Sixers vs. Celtics: Boston's Veteran Experience Will Beat Young Philadelphia
The Philadelphia 76ers vs. Boston Celtics winner tonight in Game 7 will face the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference finals and be one step closer to an NBA title.
In one corner you have the young Sixers whose average age is about 25 years old, with two players over 30, that rely on defense and team balance—with eight guys averaging between six and 15 points per game in the 2012 NBA playoffs.
In the other corner you have the veteran, experienced Celtics whose average age is about 28 years old, with six guys over 30 that rely on defense and six key players who are averaging between six and 20 points per game in the playoffs.
The Sixers have an edge with youth, and good news for Sixers fans is, according to Jimmy Golden at The Associated Press, the Celtics will be without guard Avery Bradley tonight, who also missed Games 5 and 6. Celtics coach Doc Rivers said Friday that Bradley will miss the rest of the season after having surgery on a left shoulder that frequently popped out of its socket during the regular season and playoffs.
Golden went on to mention that the 21-year-old Bradley has been a key part of the Celtics' defense. Without him, Allen moves back into the starting lineup and Rajon Rondo will be expected to cover the best Sixers backcourt player in the game.
Moreover, the Celtics look old, have been inconsistent in these playoffs and will be missing a key defensive player. However, I will still take the Celtics veteran experience to win at home in Game 7 against this younger Sixers team.
Speaking of being home in Boston, the Celtics have been dominant at home in the playoffs with a 5-1 record, outscoring its opponents 91-83. Last time I checked, tonight's Game 7 is at TD Bank Garden in Boston.
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According to Chris Forsberg at ESPNBoston.com:
"Home teams prevail nearly 80 percent of the time in Game 7. What's more, the Celtics are 17-4 all-time at home in Game 7s and boast more Game 7 victories than any other team in NBA history. Conversely, the 76ers are a mere 1-7 on the road in Game 7s and are tied for the most Game 7 defeats in league history.
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The Celtics will definitely use home-court advantage more than anything in tonight's Game 7, but nothing is more vital to win a playoff Game 7 than veteran experience. That is exactly what the Celtics have in the Big Four of Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, Rajon Rondo and Kevin Garnett.
Forsberg also reported:
"According to ESPN Stats and Information, the Celtics have eight players on their roster who have combined to play in a whopping 27 Game 7s with a total of 925 minutes of floor time. Boston's Big Four of Ray Allen (7 games, 264 minutes), Paul Pierce (6 games, 239 minutes), Rondo (5 games, 186 minutes) and Kevin Garnett (4 games, 153 minutes) are no strangers to do-or-die situations. The Sixers on the other hand have only three players have seen Game 7 action, for a combined 59 minutes of action. And only one -- Elton Brand, 1 game for 48 minutes -- figures to see the floor on Saturday. (The other two, Tony Battie and Sam Young, are not typically part of the rotation.)
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Furthermore, the Celtics will indeed win Game 7 in Boston tonight over this young Philadelphia team, because Boston has the home-court advantage, veteran experience and, most importantly, history on its side.
