Rondo rescues Celtics late, Heat up next
BOSTON -- "Bring On LeBron."
The sign, held up by a fan late in Saturday night's Celtics series-clinching win over the 76ers, previewed the Eastern Conference finals, which start Monday night in Miami.
While the fan who hoisted the sign may be hit with the old "be careful what you wish for" once Boston actually does meet the Heat, the Celtics have already defied some odds by getting through the first two rounds; becoming only the fourth team in NBA history to come from a record under .500 at the All-Star break to reach the conference finals.
TD Garden fans chanted "Beat the Heat" in the final minute of the 85-75 the Game 7 win. Now, it's on to LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, who steamrolled the Pacers in the last three games of that series to reach the finals.
Games 1 and 2 are in Miami, with the second game Wednesday night. The battered and bruised Celtics, who took longer to dispose of the young Sixers than many expected, are then home Friday and Sunday.
"We'll be ready," promised Boston coach Doc Rivers. "It's going to be a tough turnaround. But we're not an excuse team. We'll be ready to play."
The Celtics face the series (and beyond if they get there) without guard Avery Bradley (shoulder surgery), who would be a key defensive ingredient against Wade. Others, like Ray Allen and Paul Pierce, are hobbled. Miami has been without Chris Bosh and it doesn't look like he'll be available in this series.
Boston, looking for its NBA-best 18th championship, took the season series from Miami, 3-1, with the Celtics' only loss coming with Pierce out of the lineup, in the second game of the abbreviate schedule. The last of the four games was played with both teams resting their key players.
After Pierce (15 points, nine rebounds) fouled out with 4:16 remaining, Rajon Rondo (18 points, 10 assists, 10 rebounds) took over. He scored nine consecutive Boston points over a 1:54 span late and 11 in the final 3:39 to put the game and the series away Saturday night.
"We thought we had a great chance to win (when Pierce fouled out)," Philadelphia coach Doug Collins said. "We had a great chance to win and then Rondo made some great plays."
Rivers said Rondo "fought himself," before coming on at the end of the game.
"I just get frustrated," Rondo said. "Ya know, I'm the leader. I'm the point guard. I take pride in taking care of the ball. It's a team effort, but it's never when I'm mad at someone else. I just try to be great every night."
The Celtics didn't play a perfect game by any means, but had enough to get the job done.
"I love where we are. I told them that after the game and we'll go to Miami," Rivers said.
Allen, 1-for-9 from the floor and 0-for-5 from 3-point range through 38 minutes, nailed a pair of fourth-quarter 3-pointers Kevin Garnett was also huge in the final quarter. But, late in the period, it was Rondo who took over, even hitting a pair of long-range jumpers, one a 3-pointer and one a three changed to a two upon review.
Garnett finished with 18 points and 13 rebounds, Brandon Bass scored 16 points.
Andre Iguodola had 18 points in the loss, but committed two costly turnovers and missed 3-of-4 free throws at the end of the third quarter and into the fourth.
Asked after the game about losing a series to Boston's Big 3 of Garnett, Pierce and Allen, Collins said, "I don't look at them as the Big 3; I look at them as the Championship 4. If you leave Rondo out you're making a huge mistake because that guy has become the motor that drives this team."
NOTES: When the game ended, close friends Rivers and Collins embraced at center court. ... The Celtics went 42-for-45 from the foul line in the last two games of the series and shot 82.5 percent from the line in the seven games. ... Garnett averaged 19.7 points and 11 rebounds per game in the series, while Jrue Holiday (15 points, nine assists, five steals Saturday) led the Sixers with 15.8 points per game. ... Boston guard Keyon Dooling, who missed Friday's practice with flu-like symptoms but is needed with Avery Bradley gone with shoulder surgery, hit an old-fashioned 3-point play to break a 22-22 tie with 9:55 left in the half. ... The "Let's Go Celtics" chants began at TD Garden before the teams even came out for warm-ups. ... The Celtics are 21-7 all-time in the seventh games of series, 18-4 at their two Gardens. The Sixers are 6-9 in Game 7s overall. ... Collins before the game on his team: I have so much respect for our guys and how they've grown to win these pressure games."... The game was played on the 25th anniversary of Larry Bird stealing the ball and feeding Dennis Johnson to beat the Pistons. ... Faces in the crowd included Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and Paula Abdul.
