76ers-Celtics Preview

By JORDAN GARRETSON
Posted Nov 08 2012 2:52PM

All of the Boston Celtics' pieces are present. For coach Doc Rivers, it's just a matter of fitting them together.

In a rematch of last season's Eastern Conference semifinals, the revamped Celtics will try to again fine-tune their chemistry on Friday as they host the Philadelphia 76ers, a team relying on stingy defense without its marquee addition.

After starting the season with two losses, Boston (2-2) has won two straight. But both victories came over winless Washington and were not overly impressive.

The Celtics needed overtime for a 100-94 home victory over the Wizards on Wednesday after an 89-86 road win Saturday. But as Rivers tries to find a formula for a largely reshuffled roster, getting back to .500 was a relief.

"Well, we won the game," he said. "Right now that's the type of team we are. We're not playing great."

Boston's points per game (96.0) and points allowed (99.8) are both hovering in the league's lower-third as Rivers' new rotation gets acclimated with each other. Jason Terry, Courtney Lee, Leandro Barbosa and Jared Sullinger are all newcomers, and Jeff Green missed all of last season after having an aortic aneurysm detected and operated on.

Terry had mostly struggled in three games before going 7 of 15 for 16 points.

Meanwhile, the stalwarts - Rajon Rondo, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce - are all operating at or near their normal levels of production. Rondo is picking up a larger share of the scoring duties with 16.0 points per game compared to a 10.9 career average. Pierce is trying to shake off a rough shooting start to the season - hitting 35.0 percent of his shots - but is averaging a team-best 19.0 points.

"We know we have guys that are capable," Pierce said after going 2 of 12 for 15 points Wednesday. "It's just getting it together still."

Finding their offensive rhythm could be tough against Philadelphia (2-2), which is playing sound defense and also gave the Celtics problems in last season's playoffs.

Boston eliminated the 76ers in seven games while averaging 89.1 points last May. Garnett averaged team highs of 19.7 points and 11.0 rebounds for the Celtics, who held Philadelphia to an average of 85.4 points.

Defense has been crucial for the Sixers this season, with the absence of the newly acquired Andrew Bynum (knee) limiting the team's offensive potential. Doug Collins' team has been up to the challenge, limiting opponents to an average of 86.8 points - 2.6 less than a year ago.

The Sixers forced more turnovers (24) than New Orleans had field goals (23) in a 77-62 road win Wednesday. The Hornets scored a franchise low, though they were without two of their better players in Anthony Davis and Austin Rivers.

"It wasn't a masterpiece but we'll take it," Collins said. "Our guys are growing, the way they talk with each other."

The 22-year-old Jrue Holiday is flourishing as he begins his first full season directing the offense, as Andre Iguodala - now with Denver - often assumed a point-forward role in years past. Holiday is playing five more minutes a game than he did last season and averaging nearly five more points at 18.0. He's also more than doubled his assist average, recording 9.5 a game.

"Coach (Collins) trusts me (to make the correct reads) and call the right plays," Holiday told the team's official website. "Him showing that confidence means a lot to me."

The Sixers have lost six of their last seven regular-season games in Boston.

Turner, Holiday lead 76ers over Celtics, 106-100

By HOWARD ULMAN
Posted Nov 09 2012 11:59PM

BOSTON (AP) Evan Turner and the Philadelphia 76ers answered every charge by the Boston Celtics.

Turner scored 25 points, Jrue Holiday added 21 and the Sixers held off several fourth-quarter rallies during a 106-100 victory over the Celtics on Friday night.

"I just kept telling our guys ... just try to keep it in perspective when they went on those runs so it doesn't seem like the house is falling down on top of us," Philadelphia coach Doug Collins said.

The 76ers led 57-45 at halftime and 83-74 after three quarters. The Celtics pulled within four on two occasions in the final period, 83-79 and 102-98, but couldn't get any closer and fell to 2-3, with their only victories coming over winless Washington. The 76ers won their second game in three nights to improve to 3-2.

The recurring problem for the Celtics was their transition defense. When their opponent rebounds a missed shot, they're not getting back in time.

The 76ers scored 26 fast-break points.

"I thought we hung in the game, kind of fought back," Boston coach Doc Rivers said, "but every time we needed a stop tonight, we didn't get it."

The Celtics had particular trouble stopping Turner and Holiday, who are handling the ball more after the offseason departures of Andre Iguodala to the Denver Nuggets and Lou Williams to the Atlanta Hawks.

"Now it's just me and Evan" as the key ballhandlers, Holiday said. "Coach kind of puts the ball in my and Evan's hands and expects us to make plays."

Turner also had 11 rebounds and Holiday had 14 assists. Dorell Wright and Thaddeus Young scored 15 points apiece.

Paul Pierce scored 24 for Boston, and Kevin Garnett finished with 19. Rajon Rondo had 14 points and assisted on 20 of the Celtics' 37 baskets.

Boston's last lead was 10-9 on a 20-footer by Courtney Lee midway through the first quarter. Holiday then had a dunk put Philadelphia ahead to stay.

"If we can do a better job of getting back on defense, limit the easy opportunities, we give ourselves a better chance," Pierce said. "Guys on the perimeter have to get back."

Despite their slow start this season after losing in the seventh game of the Eastern Conference finals last season, the Celtics know it takes time for a team with many new players to jell.

"I'm very patient," Pierce said. "I understand it's a process. We're only five games in. We're still building."

The Celtics made a late run after the 76ers took a 100-88 lead on a reverse layup by Holiday with 4:19 to go.

"We had a lot of heart coming down the stretch," Holiday said. "We executed a lot of plays and we got a lot of stops."

Boston closed to 100-94 on a short jumper by Jason Terry, one free throw each by Garnett and Pierce and a field goal by Pierce. Young stopped the run with a short turnaround hook shot with 1:44 remaining, but Pierce made the next two baskets and the Celtics had a chance, trailing 102-98 with 26 seconds to go.

Turner was immediately fouled and sank both free throws. Then he converted a dunk with 17 seconds remaining for a 106-98 lead that ended Boston's last hope.

"Last year we took them to Game 7 (of the conference semifinals) and the organization got the right unit around us to keep helping us progress and we are not intimidated," Turner said. "We want more."

The Celtics scored the first five points of the fourth quarter to trim Philadelphia's lead to 83-79. Garnett made a jumper and Terry connected on a 3-pointer.

The Sixers responded with a 10-0 run to take a 93-79 lead with 8:21 left. But the Celtics scored the next seven, making it 93-86 when Terry sank a 17-footer.

The 76ers carried a 12-point lead into halftime and increased their advantage to 73-58 when Wright was fouled attempting a 3-point shot and made all three free throws with 5:46 to go in the third.

Then the Celtics went on a 7-0 run on a jumper and two free throws by Brandon Bass, two more free throws by Pierce and another by Bass. That cut the lead to 73-65.Terry's 3-pointer with 56 seconds left in the third quarter made it 79-72, but Turner scored Philadelphia's next four points for an 83-74 lead.

"I said, `Can we stay connected and trust each other through adversity?"' Collins said. "That's what I kept saying to them, and we did."

NOTES: Holiday had seven turnovers. "Some of his passes, he got a little too much zip on them," Collins said, "but I want the ball in his hands." ... The 76ers kept beating the Celtics down court and outscored them 56-38 in the paint.

Notebook: 76ers 106, Celtics 100

Brian Robb, for NBA.com
Posted Fri Nov 09, 2012 11:40 PM - Updated Sat Nov 10, 2012 11:00 PM

THE FACTS: Evan Turner had a game-high 25 points and 11 rebounds, helping the Philadelphia 76ers knock off the Boston Celtics 106-100 in an early season Atlantic Division showdown. Jrue Holiday also added 21 points and 14 assists for the visitors, highlighting the Sixers' best offensive performance of the young season, as Philadelphia came into Friday night's contest averaging an NBA low 83.3 points per game.

Paul Pierce scored 16 of his 24 points in the second half, as the Celtics tried to crawl back into the game from a 12-point second half deficit, but Boston was unable to get the necessary stops in the fourth quarter needed to slow Sixers and complete the comeback. Rajon Rondo also posted 14 points and 20 assists for the hosts, who had their two-game winning streak snapped.

QUOTABLE: "Great, great win for us, on the road, character builder, team builder, all the things we are trying to do. I said 'can we say connected and trust each other through adversity→' That's what I kept saying to them, and we did." -- Philadelphia coach Doug Collins.

THE STAT: The Sixers dominated the Celtics in transition in the first half, scoring 18 fast break points over the first 24 minutes, compared to just two for the Celtics. Philadelphia finished the game with a 26-9 edge in that department, which proved to be the difference.

TURNING POINT: As the Celtics closed the deficit to just seven points with five minutes remaining in the game, Jeff Green made a strong drive to the hoop for Boston, missing a wild layup while falling hard to the parquet. The Sixers gobbled up the rebound and took advantage of Green's inability to get back on defense, which allowed for Holliday to drill an open three in the corner. The shot pushed the Sixers' lead back to ten helping to put the game out of reach for Philadelphia.

QUOTABLE II: "They beat us in transition. I think it's pretty simple. They got a lot of secondary early breaks and just beat us down the floor and they attacked. That's the first part of our defense. It let us down tonight." -- Boston coach Doc Rivers.

HOT: Jason Terry -- Boston's new sixth man scored 12 of his 13 points in the second half, including two 3-pointers, helping to keep the C's rally during the fourth quarter before falling short.

NOT: Green -- The highly paid reserve forward continues to struggle finding a rhythm in his return to action for Boston. Green made just one of his five shot attempts, finishing with a mere four points in 15 minutes of action.

FANTASY SPOTLIGHT: Turner. After posting his second double-double of the season, the shooting guard now leads the Sixers in rebounding, averaging nine per game to go along with his 13.2 points a contest.

ROOKIE WATCH: Jared Sullinger. The power forward started strong, but saw his playing time diminish in the second half, as Rivers went small to match up with the speedy Sixers. The rookie finished with four points and four rebounds in 19 minutes.

NOTABLE: Jason Richardson (ankle) and Kwame Brown (calf) did not play for the second straight game. Both players are expected to return sometime next week. Sullinger earned his third straight start at power forward for Boston. Rondo tied John Stockton for the third longest streak in NBA history of double-digit assist games with 29. Boston has now lost two of their first three games at home. Philadelphia outscored Boston in the paint 56-38. The Sixers missed 10 of their first 11 shots, but still led 23-20 after the first quarter.

UP NEXT: For Philadelphia, Saturday @ Toronto, Monday vs. Milwaukee, Wednesday vs. Detroit. For Boston, Saturday @ Milwaukee, Monday @ Chicago, Wednesday vs. Utah.

• 76ers: Bynum
• Celtics: Bradley, Melo

• 76ers: --
• Celtics: --

• Lead Changes: 3
• Times Tied: 1

• Arena: TD Garden, Boston, MA
• Officials: #71 Rodney Mott, #60 James Williams, #65 Sean Wright
• Attendance: 18624
• Duration: 2:19