Celtics-Sixers: 5 Keys to the Series By Steve Bulpett Saturday, May 12, 2012 - Updated 1 hour ago http://tinyurl.com/74httwg The Celtics [team stats] and 76ers haven’t graced the NBA postseason screen together since 2002, but surely you’ve seen this movie before. And when you consider that remakes create rivalries, these two franchises have been warring in the playoffs since 1953 when the Celtics’ adversary was located in Syracuse. Seven times the Celtics met the Nats before they moved to Philadelphia and became the 76ers in 1963. Eleven times the Celts have suited up in spring against the Sixers. So as we head into the 19th version of a rivalry that Celtics from the ’60s and even the ’80s will tell you was bigger than that with the Lakers, we toast the latest production in film fashion. The keys to the series, therefore, are derived from the movies. 1. MY DINNER WITH ANDRE Averaging 40:09 minutes a game in the Chicago series, Andre Iguodala is the 76ers’ mainstay. The Celtics will have to find a way to keep him from getting into a groove, which will mean another tough defensive assignment for Paul Pierce [stats] and Mickael Pietrus and maybe even some Marquis Daniels or Sasha Pavlovic. The important thing will be keeping check on Iguodala in transition. If he gets a step, he gets the bucket. 2. NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN Or is it? The Celtics’ 30-somethings proved in the Atlanta series they still have it, though Ray Allen and Paul Pierce had their injury-aided troubles. But Kevin Garnett needs to come up large again as he goes against the better-than-you-think Spencer Hawes, who will look for his offense more than Al Horford did. Overall, sure, more youthful Celtics like Rajon Rondo [stats] and Brandon Bass have to play well in this series, but if the veteran stars don’t deliver, their last hurrah will be curtailed. 3. POINT BREAK The point guard matchup will be very interesting here. Jrue Holiday is playing much better of late, scoring nearly six points above his regular-season average in the first round against Chicago. Of course, he didn’t have to deal with Derrick Rose after Game 1, which may have a little something to do with that. Now he has to go against Rajon Rondo, who has been otherworldly for the most part. If Rondo can blanket Holiday, who leads his team in shots taken, the 76ers may be left scrambling. 4. THE HURT LOCKER When you look at the major questions surrounding the Celtics as they head into this series, you really don’t think much about the individual players. You ask about their appendages. Given reasonable health, you pretty much know what you’re going to get from Paul Pierce and Ray Allen and even, to an extent, Mickael Pietrus. But if Pierce’s knee and Allen’s ankle and Pietrus’ knee are problems as the series grinds on, the Celts will be in particular peril against a team that loves to get out and run you until your tongue drags on the floor. “We’ve got a bunch of gazelles coming in here,” said Doc Rivers. The 76ers are one of the best teams in the league at converting your mistakes into points, leading Rivers to say, “I can tell you the key to the series right now is we can ’t turn the ball over.” 5. THE SIXTH SENSE He may shoot the Sixers to victory or he may shoot into trouble, but it is for certain that Lou Williams will come off the bench shooting. And it would behoove the Celtics to make sure this dynamic talent never really gets too comfortable. It will be interesting to see how the Celts’ rotation shakes out and how much time Avery Bradley gets on Williams. It also would help if the Celtics’ subs can produce some cohesive offense of their own (Ray Allen could be a key here) to keep Williams out of transition. — [email protected] --

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