Celtics Vs. Sixers: Complete Eastern Semifinals Series Coverage

Kevin Garnett's Terrifying Message For The Miami Heat? 'Let's Do It'

Sixers Vs. Celtics, Game 7: The Fate Of A Compelling East Finals Hangs In The Balance

Only the Celtics can give us a compelling Eastern Conference Finals against the Heat. Sorry, Sixers.

NBA Playoffs 2012, Celtics Vs. 76ers Game 7: Game Time, TV Schedule And More

The Celtics and 76ers will play for the right to go to the Eastern Conference Finals in a series-deciding Game 7.

Celtics Vs. 76ers: Keys To Game 6

Avery Bradley Injury Will Likely Keep Him Out For Game 6, Maybe Longer

The Boston Celtics are not the deepest team in the NBA, but Doc Rivers' team has been able to get by thus far with the players available to him on the bench. Unfortunately his bench will be a bit short once again on Wednesday night, however, as the Celtics try to close out the Philadelphia 76ers on the road.

Spot starter Avery Bradley has been dealing with intermittent injury issues throughout the NBA Playoffs, but it seems the defensive dynamo will likely miss Game 6, and maybe not more.

Doc Rivers says he doesn't think Avery Bradley (shoulder) will play in Game 6. #Sixers #NBAPlayoffs @CelticsBlog

— Gethin Coolbaugh (@GethinCoolbaugh) May 23, 2012

Avery Bradley: "I don't think I'll be able to play tonight."

— Gary Dzen (@GlobeGaryDzen) May 23, 2012

Bradley was dejected. Seemed like he was resigned to not playing. Wouldn't commit to playing in a Game 7 or next series.

— Gary Dzen (@GlobeGaryDzen) May 23, 2012

This is unfortunate news for the Celtics, but as long as Ray Allen is back to being 100 percent, it shouldn't have that big of a deal on the outcome of the current series. Going forward is likely a different story, though, considering how many injury issues the Celtics have already been dealing with this year.

For all news and information regarding the Philadelphia 76ers, please visit Liberty Ballers or head on over to SB Nation Philadelphia. For updates and perspective on the Boston Celtics, check out Celtics Blog or stop by SB Nation Boston.

The Celtics' Greatest Decoy

The Boston Celtics continue to march on in the 2012 NBA Playoffs, but it's been sad to watch Ray Allen transform into an ordinary player thanks to age and injury.

Celtics Vs. 76ers, 2012 NBA Playoffs Game 5: Celtics Win 101-85

The Celtics used a strong second half to pull away from the 76ers and win Game 5, 101-85. The win gives Boston a 3-2 lead in their best-of-seven series.

The Celtics trailed by three points at halftime, but outscored Philadelphia 54-35 in the second half. Brandon Bass led the way for the Celtics with 27 points on 9-of-13 shooting. Kevin Garnett scored 20 points and pulled down six rebounds. Rajon Rondo, who racked up 59 assists during the first four games of the series, had 14 assists in Game 5.

Elton Brand had his best scoring game of the series, finishing with 19 points to lead the 76ers. Evan Turner recorded his second double-double of the series, finishing with 11 points and 10 rebounds. After making 23-of-42 shots in the first half, Philadelphia struggled in the second half, making just 13-of-35 shots.

The series shifts back to Philadelphia for Game 6 on Wednesday.

For all news and information regarding the Philadelphia 76ers, please visit Liberty Ballers or head on over to SB Nation Philadelphia. For updates and perspective on the Boston Celtics, check out Celtics Blog or stop by SB Nation Boston.

Fixing The NBA Playoffs: Heat Vs. Celtics Or Bust

No offense to the Pacers and Sixers, but exactly nobody outside of your respective fan bases cares to see you in the NBA's version of the Final Four. You don't have to like the Heat and Celtics to want them in the conference finals. So make it happen, Stern.

Ray Allen Injury Update: Celtics Sharpshooter Expects To Play Wednesday

The Boston Celtics probably haven't gotten as much out of veteran sharpshooter Ray Allen as they expected to this offseason. The man once known as Jesus Shuttlesworth missed the opening games of their first round series and, although he's been cleared to play ever since, he hasn't looked to be quite at 100 percent.

That trend will likely continue for Wednesday night's game against the Philadelphia 76ers, too, according to his quotes from the morning shootaround.

Ray says he was "tempted to run the treadmill" yesterday at the hotel but thought better of it. Says he's ready to go tonight.

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) May 16, 2012

It's certainly great news if Allen is able to go for Boston as they look to avoid another upset, but the most interesting part of this Tweet from the Celtics is the quoted "tempted to run the treadmill" bit. It just seems ... weird, but as long as he thought better about running the treadmill? Great!

For more on the Celtics, visit CelticsBlog and SB Nation Boston. For more on the Sixers, please visit Liberty Ballers and SB Nation Philly.

Celtics Vs. 76ers, 2012 NBA Playoffs Game 2: Philadelphia Evens Series With 82-81 Win

After losing by one point in Game 1, the 76ers evened their series with Boston with a one-point win of their own in Game 2. Philadelphia's 82-81 victory tied their best-of-seven game series with the Celtics 1-1.

Jrue Holiday led the way for the 76ers with 18 points, while Andre Iguodala finished with 13 points, seven assists and six rebounds. Spencer Hawes was two points shy of a double-double, finishing with eight points and 10 rebounds in 27 minutes.

Ray Allen scored 17 points off the bench to lead the Celtics. Fresh off a triple-double in Game 1, Rajon Rondo finished Game 2 with eight points, seven rebounds and 13 assists. He now has 20 assists through two games of this series. Paul Pierce scored just seven points in the losing effort. Pierce is averaging 10.5 points per game in this series after scoring 21.2 points per game in the Celtics opening-round series against Atlanta.

For more on the Celtics, visit CelticsBlog and SB Nation Boston. For more on the Sixers, please visit Liberty Ballers and SB Nation Philly.

Sixers Vs. Celtics, 2012 NBA Playoffs: Boston Comes Back, Defeats Philly 92-91

The Philadelphia 76ers led by as many as 13 points in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, but at no point did anyone believe that the Boston Celtics, led by another renaissance performance from Kevin Garnett, would just roll over. The Celtics battled back, fell behind again, battled back and eventually held off a late Sixers run to win, 92-91, and take a 1-0 lead in the series.

Garnett was spectacular in the game. The Big Ticket (remember when we called him that?) was written off by many with chronic knee issues, but he's come through again and again for the Celtics in the first seven games of the playoffs. He finished with a brilliant 29 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks, and had one of his typical, terrific defensive efforts. On a night when Paul Pierce struggled — he shot just 3-11 for 14 points, though he did have six rebounds and six assists — Garnett was the Celtics' alpha and omega, and it was enough.

Of course, it helped that Rajon Rondo, who played far below his capabilities in the first half, wound up finishing with another one of his ludicrous triple-doubles: 13 points, 17 assists, 12 rebounds. Rondo, defying all logic, even hit several clutch jump shots late in the game to help seal the victory, also committing the most intelligent foul of the playoffs so far.

The Sixers probably played better than anyone, save for the most devout Sixers fans, expected. Spencer Hawes was their catalyst against the Bulls and he keyed their efforts in the second half, making a few plays only he could make. As a 7-footer, he went coast-to-coast on a layup, hit some crucial jumpers and played largely mistake-free basketball. He finished with 15 points and eight rebounds.

What ultimately doomed Philly on Saturday was also their main bugaboo during the regular season: They have no go-to scorer. Once Paul Pierce hit a jumper to put the Celtics up 90-84, Andre Iguodala (19 points, six rebounds, six assists) and Jrue Holiday hit clutch jumpers, but it was too late. Rondo's heady foul ensured they wouldn't have a chance to tie the game and send it to overtime. While Pierce, Rondo and Garnett were hitting their clutch buckets, the Sixers' offense floundered, ultimately dooming them to a loss. All they need, however, is to win in Game 2 and they'll take home-court advantage. After their performance in Game 1, no one would be surprised if that happened.

For more on the Celtics, check out Celtics Blog and SB Nation Boston. For more on the 76ers, head over to Liberty Ballers and SB Nation Philly.

NBA Playoffs Schedule: Celtics Vs. Sixers Begins Saturday

The Boston Celtics and the Philadelphia 76ers both advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals and will tip off on Saturday night to start the series. The 76ers got past a Chicago Bulls team that lost both Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah, but Philadelphia did its job and won the necessary games to advance.

The Celtics were pushed by the Atlanta Hawks late in the series, but the crafty veterans held on and closed out the series. The key for Boston is to preserve its gas tank by taking care of the series a bit quick this time.

Full Celtics Vs. 76ers Conference Semifinals Schedule:

Game 1: Sat., May 12 at Boston, 8 p.m., TNT
Game 2: Mon., May 14 at Boston, 7 p.m., TNT
Game 3: Wed., May 16 at Philadelphia, 7 p.m., TNT
Game 4: Fri., May 18 at Philadelphia, TBA, ESPN
Game 5 (if necessary): Mon., May 21 at Boston, TBA, TNT
Game 6 (if necessary): Wed., May 23 at Philadelphia, TBA, ESPN
Game 7 (if necessary): Sat., May 26 at Boston, TBA

For more on the Celtics, visit CelticsBlog and SB Nation Boston. For more on the Sixers, please visit Liberty Ballers and SB Nation Philly.

NBA Playoff Schedule 2012: One Series Starts, One Series Ends

The 2012 NBA Playoffs continue on Saturday evening with two games on the slate. The two series are just a bit different, as one series is getting started in the second round of the playoffs while the other has been pushed to a Game 7 and the winner moves on to the next round.

Here's the NBA schedule for Saturday:

Philadelphia 76ers Vs. Boston Celtics, 8 p.m. ET, TNT: The Celtics and the 76ers kick off the first series of the second round on Saturday evening. Philadelphia squeaked by a banged up Bulls team and will head to Boston to take on the gritty Celtics. Boston finished off a six-game series against the Atlanta Hawks and looked a bit worn out coming off the court after the series winning victory. The 76ers will look to tire out the Celtics while Boston will try to grind it out with the 76ers and go for one last title run.

Denver Nuggets Vs. Los Angeles Lakers, 10:30 p.m. ET, TNT: The Nuggets have momentum heading into Game 7 after tying the series, 3-3, and rallying back from a 3-1 deficit. The Lakers haven't been able to finish in the past two games and struggled in Game 6 with Kobe Bryant dealing with a stomach flu. The final game of the series heads back to Los Angeles, where the Lakers hope to rebound from back-to-back losses and finally close out the series, but the Nuggets have all the momentum.

For more on the Lakers, check out Silver Screen and Roll and SB Nation Los Angeles. For more on the Nuggets, head over to Denver Stiffs and SB Nation Denver. For more on the Boston Celtics visit Celtics Blog and SB Nation Boston. For more on the 76ers, check out Liberty Ballers and SB Nation Philadelphia.

NBA Playoffs 2012, Celtics Vs. 76ers Game 1: Game Time, TV Schedule And More

Round two of the 2012 NBA Playoffs gets underway tonight in Boston, as the experienced Celtics tip off against the upstart 76ers.

NBA Playoff Schedule: Celtics Vs. Sixers Begins In Boston Saturday

The Celtics and Sixers will begin their playoff series on Saturday in Boston.