A quick glance at the box score revealed the Celtics' unsightly shooting display and carelessness with the basketball, and it marked a new low for a Boston team that is not known for its scoring ability.
The defense should not escape culpability, though. The Celtics suffered defensive breakdowns at the least opportune times in the fourth quarter, when the Celtics had several chances to cut further into the Sixers' lead with just a few stops.
"We've got to stop giving up so many layups," Paul Pierce said. "I thought we gave up a lot of layups to Jrue Holiday and Lou Williams down there in the fourth quarter. We've got to protect the basket and try to get out on the break and get some easy opportunities."
Starting with the 11:09 mark of the fourth quarter, when Kevin Garnett hit a long jump shot to cut Philly's lead to four points, the Celtics stalled out on the defensive end as often as the offensive end.
Fourth quarter, 10:49, Sixers lead 62-58: Lou Williams misses a layup, but Lavoy Allen slips in to grab the rebound and is fouled by Keyon Dooling. Allen hits one of two free throws. Sixers lead 63-58.
Fourth quarter, 9:52, Sixers lead 63-59: Rajon Rondo splits a pair of free throws to pull within four points again. Jrue Holiday easily gets within 10 feet of the cup for a short jumper on the next possession. Sixers lead 65-59.
Fourth quarter, 6:15, Sixers lead 70-63: Garnett hits another long jumper to cut a nine-point deficit to seven, and Celtics coach Doc Rivers gambles by inserting Marquis Daniels for defensive purposes. The move does not work. Williams needs only 13 seconds to nail a jumper. Sixers lead 72-63.
Fourth quarter, 1:51, Sixers lead 76-69: Ray Allen finally begins to find some confidence with his shot and hits a long two-pointer, followed by another long jumper by Garnett. Andre Iguodala gets the ball on the wing, beats Paul Pierce into the lane and dishes to Elton Brand for a short baseline jump shot. Sixers lead 78-69.
Philadelphia never trailed by less than five points the rest of the way. They shot only a respectable 44 percent in the fourth quarter, but they committed only one turnover and drew eight foul shots against the Celtics defense.
The overall statistics may condemn the Celtics' offense, but in crunchtime their defense was as big a reason for why this series is headed to a Game 7.
Have a question for Ben Watanabe? Send it to him via Twitter at @BenjeeBallgame or send it here.
