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Game Time: 7:30PM EST
TV: CSN, NBATV
Radio: WIP 610
Games Remaining: 12 (Home: 6; Away: 6)

Records
76ers: 35-35 (Won 1 Straight)
Celtics: 55-14 (Lost 1 Straight)

Previous Meetings
Dec. 5th @ PHI: Celtics 113, 76ers 103
Jan. 18th @ BOS: Celtics 116, 76ers 89
Mar. 10th @ PHI: Celtics 100, 76ers 86

Probable Starters



The Celtics have handled us with ease this season and there's no reason to believe that'll stop here. I'm all for drinking the Kool-Aid and hoping our team will win this one but occassionally we need to sober up a bit and seperate fact from fiction hence...

My Prediction: Celtics by 5+



5. 36-33
6. -1.5
7. -1.5
8. -6.0
9. -7.5
10. -7.5

I mean if we hang around for three quarters or so, we might have a chance to make it at least a game. So far though, the Celtics have handled us with pretty ease and I cannot see them losing the game. I predict a lose in the range of 15-25 points.

btw: We are still on the 7th seed. Toronto won the tie-breaker.

This is a game where I'd consider changing the starting roster to:

Miller on Rondo
Iguodala on Allen
Thaddeus on Pierce
Sam on Garnett
Smith on Perkins / Reggie on Big Baby

I'd also consider putting Lou on Rondo if I saw that Miller was having issues keeping up with his speed.

STChaser

hats handed to us.

Our best match-up would be to start Thad in place of Willie (and start Evans.) Green doesn't seem to be able to handle Allan well. Unfortunately, its a tough match-up however we go, but always a good measuring stick type of game.

I believe we played them pretty close the first time around.

Sixers win 63-29.

Andre Iguodala drops 20 points.
Thaddeus Young drops 20 points.
Louis Williams drops.....

I think I'm going crazy

Sixers by 2 in OT

We've gotta win at least one game against the Celts this season

STChaser wrote:This is a game where I'd consider changing the starting roster to:

Miller on Rondo
Iguodala on Allen
Thaddeus on Pierce
Sam on Garnett
Smith on Perkins / Reggie on Big Baby

I'd also consider putting Lou on Rondo if I saw that Miller was having issues keeping up with his speed.

STChaser

This is an idea I have suggested before, especially for games like this, but I doubt Cheeks would do it. You clearly have the right idea.

I'm really pumped for this game because I'll be there live!

Last time we played them, it was close. The difference was two fold. The Celtics shot lights out from the outside! The Celtics player great D and limited our fast break opportunities and didn't let us get to the rack. They forced the Sixers to take a lot of outside shots and we were ice cold.

Sixers need to find a way to get to the hole. Maybe set more picks or something. I kinda of think we are due beat them, so I would be surprised if we won.

Congrats on the recent hot streaks. You've been surprising a lot of teams lately. Hopefully my C's aren't going to be the next one's.

I want you guys to slip into the 5th spot and win against Cleveland, so that we can play you in the East Semis. And this isn't even a reach. But tonight, you must lose that game.

Celts by 10+

The Celtics are the best team in the league right now. Their interior defense is terrific. I think they beat us again they just have too many weapons right now against us. Next year with an extra year of development for Thad and another piece in free agency we should match up better against them.

Not that any of us are that worried about us not making the playoffs but in order for us to do so, we would have to lose a 6 game lead over in Indiana and New Jersey within 12 games and that's just not going to happen.

Actually, we are just 5 game in front of them. We lost the tie-breaker against them.

Don't worry, you guys will end up 5th eventually.

I really don't see Philly finishing 5th, not with their schedule. They have Boston tonight and still have to play Phoenix and Cleveland before their brutal March schedule is done. Washington on the other hand is playing some good ball right now and even though I keep hoping for loses they managed to win. Toronto's remaining schedule is a cakewalk, even though they haven't been playing that great.

I think what you see right now in the East is what the final standings will be...That being said I don't think it's such a bad thing because Philly probably matches up best with Detroit. There seems to be something missing with Detroit this year and I just don't fear them like previous years.

PrimeTime21 wrote:I really don't see Philly finishing 5th, not with their schedule. They have Boston tonight and still have to play Phoenix and Cleveland before their brutal March schedule is done. Washington on the other hand is playing some good ball right now and even though I keep hoping for loses they managed to win. Toronto's remaining schedule is a cakewalk, even though they haven't been playing that great.

I think what you see right now in the East is what the final standings will be...That being said I don't think it's such a bad thing because Philly probably matches up best with Detroit. There seems to be something missing with Detroit this year and I just don't fear them like previous years.

Good point. They might be a better match-up than Orlando or Boston, but I still rather play Cleveland than Detroit.

PrimeTime21 wrote:I really don't see Philly finishing 5th, not with their schedule. They have Boston tonight and still have to play Phoenix and Cleveland before their brutal March schedule is done. Washington on the other hand is playing some good ball right now and even though I keep hoping for loses they managed to win. Toronto's remaining schedule is a cakewalk, even though they haven't been playing that great.

I think what you see right now in the East is what the final standings will be...That being said I don't think it's such a bad thing because Philly probably matches up best with Detroit. There seems to be something missing with Detroit this year and I just don't fear them like previous years.

Cleveland: Is a slow tempo basketball team that really NEEDS LeBron James. Without James at his best, this team's one of the worst offensive teams in the league. I wouldn't consider them a part of the Brutal March schedule.

Orlando: We could matchuo well, if we had a decent coach doing the coaching. Sadly, we don't. We don't front the perimeter, we don't force them to depend on DH-12, we do virtually nothing but minor league adjustments.

Detroit: Therefore, they are the 2nd best matchup for us. They don't force us to key in on one guy but in return they have 4 all-stars in their offensive powerhouse lineup. Sadly, they're not as consistant as they once were. Likely because Flip Saunders just isn't a good NBA coach. College? Sure, High School? You bet. Kids need a lecture in perfect offense execution. But in the NBA game? Nah. Average at best. Average results.

The Sixers have proven that they are not in the same league as Orlando. Orlando starts 2 players that we cant defend without doubling, while 4 of the starters are fully capable of knocking down 3 pointers when the ball is swung. The Sixers have an inability to hit 3s making the score of the game always appear lopsided because one team is shooting wide open 3s and layups while the other team is working hard to get 2 point baskets PRAYING that the other team misses a shot or turns the ball over so that they may run.

Detroit can alter their style of play to do the same thing, but naturally they play a more traditional and even style of basketball. Doc Rivers has shown that he is willing to shoot all 3s against the Sixers too. I just wouldnt be able to watch a playoff series where Hedo eats Iggys lunch every single minute of every single game.