NBA Playoffs 2012: 6 Keys to Victory for the Boston Celtics vs 76ers in Game 6

This series has been a lot closer than most Boston Celtics fans had hoped.

Now that the Celtics are up 3-2, they have a little breathing room going into Game 6 against the 76ers in Philadelphia.

These are the key factors that the Celtics need in order to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals for the third time in the last five years.

1. A Healthy Avery Bradley

The Celtics missed Avery Bradley's defensive intensity in Game 5, and it showed for the first half of the game.

Although Bradley's offensive output in the playoffs has not exactly been stellar, his defensive abilities have helped the Celtics immensely when guarding talented shooting guards such as Joe Johnson and Evan Turner.

The C's will need Bradley in Game 6, to guard the likes of Turner, Lou Williams and Jrue Holiday, who combined for 30 points last game.

Bradley has a "50-50" shot of playing, according to Doc Rivers, and if he does play, look for him to have a significant impact on the game.

2. Rely Less on Greg Stiemsma

Don't get me wrong. I love the Stiem Engine, but his brand of defense is not what the Celtics need to close out the series.

Although Greg Stiemsma had three blocks yesterday, he also allowed around five easy open layups for the likes of Elton Brand and Thaddeus Young. Brand, in particular, was able to take advantage of Stiemsma's lack of speed off of the pick and roll.

Yesterday, Stiemsma was caught too often guarding the ball-handler in a pick and roll situation, leaving Brand open for the easy layup.

Tomorrow, the Celtics need to limit the Sixers' points in the paint, and Stiemsma did not help in that department last game.

3. Increase Focus on Defensive Rebounding

For the first half of Game 5, the Celtics were absolutely pitiful in the rebounding department.

Specifically, defensive rebounding.

The C's allowed eight offensive rebounds to the 76ers in just the first half of the game.

Particularly remarkable was a sequence in which the 76ers missed two shots, but rebounded both of them. The second rebound went to Jrue Holiday, who raced to the perimeter and hit a three-pointer.

The Celtics worked harder on the glass in the second half, but were still out rebounded 37 to 31. The Sixers may be a younger and more athletic team, but the Celtics have an overall higher basketball IQ and need to use that to their advantage.

In order to win Game 6, the Celtics need to prevent the Sixers from rebounding their missed shots.

4. Allow Less Second-Chance Points

In the second half of the game, when the Celtics' defense got going, they allowed no second-chance points.

In the first half, they allowed 10.

In order for the Celtics to win in Philadelphia, they need to be aggressive and prevent the Sixers from scoring off of missed shots.

Tip-ins and dunks have come to be a staple of the 76ers' offensive game, and the Celtics bigger defenders, like Kevin Garnett, Ryan Hollins and Greg Stiemsma need to prevent the Sixers' big men from getting to the rim.

5. Unleash Brandon Bass

Brandon Bass is a player who has an immense work ethic and has gotten where he's gotten through hard work.

Bass demonstrated his offensive capabilities last night, with a spectacular outing that saw him put up 27 points and six rebounds.

The undersized power-forward from LSU has been the most consistent offensive weapon for the Celts this series, except for possibly Kevin Garnett, and Doc Rivers should look towards him for offense tomorrow night.

The Sixers had no answer for Bass, as power forward Elton Brand, who was routinely tasked with guarding him, was often too slow to defend Bass' jump shots last night. The Celtics need to exploit this matchup and use it to their advantage to win in Game 6.

6. A Good Night from Ray Allen or Paul Pierce

Ray Allen and Paul Pierce, in addition to being future Hall of Famers, have been maddeningly inconsistent this series.

Both are playing injured, but one of them needs to step up for the Celtics to win Game 6.

Pierce has fought through his injuries well by posting good statistical lines in the last two games, but Allen has been nowhere to be found, averaging 8.4 points per game this series.

Although it has been hard for Allen to develop a shooting rhythm since Avery Bradley took his spot in the starting lineup, and when Allen started last game, he managed to only put up five points on 2-for-7 shooting.

One of these two stars will need to step up for the Celtics to win Game 6 and advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.