NBA Playoffs 2012: Keys to a Philadelphia 76ers Upset in Game 7

There's nothing pretty about the way the Philadelphia 76ers play basketball and the team will need to win ugly against the Boston Celtics in Game 7.

When the Sixers are clicking defensively, they control the game and get the win.

Defense is clearly the key to Philadelphia's success. Here are three specific things the team will need to do to stay alive in the playoffs:

Hold Boston's Field Goal Percentage Under 43 percent

Philadelphia's opponents are shooting 43 percent from the field this postseason.

In all of the games Boston has won this series, they have shot better than that mark. They have also failed to shoot above 43 percent in all of the games Philadelphia has won.

It is no coincidence that Boston has not scored more than 83 points in any of the three losses, while they have put up over 100 points in two of the three wins.

Each and every one of Boston's shots will need to be contested if the Sixers are to continue with their postseason campaign.

Limit the Boston Bigs

In the Celtics three wins in the series, Kevin Garnett and/or Brandon Bass have killed the Sixers.

Boston won Games 1, 3 and 5. In those games, Garnett scored 29, 27 and 20 points, respectively. In Games 2, 4 and 6, the Big Ticket put up 15, nine and 20. 

Bass' production has not been as consistent, but he did have a monster performance in Game 5 and finished with 27 points, going 9-for-13 from the field.

While Philadelphia's big men are not great individual defenders, the whole squad plays great team defense. Everyone will need to chip in and make sure Garnett and Bass do not control the paint in Game 7.

Create 15+ Turnovers

In every one of Philadelphia's wins against the Celtics, they have created more than 15 turnovers. Boston has limited their mistakes and finished under that total in all of their wins.

The Sixers are creating 15.1 turnovers a game on average this postseason, which is better than every team still alive, except the Miami Heat.

Philadelphia is young and extremely active on the perimeter while playing defense. When players like Jrue Holiday and Andre Iguodala are making the right gambles and jumping into passing lanes, the Sixers defense is absolutely destructive.

If they can cause Boston to make an unnecessary amount of mistakes they will advance to the Eastern Conference finals.