Sixers Play Hard, Still Outclassed by Celtics in Defeat

For casual NBA fans wondering how the Celtics have continued to play well despite the loss of Rajon Rondo, tonight’s game was a perfect showcase.  First, Avery Bradley scored a season-high 22 points on 10-15 shooting, but more importantly, hounded Sixers’ all-star Jrue Holiday all night into a 6-17 shooting performance.  If Bradley could sustain the outside shooting he showed tonight over his career, he would evolve into a truly devastating two-way player.  The old guard for Boston also played outstanding basketball.  Paul Pierce scored 18 points including a perfect 4-4 from behind the arc, while also securing a game-high 11 rebounds and dishing 7 assists.  Kevin Garnett matched Pierce’s 18 points on 9 for 17 shooting, as he and Pierce drained an all-too-familiar mid-range jumper to stem any Philadelphia run.  Ultimately, Boston had too much talent for Philadelphia as they defeated the Sixers, 109-101.

I’ll say this for the Sixers, they’ve played hard each game since the debacle against the Magic.  Tonight, they forced Boston into an uncharacteristic 22 turnovers; there were 3 occasions where the Sixers stole a casual Celtics in-bounds pass, plays that don’t get made by a team that is phoning it in.  However, against a strong Boston defensive squad and without a true post threat on the roster, Philadelphia was forced to rely too often on long jumpers which were just not falling tonight.  As mentioned, Holiday struggled with his shot against Bradley, and although he recorded 10 assists, only one of those came after halftime.  Evan Turner was playing hard and put up near-triple-double numbers with 18 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists, but also had a terrible shooting night going 6 for 19.  These type of games have become too commonplace for Turner, that is, putting up good counting stats while shooting very inefficiently.  It is clear at this point he is not a good enough outside shooter to justify a lead offensive role on a team.

Philadelphia had a balanced attack as 7 players finished in double digits.  Arnett Moultrie was the first player off the bench tonight for the Sixers, playing with a lot of energy and finishing a perfect 5-5 from the field for 10 points.  It would greatly benefit Philadelphia to expand Moultrie’s role down the stretch and develop his game, as one of the few player’s on the roster who could possibly fit into the team’s long-term plans.  Thad Young also played his usual high-energy game, recording a double-double with a team-high 19 points and 10 rebounds (including an impressive 7 offensive boards).

Unfortunately for Philadelphia, they have no time to lick their wounds as they travel to Atlanta to play the Hawks tomorrow night.  With Holiday and Turner both playing 40+ minutes tonight, some other players will have to step up on the back-to-back if the Sixers are to have a shot in that one.