Celtics-Sixers....A Series We Will Soon Want to Forget

Last night the Celtics-Sixers series became "self-aware."  It was if the basketball gods decided both teams owed the NBA and it's fans a game seven.  In what was an atrocious offensive performance, where we saw a combined total of 4-23 from three and neither team came close to shooting 50% from inside the arc. The Sixers still managed a balanced offensive output and a solid defensive presence to bore the Celitcs into an 82-75 loss and evened the series 3-3.

There was very little hype leading up to game six and rightfully so.  The re-newed rivalry that is Celtics-Sixers is a hard sell.  Let's face it; first of all we're not in the 1980's and we don't have Dr. J/Moses Malone battling Larry Bird and Kevin McHale and Maurice Cheeks isn't walking through that door for Philadelphia, neither will Cedric Maxwell be dawning the green and white anytime soon.

However, prior to game six despite no hype from the outside world; Sixers Head Coach Doug Collins showed his team game film from the 1982 Eastern Conference Finals game seven between, yes, the Sixers- Celtics.  As crazy as it may be, that game seven in 1982 was the last playoff win for Philadelphia in Boston until game two of this series now in 2012.

The 1982 movie session obviously inspired the current Sixers.  First, they hung in the game for a full 48 minutes and never got down even though they could not hit a three.  Second, Jrue Holiday played inspired basketball, dropping 20 points and 6 dimes.  Third, Elton Brand woke up from hibernation and actually hit some big shots in crunch time.  (Post game Brand got the nod from Collins, calling Brand the teams "Ace of spades.")  Finally, the Sixers found the paint.  They outscored Boston 42-16 down low, an accomplishment that clearly served as the difference maker on a slow night for jump shooters.

This 2012 version of the Celtics-Sixers is a far cry from 1982.  No doubt it has had plenty of ups and downs and plenty of raw ugly basketball.   At times I wanted to change the channel and watch something else (game three) and other times where I found myself in total disbelief watching a Sixers team mount a tremendous comeback in game four.  From game shattering moving screens to an Allen Iverson appearance, this series has had it all.

Now we are faced with a game seven on Saturday night and who knows what will happen.  At this point anything is possible, bad or ugly.  Bottom line is that this series owed us a game seven.  It wouldn't have felt right if it ended in six.  After everything we've had to endure in this one, game seven will decide who goes to the Eastern Conference Finals and thirty years after a game seven upset in Boston by the Sixers; Saturday night will bring an end to the re-newed NBA Classic that is the Celtics-Sixers.