The Rondo Show: Boston Wins Game 7, Will Meet Heat

Game 7 between the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers has been the type of professional sporting contest that makes a humble blogger Google synonyms for THE WORST. Seriously, this game sucks. With just over five minutes remaining in the game, neither team has cracked 70.

What’s my “nightmare fuel” tag?

Game 7 between the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers is not basketball. At least it shouldn’t be.

Instead of the high-flying fun NBA basketball is normally defined by, this Celtics-76ers game more closely resembles a Steelers-Ravens game: two proud, unrelenting defenses making the underwhelming offenses work overtime for every bucket. With one quarter remaining, the Celtics lead the 76ers 55-52.

The Boston Celtics opened up a 10-point lead midway through the third quarter of Game 7, but just when it seemed like the C’s may build an insurmountable (read: low double-digits) lead over the Philadelphia 76ers, Philly went on a mini-run of their own. With 5:07 left in the third quarter, the score reads Boston 49, Philadelphia 45. Yep, the game has been as bad as the score would indicate.

The 76ers are 16-for-51 from the floor, good for a 31.4 percent shooting percentage. Before Celtics fans laugh too hard, realize your team is just 19-of-51 from the field. That would equate to 37 percent.

The Boston Celtics are the decidedly more experienced squad in tonight’s Game 7 against the Philadelphia 76ers, and it’s showing early. The C’s are off to a quick start and lead 10-2 with just over eight minutes remaining in the first quarter.

Boston is 4-of-7 from the floor. Here’s a shot they missed.

The second round playoff series between the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers has been unquestionably ugly through the first six games, with two stellar defensive teams waging total war against the ideals of aesthetically pleasing basketball. While this series has been hard to watch, the games have been close and a Game 7 this late into the playoffs is always something to cherish.

Before we tip-off on Saturday night, here’s a quick reminder of the playoff history these two franchises have. They are no strangers to playing a Game 7.

The Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers will play a decisive Game 7 at TD Garden on Saturday night, to determine the last spot in the NBA’s Conference Finals. The narrative of the entire series has pitted the youth of the Sixers against the experience of the Celtics, who are almost certainly on their last stand in this incarnation. While the NBA Playoffs always ratchet things up from the regular season, Game Sevens are an entirely different experience altogether.

This will be Philadelphia’s first foray into a Game 7 atmosphere, and it won’t be easy on the road in an arena that has seen plenty of them. Most assume that the Celtics will follow through and finish off the Sixers, defeating the underdog and holding serve in front of a rowdy home crowd.