What the heck happened at the Wells Fargo Center? Sixers even series at 2-2
How the Sixers pulled out a win Friday night against the Boston Celtics is hard to explain. They did a complete turnaround in the second half - and so did the Celtics.
What the heck happened at the Wells Fargo Center? Sixers even series at 2-2
Bob Cooney
There was a common sight in both the Sixers and Celtics locker room, throughout the hallways of the Wells Fargo Center and in the media room. It was a look of "what the hell just happened?" as writers scrambled to meet deadline while coaches and players tried to decipher what took place over the 48 minutes on the court.
If this game was a boxing match, the Sixers were not only on the ropes after the first half, they had been knocked down almost to the point of stoppage. But the Sixers withstood the haymakers and returned to land even more of their own as they somehow took a 92-83 decision from Boston and evened the Eastern Conference semifinal series at 2-2. Game 5 will be Monday in Boston at 7 p.m.
The Celtics barrage started with a 14-0 run to begin the game. The Sixers didn't score their first basket until nearly four minutes had been played. They scored just 12 points after the first, missing all but three of their 16 shots. The only reason the second quarter was a little bit better for the home team was because it couldn't have gotten worse, really.
At the break the Celtics led by 46-31, and really it was lucky to be that close for the Sixers. There seemed little to grab onto in the way of hope. The starters, not including Jrue Holiday's 4-for-6, combined to shoot 2-for-22. Key subs Thaddeus Young and Lou Williams combined for one field goal. The team missed 8 of its 21 fould shots.
And as much as the Celtics were dominating, they were smack talking. As one player told me in the Sixers locker room after the game, that went a long way into the Sixers' second half surge.
It started in a fiesty third quarter, during which a pair of double-technicals were called. That seemed to help fuel the Sixers, who outscored the Celtics by 28-17, limiting Boston to 5-of-18 from the floor in closing the gap to 69-53 after three.
"We started expending more energy, started making shots," said Thaddeus Young of the third quarter effort. "Lou (Williams) got it going and then were were getting in transition and getting stops on defense."
It was only the beginning to the end.
The crazy fourth quarter, in which the Sixers outscored Boston by 33-20, featured 8 ties and 7 lead changes. But the craziest thing of all, the biggest question left after the game had to be the limited presence of center Kevin Garnet in the fourth.
On the first play to begin the final 12 minutes, the Celtics dumped the ball down to Garnett, who missed a four-footer. He made his only other shot of the quarter, about four minutes later. For some reason, Boston decided to shoot mostly from the outside in the fourth. Part of it was the defense of Lavoy Allen on Garnett. Most of it was because the Celtics decided they loved jump shooting. It didn't work.
Meanwhile, the Sixers kept the pressure on the aging Celtics. Led by the super active Thaddeus Young, who had 8 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists in the final quarter, the Sixers dominated in every phase. They won the rebounding (14-7), which allowed them to get out and run. They also forced the Celtics into 5 turnovers which led to 6 points. In contrast, the Sixers had 1 which didn't lead to any Boston points.
Andre Iguodala, who struggled offensively all evening, also scored 8 in the quarter, including five-straight that sealed the win.
With 1:22 remainin, Iguodala hit a step-back 16-footer for an 85-83 lead. On Boston's next possession, Rajon Rondo broke free from Jrue Holiday and appeared to have a clear layup on the left side of the basket. But Young drifted from his man at the foul line area and blocked the attempt. When Lou Williams then began to drive the lane, he found Iguodala open on the right wing for a three pointer which Iguodala drained for an 88-83 lead and securing another home game for the Sixers.
"When you're getting your butt kicked you've got to compete," said Williams, who finished with 15 points and 8 assists. "When we were down 18 the basket gets bigger because there's not a lot of pressure on the next shot."
When the Sixers were trying to close it out, pressure was everywhere. But the Sixers were the ones who played through it Friday. Iguodala and Turner led the Sixers with 16 points, while Young had 12 and Holiday 11. Lavoy Allen contributed 8 points and 10 rebounds in almost 33 minutes, plus tons of tough defense on Garnett.
How did it happen? Well, scoring 61 second half points compared to 31 in the first half helps. So does 22 field goals compared to 9 and allowing 37 points in the second half.
Hours later, the win is still head-scratching.
What happened Bob-The Celts had the sixers whipped but that was not enough for them.
They also wanted to humiliate and trash the Sixers.But a funny thing happened-instead of the Sixers folding they fought back and towards the end the Celts looked defeated and clueless.
Hats off to the Sixers-all that played- esp IGGY,LOU ,LAVON,JODY,THAD
and EVAN for his defense and grit.
Iggy seemed to not expend as much energy on the defensive side but he was surely smooth(and fresh) at the end with the clinching shots. He was worth every penny tonite for if they had lost it was over for them.They were not beating the Celts 3 in a row.
lOU - +28- HAD 8 ASSISTS!!! to go along with his 15.
On to Monday
— HO HUM- As poor of a Game 1 that Lou had, concerning decision making, he was absolutely Mr. Wonderlic in this second half of Game 4...Although he led the Sixers' +/- in EACH quarter of this game, his first run in that second half, an extended 13:33 due to Jrue Holiday's foul trouble, was brilliant with 9pts and 6 assists to 0 turnovers...To boot,DC FINALLY found a winning frontcourt combination with Thad (how bout that interior passisng) and LaVoy(so glad he bolted Portsmouth last Spring,Dropping his value...what a steal in the 2cnd round)...as they were blocking shots and dominating the C's on the boards (getting all 5 4rth quarter offensive rebounds when the score was within 4 points)...Iggy,who I was bemoaning over behind the back pass turnovers in crunchtime, again comes up HUGE with 2 awe inspiring 3's...Pure Emotion!...This will now be a great 3 game Series!
— bearsfriend - I agree, the Celtics not only wanted to win, but they also wanted to humiliate and trash the Sixers. Pierce and KG were trash talking constantly and their whole team looked over confident. Sometimes when you try to humiliate an opponent, it backfires, this time it did. I think that this series will not only help the young guys on this team, it will also cause free agents to look at Philly as an attractive place to play
— pjackson - Both teams stink.— MaxDom
- Both teams stink.— MaxDom
- Both teams stink.— MaxDom
- Both teams stink.— MaxDom
- ...and you stink at "submit" — joeibt
- Great game. Not sure why it's head scratching. Tale of two halves. Sixers were cold. No frozen. Then they got hot. Scalding. Turned up the intensity on defense, got the crowd going, and hit big shots to close. Happens all the time in pro ball. This is all about confidence. For some reason the big crowd and the moment got to the young Sixers, who looked scared for a game and a half. Give Collins some credit. He wouldn't let them quit.— retzlaff
- Turner had a terrific defensive game last night but…wow… what a brick thrower...he looked totally lost putting up shots. If the Sixers get off to this kind of start in Boston Monday, the game will be over in short order. Their shooting wasn't just bad...it was choking in the clutch awful. They have to learn the difference between not being afraid to shoot and being confident in the shot. Lord knows Evan Turner wasn't shy about putting it up last night but most of his misses never had a chance before they left his hand. The rest of the team fared no better. As for the Celtics, they paid the price for their major effort in game three in the second half last night. The older guys, who were being lauded for turning back the clock Wednesday, had lead legs last night. It remains to be seen if it was a single game rest or if they’re shot.— Chrisnchris
- The Sixers shot 23% in the first half (9-39), which looks even worse because they ONLY attempted 2 three pointers (0-2)...And even as they made a dent in that 3rd quarter,which they won 28-17 to get it back to be down just 5, they were still leaving points behind at the FT line, where they had already missed 11 FTs (19-30), while only making 1 bomb all game....Yet again, in the 4rth quarter, they went 6-6 from the line, and hit 4-6 from three pointland...all clutch...Concerning ET, just forcing the issue terribly on offense penetrating too deep...To his credit, he'll fight the C's to the death, and he showed NO respect to Pierce and company, reminding me of an NHL agitator...Was there anyone on that court he WASN'T arguing with last night? — bearsfriend
- ET's competitive nature consistently shows up in his rebounding numbers in big games when he gets minutes, but his inability to channel the adrenaline rush when shooting increases his brick percentage. somehow he must maintain the ferocity on D and the boards while calming himself on the shot for this next contest because the Celtic's rested legs will not be allowing dramatic comebacks this time. DC should be firing up the guys to return haymaker for haymaker early Monday. Do not be content with rope-a-doping. Force the C's to blink, take away the swagger and let the game sap them of their reserve. — barrywil
- Too bad Boston gets two days to rest— retzlaff
- that is the key. KG and Ray were dragging and now just when they need a rest the schedule-maker throws them a bone. if the sixers can withstand the 1st half barrage they will face Monday then the 4th quarter of that game will determine the outcome of the series. — barrywil
- A turning point was when EB dragged his arm across Garnett's face. It led to a T, but showed the Sixers would not be pushed around anymore!— Eagle_1960
Bob Cooney has been at the Daily News for more than 20 years, working in the sports department for the past 15. This is his third season on the Sixers beat. He has covered just about everything, but mostly college basketball, where he was the La Salle beat writer for six seasons. E-mail Bob at cooneyb@phillynews.com and follow him on Twitter.
