Celtics vs. 76ers Game 3: Philly Must Win to Keep Title Hopes Alive
David Daniels@TheRealDDaniels
Senior Writer IMay 16, 2012
Rocky’s chin is harder than the Philadelphia 76ers’.
Philly isn’t talented enough to hang with the Boston Celtics for 12 rounds. If they fail to ride their momentum to a 2-1 series lead on Wednesday night, their title hopes will be dashed.
According to ESPN, Doc Rivers told the media after the 76ers’ victory in Game 2, "Listen, we put ourselves in that position. You put yourself in position to let someone else do something, then you can lose games and that's what happened."
Philadelphia got lucky—let’s just be real. How many times can the 76ers count on Paul Pierce to go 2-9 from the field? And even with Pierce's night to forget, Philly needed a controversial offensive foul called on Kevin Garnett to seal the win.
They didn’t beat the Celtics. Boston beat themselves.
But that’s not to say the 76ers couldn’t get lucky three more times.
Right now, Philly possesses home-court advantage. They must maintain that edge to advance to the next round. There isn’t the slightest chance in the world that the 76ers knock off the Celtics in Game 7 at TD Garden.
To win this series, all Andre Iguodala and company have to do is protect their house. That feat is easier said than done. But it isn't one route of many to choose from—it's necessary.
If the 76ers lose Game 3, they’re done. Boston would regain the momentum, home-court advantage and be primed to thrust the dagger into the heart of the City of Brotherly Love in Game 4. And Kevin Garnett’s seasoned crew isn’t passing on such an opportunity.
But if Philly pulls off a second-straight miracle, then all of a sudden they’re in the driver’s seat. Losing one game that you’re supposed to win is easy to bounce back from. Losing two, though, would be a disaster for the Celtics.
Following the 76ers' Game 2 triumph, Doug Collins said to the press: “We just found a way. All season long we couldn't win these games and now our guys are believing they can do it. And it is pretty special to watch."
Philadelphia must find a way tonight or their season will be as good as done.
David Daniels is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer.