game 5 get out of hand after being in the lead for nearly all of the first half.
One some nights, the leader is the veteran Elton Brand; he is the most senior player on the team and has the most experience. And while Andre Iguodala has been huge this postseason, he didn't take control in Game 5 as he should have. Younger guys on the team such as Jrue Holiday and Evan Turner aren't expected to take the load, so they should have to look towards the vets to make the decisions on the court.
The Sixers have done many good things this season, revitalizing a city that loves basketball by winning their first first-round series in eight years and providing two huge exciting games (Game 6 of the Bulls series and Game 4 of this series).
They have fought Boston well and at times looked significantly better in what should be probably the best series of this playoffs.
I remember being a young kid watching the Sixers of the early 2000s get beaten by the Indiana Pacers in the playoffs two years in a row. I always thought they were better than them but just needed that extra edge to get by; when they beat the Pacers in the 2001 Eastern Quarterfinals on their third try, it was feeling as a fan I would never forget.
The 2011-12 campaign isn't over by a long shot, and the Sixers should be happy this series is going back to Philly for Game 6.
