Sixers vs. Celtics: Breaking Down Philadelphia's Game 5 Loss to Boston
Philadelphia looked to be in control of Game 5, leading for almost all of the first 2.5 quarters.
Then, the Celtics went on a run. Then, they went on another run, and the 76ers were pushed into a 3-2 series hole.
Brandon Bass used a fantastic shooting night to score 27 points as Boston beat Philadelphia 101-85 to win Game 5 and take a 3-2 series edge. Kevin Garnett scored 20 points, and Rajon Rondo had 13 points and 14 assists.
Elton Brand scored 19 points for Philadelphia, and five players scored in double-digits, but no one delivered the key performance Philadelphia needed to come away with a win. Andre Iguodala scored eight points and shot 1-of-4 from the free-throw line (and 3-of-10 from the field).
The game didn't resemble 76ers basketball at all. Hard-nosed, physical defense and rebounding have guided Philadelphia to where it is right now, but the Sixers couldn't execute that type of basketball in the second half.
Boston shot an incredible 52.2 percent, with Bass going 9-of-13 from the field. Greg Stiemsma also scored 10 points off the bench on 5-of-5 shooting.
Philadelphia was making its shots early on, and its ability to hit jumpers was the reason the Sixers led early on. However, in the third quarter, Boston was the team making its shots.
Bass scored 18 points in the quarter, making six free throws and six field goals. He went 9-of-10 from the charity stripe, and the Celtics made 26-of-33 free throws; Philadelphia made just 10-of-16.
How impressed were you with Philly's performance?
While the 76ers settled for jumpers, the Celtics went for the layups, and it paid off. In the third quarter, Bass got the crowd going with his phenomenal shooting performance (which included three dunks). The 76ers weren't able to stop the momentum, because Boston's defense was forcing the 76ers out of the paint.
The Celtics didn't wear out like many expected them to, either. With the crowd on their side, they contested Philadelphia's jumpers and forced a lot of missed shots. They grabbed rebounds and didn't let the 76ers score second-chance points (in the second half), and they wore out Philadelphia.
Because of that, Boston was able to close Philly out early in the fourth. Philadelphia was forced to foul Boston, which added some points at the foul line. Rondo then drove right down the middle for three layups, and he scored seven of his 13 points in the fourth quarter.
The Celtics came up with a great winning formula, and they were able to execute in the second half. By getting to the line and converting, going to the middle, knocking down shots and playing good D, the Celtics won Game 5 and now need only one of two games to clinch an Eastern Conference finals berth.
And with the way they're playing, the Eastern Conference finals seem to be pretty darn close for Bass, Rondo and the Celtics.
Then, the Celtics went on a run. Then, they went on another run, and the 76ers were pushed into a 3-2 series hole.
Brandon Bass used a fantastic shooting night to score 27 points as Boston beat Philadelphia 101-85 to win Game 5 and take a 3-2 series edge. Kevin Garnett scored 20 points, and Rajon Rondo had 13 points and 14 assists.
Elton Brand scored 19 points for Philadelphia, and five players scored in double-digits, but no one delivered the key performance Philadelphia needed to come away with a win. Andre Iguodala scored eight points and shot 1-of-4 from the free-throw line (and 3-of-10 from the field).
The game didn't resemble 76ers basketball at all. Hard-nosed, physical defense and rebounding have guided Philadelphia to where it is right now, but the Sixers couldn't execute that type of basketball in the second half.
Boston shot an incredible 52.2 percent, with Bass going 9-of-13 from the field. Greg Stiemsma also scored 10 points off the bench on 5-of-5 shooting.
Philadelphia was making its shots early on, and its ability to hit jumpers was the reason the Sixers led early on. However, in the third quarter, Boston was the team making its shots.
Bass scored 18 points in the quarter, making six free throws and six field goals. He went 9-of-10 from the charity stripe, and the Celtics made 26-of-33 free throws; Philadelphia made just 10-of-16.
How impressed were you with Philly's performance?
While the 76ers settled for jumpers, the Celtics went for the layups, and it paid off. In the third quarter, Bass got the crowd going with his phenomenal shooting performance (which included three dunks). The 76ers weren't able to stop the momentum, because Boston's defense was forcing the 76ers out of the paint.
The Celtics didn't wear out like many expected them to, either. With the crowd on their side, they contested Philadelphia's jumpers and forced a lot of missed shots. They grabbed rebounds and didn't let the 76ers score second-chance points (in the second half), and they wore out Philadelphia.
Because of that, Boston was able to close Philly out early in the fourth. Philadelphia was forced to foul Boston, which added some points at the foul line. Rondo then drove right down the middle for three layups, and he scored seven of his 13 points in the fourth quarter.
The Celtics came up with a great winning formula, and they were able to execute in the second half. By getting to the line and converting, going to the middle, knocking down shots and playing good D, the Celtics won Game 5 and now need only one of two games to clinch an Eastern Conference finals berth.
And with the way they're playing, the Eastern Conference finals seem to be pretty darn close for Bass, Rondo and the Celtics.
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