By Bob Cooney, Philadelphia Daily News –
PHILADELPHIA — Doug Collins knew it was coming. He warned his team about it, told the media about and fretted over it.
Still there was nothing he could do to stop it.
The Boston Celtics, trailing by seven early in the second quarter and appearing to be on the verge of a 76ers wipeout, smothered the Sixers defensively and rode their thoroughbreds to a 28-8 run that ultimately propelled them to a 107-91 win and a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Before the game, Collins did his best Nostradamus.
(PHOTO: Boston Celtics’ Paul Pierce dunks the basketball past Philadelphia 76ers’ Lavoy Allen during the first quarter in Game 3 of the NBA Eastern Conference playoffs on Wednesday, May 16, 2012, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.)
“We know that Boston’s going to come with a lot of force and power so we have to see how we react,” he said. “The one thing you always worry about at home is us playing through tough stretches. That’s what I worry about. We’ve had two very difficult stretches against Boston on the road, both of them coming at the same time, at the end of the second quarter and the start of the third. We have to stay away from those as much as possible. I think it affects us a little bit more at home. I think we get a little tighter at home when we go through those stretches. Chances are when you play against Boston you are going to go through some droughts. They defend every possession, they contest every shot.”
The only semi-inaccuracy in Collins’ statement was the timing. Wednesday the Celtics’ punch came early in the second quarter and lasted mostly throughout. After a Thaddeus Young jumper gave the Sixers a lead of 35-28 with 11:29 to go in the second quarter the Celtics pretty much did whatever they wanted.
Defensively, they held the Sixers to 3-for-14 shooting, won the rebounding advantage by 16-5, forced a couple of turnovers and seemingly got a hand on or near each shot attempt. Offensively, Boston made 12 of its 16 shots, including a pair of threes by Mickael Pietrus, and got 13 steal-your-heart points from Kevin Garnett.
The Sixers did score six quick points to cut the lead to seven at 56-49, but then allowed Rajon Rondo to score the quarter’s final four points to open the lead to 60-49 at the break.
While the coffin on this one was seemingly closed after that second quarter, in which the Celtics outscored the Sixers by 32-16, it was cemented shut by Boston’s 29-17 third-quarter blitz that at one time had the lead at 25.
Kevin Garnett scored 27 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, Paul Pierce had 24 points and 12 rebounds and Rajon Rondo went for 23 points and 14 assists.
Thaddeus Young, eerily silent for the first two games of the series, scored 22 to lead the Sixers, while Jrue Holiday added 15, 10 of them coming in the first quarter.
Game 4 will be Friday at the Wells Fargo Center at 8 p.m. EDT.