Time for some conference semifinal team previews! We start with the unlikeliest of the semifinalists!
Beat Chicago in the first round, 4-2
Seed: #8 (East)
Record: 35-31
Stat Leaders: Lou Williams (14.9 PPG), Elton Brand (7.2 RPG, 1.7 BPG), Andre Iguodala (5.5 APG, 1.7 SPG).
Opponent: #4 Boston Celtics, 39-27
Record Against Them This Season: 2-1
Writer: Jordan Sams (@Philly76ersBlog)
Web Site: Liberty Ballers
Chicago had a multitude of injuries that they couldn't overcome and the Sixers took advantage. It's Philly's first time in the second round since 2003 and Jordan Sams from Liberty Ballers couldn't be happier. Probably. Anyway, I talk to him about that series and the Sixers' upcoming battle with the Celtics.
Suddenly, Chicago got a ton of bad luck, and the Sixers are in the second round. How do you feel?!
Winning a series felt great, I'm not going to lie. I went into the Playoffs thinking nothing positive could come out of this season, but the play of Jrue Holiday, and to an extent, Evan Turner, will be an encouraging note to end the season on, regardless of what happens against Boston.
For whatever reason, Jrue morphs into a different, swagtastic, player in the Playoffs -- something Sixers fans really needed to see after a horrible year of non-development from The Jruth.
Spencer Hawes stepped up in this series. Surprised?
Um. He's had one or two good stretches of basketball, but he's an overall bad player. He does a lot of really bad things that don't show up on the stat sheet -- missed layups, poor boxing out, pushed around in the paint, on both ends, and when he "steps up" it's mostly one long two point attempts.
My only hope is that someone else signs him this off-season, because I don't want to see him in Sixer red, white and blue again.
And while Andre Iguodala is probably the main trading piece by the Sixers, you've gotta feel happy for him making the series-winning foul shots, right?
Absolutely. It was a great moment for Iguodala. He's been unfairly criticized his whole career and he's not overpaid, for the record. He'a not even the highest paid player on the team. He's arguably the best perimeter defender in the league, the second-best passing and rebounding small forward in basketball, a terror in transition, an underrated catch-and-shoot shooter, and an efficient scorer. It's not his fault we live in a world where you're dubbed a superstar if you score 20+ PPG and do nothing else. *cough* Monta Ellis *cough*
All that said, I hope he's traded and have for a long time - not because I dislike the guy, or have any negative thoughts toward him - but it's best for both him and the team.
The Sixers draw the Celtics. Tell me some keys on how the Sixers can pull off another upset win.
It won't be easy, but they'll have to dominate the glass, against a surprisingly weak rebounding Celtics team, and shoot under their average of 24.5 long twos per game. Attack the basket, get to the free throw line. I actually think Philly matches up decent with Boston. Turner has matched up well with Rondo in the past, Iguodala is good on Pierce. Garnett will be the X-Factor, cause the Sixers have NO ONE to contain him.
Series prediction?
Man, I'm more confident about this than the first series, but I still see Celtics winning in 5. I think most games will be close, but Boston's a good closer.
Anything else you wanna say?
You promised me a better Blake Lively pic if the Sixers won.
Oh, whoops. Enjoy.
PHOTO CREDITS: 1, 3) Jesse D. Garrabrant/Getty Images. 2) Drew Hallowell/Getty Images. And I have no idea where I got those Blake Lively pictures.
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