Boston Celtics vs Philadelphia 76ers Full Game 2002 NBA Playoffs Game 1

Boston Celtics vs Philadelphia 76ers Full Game 2002 NBA Playoffs Game 1

Celtics 76 is the last team in the NBA East that I would want to open up against. With their playoff experience and their defensive mindedness, they are they are going to be a tough opponent here for the Celtics. Steve Javi is the lead official working with Shawn Torbin and Tom Washington. For the first time in seven years, they’re playing postseason basketball in NBA Mad Boston. The tip to the Sixers. Iverson wastes no time. Well, he’s got that for him. That was a great play, but great pass by Derek Coleman. [Applause] Iverson on Kenny Anderson as he brings it to the front court. Anderson leaning in to tie the game. You know, the biggest question for Larry Brown today is going to be Allen Iverson’s conditioning and how he plays defense. You can look to see Boston trying to exploit him right away. [Applause] Eric Snow. Snow’s shot is long and the rebound to Tony Bati. Antoine Walker. Walker using his great ability to take people off the dribble and finish around the rim. He starts out, you know, the three-point line type of the key. Draws your defender out and and goes right by him. And Boston Black was shot block. I mean the Kembbe Matumba pulled out in the paint. Wasn’t there to block the shot. Iverson fouled as he let it go. This is a great great start for Iverson. You see on his on his first shot here in the game. Coleman three defenders around him. Finds Iverson. He gets this medium range jump shot. It’s got to be a great feeling for a scorer to hit your first open jump shot. And then your second one you get bailed down. You get to get your rhythm at the free throw line. The foul is on Kenny Anderson. [Applause] With Iverson as the main man, the Sixers are a strange team. They have the league’s leading scorer and yet overall they’re 26th in the league in team scoring and they’re next to last in assists. Only Houston average fewer assists per game. But they’re a strong team on the offensive glass. So though Iverson shoots a low percentage for a guy who scores more than 30 points a game, they often are able to clean up on second chances. Well, he’s always in attack mode and so he draws a lot of defenders to him which opens it up for the other guys to get some easy shots. See Matumbo playing way off of a tea and a miss like that will encourage him to keep doing it. [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Iverson around a screen set by Coleman returns it to him. He thought about a three. moves in a bit and it spins out. [Music] Paul Pierce knocked away by Eric Snow. Still Celtic ball. [Applause] Watch, watch, watch. Tied at four after less than two minutes. [Applause] Celtics going to try and put Iverson and Matumbo in a bunch of pick and rolls. That’s one of their weak points. Eric Williams with his first touch gives the Celts the lead. [Music] [Applause] The game’s first three-pointer. It won’t be the last. Boston pretty much is playing about a 122 zone on uh on Philly right now. Eric Snow, who picked up his offensive contribution in Iverson’s absence, averaging better than 16 while Iverson was sidelined, hits that one. and he really carried them through a good portion of their wins while Iverson was out by making not only did he put up big numbers but he made really big shots for this team. Matt Harping picks up his first interesting uh lineup here is um you’ve got Harper on Pierce because of the size factor. We understand that. But then you have um Williams being guarded by Snow which is a you know Williams is a pretty good low post player. Matumbo from beyond his usual range. Rebound to Pierce. Philly may be trying to get Boston to bite on that in the in play against with Mc Williams in the low post, but team misses off the baseline and Hartbring has it for Philly. [Applause] Six on the shot clock. Matumbbo looked for the hook and he was hacked. You know, that was too bad from the Boston standpoint because Matumbo really didn’t have great low post position. That was going to be a long hook and he got really bailed out on this play. You see, he’s two feet outside the paint and doesn’t even put the ball on the floor. I mean, that would have been a very tough shot. It was going to be a contested shot. The foul was on Pierce, his first. Matumbo, eighttime all-star, four-time NBA defensive player of the of the year, misses the first. Well, you know, Matumbbo, you can guarantee he’s going to be there just about every night and he’s going to get you a double double. It’s quite a luxury to have a player like that on your team, as well as the shot blocking aspect of his game, which may be the best. At age 35, he averaged 11 rebounds and 11 and a half points per game. [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] Oh, nice pass. Terrific pass by Walker. He had the smaller man on his hip after getting a good screen and then when the other defender came to help, he found the cutter right to the hole. Walker to Williams and the Celts lead by two. [Music] [Applause] Coleman can’t tie it. Walker in the paint. You know, I like that move by Walker. He stopped at that three-point line. He hasn’t been very successful against the 76ers on the season. He looked at it, drew the defender out, then he attacked the rim again. He’s had two really nice drives to the basket for scores for the season against the Sixers. Walker shooting percentage and points per game way, way down. So, he’s taking a different approach early here. Iverson again will come to the foul line, you know, and again, it’s Kenny Anderson, his second. Kenny Anderson isn’t known as a great defender, so you’ll see him Iverson trying to attack him. Great move here by Walker. He loves the spin move. Gets into the paint where it’s in great range for him. A nice finish over the top. Matumbo never had a chance to get to him. [Applause] You know, getting back to Anderson getting his second foul and that’s kind of tough because Kenny’s had a great year for them. But Eric Strickland may better be equipped to defend Allen Iverson. And here is Strickland. Anderson sitting with the two fouls. One of two for Iverson at the line. Celtics by three. I mean, Iverson’s had three shots in this game and scored five points. Pierce inside to Williams. Now Bati. Oh, nice pass by Williams. When Matumbo came over to block the shot, Williams made a nice pass to find Batu underneath the rim. Again, Boston packed it in this one 122 look. [Music] Iverson rebound. Bati Iverson took a stab in the back court. Sets up this open opportunity right here for Boston. Strickland just didn’t finish it. Here’s Pierce cutting in front of Iverson for the steal. Strickland the pull up. Fast pace here early in the first quarter. Snow pulls up. That’s his shot. He loves that elbow jumper and he loves to get to that spot and fake his defender into the air and draw fouls from it. Also, the lob for Pierce from Walker. It’s one of their favorite plays in go to time. They love to give the ball to Walker at the top of the key and then flash Pierce in with his body and then Walker will throw him a lob pass right over the top of defender. [Applause] Coleman in traffic bumped and fouled. [Applause] [Music] the transition. Snow pulls up right there at that elbow. He loves that shot and he’s very good at making it right there. And again, Pierce gets the lob from Walker. Great pass over the top and no defenders around him for an easy layin. [Music] Foul was on Eric Williams, his first. Derek Coleman has played well in his second tier of duty with Philadelphia. He’s been very good defensively in the four regular season games against Antoine Walker. And you notice with Walker by far leading the NBA in three-point attempts, Coleman is right up on him beyond the three-point line defensively. Well, you know, Coleman has a lot of versatility, a lot of mobility, and he’s got very long arms, which is necessary to defend a three-point shooter. You have to you’re able to be up on him, yet be far enough off to try and play him off the dribble. Although today, Walker and the rest of the Celtics have been very aggressive to go to the rim on Matumba. [Applause] [Applause] Rogers picked it up. Eric Williams from the baseline. You know, obviously made a great defensive play there. And in the loose ball, they just didn’t come up with it. And and uh Celtic Celtics capitalized on it. Eric Williams, who averages six and a half, has scored seven in the first six minutes of the game. Well, you’re always looking to get that contribution. Right here comes Rodney Rogers finding Williams in the corner for wide open jumper. It’s the Celtics by five with 557 on the first quarter clock. Since the Celtics made that trade acquiring Rodney Rogers and Tony Del from the Phoenix Suns, they think they’re playing their best basketball of the year. The reason for getting these two players is to to be able to stretch the floor. Both are excellent three-point shooters and they want to be able to put other teams big men away, take them away from the basket and have them have to guard them on the outside. Both these guys are also the leaders on the Celtics as far as playoff games played. Rodney Rogers, the NBA’s sixth man of the year with the Suns two seasons ago and an important component in coach Jim O’Brien’s postseason plan. Well, they’ve only dealt for the moment a spectator. Well, the Celtics have only played the 76ers one time since the trade and they won that game. So, that’s their story and they’re sticking to it. Decoy down by five. Sixers with the ball after the timeout. [Music] [Applause] Walker on Coleman and he’s stripped by Williams from behind. They give it right back. Harping on the wing for the pull up. [Music] Wow, that was a big possession for the Celtics. They had the good momentum and it’s a four-point swing for them. [Applause] Guys, see Strickland came out of that play and didn’t know that out of the huddle that play was for him. Pierce four on the shot clock. Forced to let it go. A miss and a foul on the rebound. The foul is number 55 Williams. That’s his second personal foul. Team Smith. Walker getting caught up in the air. turns the ball over and an opportunity for the Celtics. Now the 76ers get out into the open court where they have an opportunity to get an easy basket, something that they’re not accustomed to. And Iverson likes that. He ran the floor, drew a defender away, and got Harper in that open jump shot. After the Pierce miss, Eric Williams fouled Eric Snow on the rebound. The Celtics are already over the limit with 502 to play in the first quarter. Snow to the line. [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Williams out with the two fouls. The visitors have been to the line now for 10 attempts after this one by Snow and they’ve made eight of them. Celtics haven’t shot a free throw yet. Here you see Philadelphia extending their defense a little bit, trying to take some of this half court look away from the Celtics. [Music] Two-man game with Walker and Pierce. Pierce misses the jumper. Iverson has the rebound. [Music] Strickland. Iverson gets it away and hits it. You know, I tell you why I like what I liked about that last play was the fact that Iverson threw the ball ahead to Harper and Harpering after touching and drew the defense and threw it right back to Iverson. Strickland was right up on him, too, but Iverson was able to shake him free for the shot. Pierce for three. Pullman on the glass. Sixers up by one. Iverson is coming to the foul line again. Number [Applause] 20, his first team. Well, he gets away from Strickland by taking the step back move for the sweet jump shot. And then here he is in the open court again getting bailed out. I mean, Strickland gets him right on the elbow. A guy like Iverson, putting him at this free throw line, you’re setting yourself up for a big day. Anderson picked up two quick fouls and went out. That’s number one on Strickland who’s guarding Iverson now. Number eight, Harris McKe line number 41. Well, Iverson’s numbers. Look at this. I mean, first game 37 47 28 and 22. And in one of those games when he was injured, that 22 came in the first half. Phillies now on an 80 run and they lead 20-7. Antoine Walker’s gone out. Tony Bati back in for the Celtics. Well, now it also allows allows Mama to go back to Bati and then play a a guy in uh Cory Blunt that can get out on the floor and play Rodney Rogers for three-pointers. Here’s Strickland, ending a Celtic drought and pulling them back to within one. So, Cory Blunt and Aaron McKe are in the game off Larry Brown’s bench. [Music] [Applause] Boston’s doing a really good job throwing the fronting the post and not letting the tumble get a touch. McKe’s first shot is a miss. He’s got it back. Looks like these Philadelphia big guys, if they want to get a scoring calm, they have to do it up the offensive boards. Well, that’s often the story for Philadelphia and Matumbo had it swatted away. He looked for a foul called, didn’t get it. [Applause] Pierce guarded by Snow. Backs him in. Turn around. It’ll count if it drops. Two shots coming for him. But first, a timeout with 254 to play in the first quarter. The 76ers up by one after Pati resoundingly rejects. Alan Iverson off to a good start. There’s no doubt that he possesses athletic courage and toughness. Look at all the injuries he has played through during the course of his career. An interesting game considering this history would be to try to find a part of Iverson’s anatomy that isn’t bruised, bandaged, or tattooed. Most guys go through a whole 10 or 15 years without that many injuries. Let’s go to Andrea Joyce for more. Well, Bob, this could be one of the keys to Iverson’s effectiveness today. It’s something they call ortho gel. It’s about a/ inch thick. They literally glue it right on the back of his hand to protect the injured area. Now, he asked Iverson if he was worried about playing with something like this, all this padding on the back of his hand. And he said no, the only time he actually uses the back of his hand during a game is to slap his teammates. So, I guess we won’t see any of that today. Perhaps not. You can’t be 100%. Although, you never know. You know, Pierce Pierce needs to get off into the free throw line. Might help him. He’s hit just one of five field goals so far. Makes both free throws to give the Celtics the lead again. [Applause] Pierce with the steel, intercepting Snow’s pass. Here’s Rogers on the run. Contact. Which way does the call go? He’ll take it away. You know, Pierce did a good job advancing the ball right there to Rogers, but he got out of control. He had on the other wing, he had Mccardi running on the other wing and he was wide open underneath the basket. Position established. Offensive foul on Rogers. No basket. Snow did a great job of just standing in there and taking the blow. [Applause] Eric Snow on the drive, scoops it up. And the rebound protected by Antoine Walker. Boston’s doing a great job of trying to attack. Pierces free for three, but it’s short. Boston’s really swarming the guys who are attacking the rim here today. Doing a good job of making these guys miss around the hoop. Walter Mccardi is in the game now for the Celtics guarding Eric Snow on this possession. Two minutes remaining in the corner. Iverson in traffic undeterred. He swishes it. I think he may be off. [Music] I mean, he’s got he’s got an unbelievable amount of confidence going for him right now. It’s going to be a long day for the Celtics. He scored 11 inside and Walker’s free. That was a great great kick by Mccardi. The Sixers did not help on the bump and got Walker wide open there. [Applause] [Music] [Applause] contact between Iverson and Strickland. And Strickland gets up, popping mad, knowing he’s just picked up his second. He might get a technical and he just did. He had no chance of leading this call without a technical foul. It’s frustrating to try and play defense against Iverson to begin with. Anderson, two fouls now. Strickland, two fouls in this first quarter and Strickland couldn’t restrain himself and they tack on the team. You know, I’ve been on the other side of that. I understand his feelings, but I think both of those calls were excellent calls by Steve Jabby. On one end, Snow was positioned and took the charge. On this one, Strickland was still moving. [Applause] some consolation for Strickland and the Boston fans as Iverson misses the technical. Jim O’Brien grew up in Philadelphia, went to high school there, attended college at St. Joseph’s, admittedly hating the Boston Celtics and rooting for Wilt and then Dr. Jay in company and all those playoff series against the Celtics. In fact, when he first met Red Arbot, he says his first sentence to Red was, “You don’t know how much I grew up hating you.” now the coach of the Boston Celtics against the Philadelphia 76ers in this the first playoff game he has ever coached as a head coach in the NBA former Rick Patino assistant when he’s facing another guy on the other side Larry Brown who’s got 126 games of playoff experience and that’s just in the NBA he also coached a few dozen playoff games in the ABA which you know all about remember Larry in that league and Tony Delk is now hit with an offensive foul just having come into the game. The Celtics are the home team, but in this first quarter, the calls have not gone their way. Well, that’s a good call, too. He definitely threw the elbow out there at Iverson. He He extended it away from his body, and Iverson felt it and played it off just right for the official. Iverson from 20 ft. Ouch. He has on a roll. You know, his his shooting form looks looks so so great right now. He’s extended on his shot. He’s getting good lift on his legs. The conditioning has not played a part in this right now. Celtics’s only hope as he wears down. Pierce was fouled and sarcastic cheers from the Fleet Center crowd as a whistle goes Boston’s way. Finally, look at Iverson right here. Catches it fully in rhythm, full extension, good lift off the ground, nothing but net. and Pierce attacking which he does very well. Also, Cory Brown reaches in, gets all part of his arm. Less than a minute to play in the first. Iverson has scored 15 of Philly’s 26 points. [Music] [Applause] And Pierce brings the Celtics to within one. Speedy Claxton just in the game. Brings it across for Philadelphia. [Music] Aaron McKe. Oh, nice drawn kick right there on the pass. Iverson. The defense is following the pass. And I was [Applause] [Music] Pierce guarded by McKe. Coleman sneaking over to help. Pearson’s shot drops and there’s a foul on the play. And that is what he is so good at. He gets people off the ground. He takes the contact and yet he’s still able to finish. He’s He may be the very best in the league at doing this. Chance for a three-point play as Aaron McKe fouled him. If he hits the free throw, the game is tied. Pierce has done a good job of getting his points out of the low post when those first couple of jumpers didn’t go for him. Really a sign of a smart player. Sixers can have the last shot if they want it. 11 seconds here. Iverson with a move on Delk and Delk comes back to block it. 4 seconds to get a shot off. McCarti from just inside half. Oh, and it goes down. Great recognition thereell gave him the ball. He looked up at the clock. Nothing but met. Well, the Celtics lead the league in three-pointers, but this is not exactly the sort of three they usually have in mind. But with no time on the clock, Mccardi gives them the lead after one in a quarter just about as wide open as we expect the entire series to be. 3128. If you’re against McCarti in a game of horse, I’m pretty sure right now you got an H. [Music] The Celtics appeared to make a concerted effort to take their game inside in the first quarter, but with no time on the clock, Mccardi unleashes this three from just inside the half court line and gives the Celtics the lead at the end of one. The point here is that the Celtics by far led the NBA in both three-pointers made and three-pointers attempted. Antoine Walker actually tried 117 more threes than the second most prolific three-point shooter in the league, Ray Allen. So, their game for most of the regular season was largely behind the three-point line. In the first quarter, it looked as if they were going away from that a little bit. And of course, the end of quarter shot is just a function of circumstance. And this time, they got lucky and it went in. I think they’ve been trying to get Pierce off in the low post against a smaller Philadelphia guards. Now he’s got to deal with Derek McKe who’s another story. Here’s Pierce on the drive and a Philly foul. But again, his great versatility. He notices he’s got a bigger guy on him than McKe. Doesn’t post him up. He takes him out on the floor and then attacks the rim. Takes him off the dribble. [Music] 34 at the line. Sixers have both McKes in the game. Aaron McKe number eight. Derek McKe number nine just came in and picked up the foul. Well, Pierce, these numbers, I mean, total points in the league, number one. That’s tremendous. Total free throws, second in the league points. I mean, this guy is so wellrounded as a scorer. I mean, the numbers are just tremendous. He makes one of two. The Celtics lead by four. [Applause] Speedy Claxton way short. [Applause] McCarti a more conventional three. Maybe that’s inside his range. He may move back on that one. Iverson a brief breather at the start of the second quarter. He led the NBA in average minutes played per game. He must be chained down right now. Alan Iverson, you know how restless he gets when he sits for even a minute. I mean, this guy wants to play every minute of every game. Philly turned it over. Claxton thought the Celtics had knocked it away, but apparently it grazed his foot before it went out. They give the ball to Boston. Pierce backs up for three. That low post game and those free throw going to get his outside shot going now after a slow start. He has 13. [Applause] Celtics by seven. The defender falls down and Aaron McKe is open for the jumper. Just a little slow getting up off that screen. Contact in the front court. A Philadelphia foul. Speedy. Speedy Claxton’s first talk on the bench a little bit. Something’s bothering him. [Applause] [Music] Walker into the lane. A hook. That was an ill-advised shot. Surrounded by three defenders. Aaron McKe back and he loses it. Walker racing with Coleman. The follow for Mccardi. The speedy class did a great job of making Walker miss that shot. McCarti did a great job of not taking it for granted he would make that layup. You love it when one of your players does that. So Mccardi has made his presence felt. McKe unleashes a long one. Coleman’s on the offensive glass. That was nice. A nice finish by Coleman. Three Celtics around him and all of them try to block a shot on that. [Music] Tony Delkman with the rebound. Mccardi all over McKe. Derek just shot that one right away. Derek McKe winds up losing it. Philly gets it right back. Aaron McKe got it off in time to beat the shot clock. I guess they said Boston had an established possession. Here’s Mccardi. Great pass ahead by Bel. Sel had a fouron-ree advantage. He found the open man and Mccardi attacked the rim. Boston by seven. Coleman draws a crowd. gets the shot off anyway. Tony Bati gives it up to Delk. [Applause] Delk bypasses the jumper and snaps a pass inside to Bati who was fouled. Boy, the Celtics on a nice run right here. Pierce gets it going from the outside with a three. Then they get attacked at the rim where Walker gets a good follow with by Mccardi and again Mccardi in the open court. Four against three with a nice finish. Jimmy O’Brien loves to see them get out in the open court. Get these easy buckets. They lead it by seven. Get the feeling by Budweiser with the crisp, clean, refreshing taste you’ll find in no other beer. And by McDonald’s. We love to see you smile. [Music] Allan Iverson definitely not smiling at this point. Still on the bench as he has been since the start of this second quarter. And Boston has outscored Philly in this stretch. 8-4. Well, he’s had a he’s had a great day. They’ve all been from the outside. This Mirage defense the Celtics was talking about playing about zoning up the basket has forced him to the outside. But you would never know this guy has been out as long as he’s been out the way he’s shooting the ball today. Every one of these shots from the outside. And the biggest factor here is the fact how many times he’s been bailed out with with on jump shots to get to the free throw line. [Music] Now he’s back off his seat and returning to the lineup with 8:30 to play in the second quarter. If Tony Pati makes both of these free throws after being fouled by Derek McKe, in effect, the Celtics will have outscored the Sixers 10 to four with Iverson out. He’s on the floor right now, but the foul which led to these free throws occurred while he was out of the lineup. [Applause] Let’s check in with Andrea Joyce. All right, Bob. During that last timeout, Larry Brown implored his players to slow it down, get control, and concentrate. Back to you. All easier said than done, huh? And it’s a fast-paced ball game right here. And you, I mean, the Celtics are a great steals team in this league. So, you’re going to have that as well as you got on the other side. You got Iverson, the number one Steals guy in the league. So, I mean, the combination of two as as much as they steal the ball and get into the open court, you’re going to have this kind of up and down, I think, for this whole series. Tony Delk almost had the steal there, knocking it away and out of bounds. Still Philadelphia ball with all those defensive numbers improving for Boston. Part of the credit has to go to the veteran assistant Dick Harter, a defensive specialist over there on Jim O’Brien’s bench. They forced them to take a shot like that at the end of the 24second clock. Then unfortunately for the Celtics, there’s Harter. Unfortunately for the Celtics, they didn’t get the rebound. It goes off of them and out of bounds. So Philly gets a fresh 24. But Snow took a long three because the Boston defense had denied them a better look. You know what what uh Philadelphia needs to do is they have to put a three-point shoot on a weak side corner to be able to take advantage of Boston packing in the way they are. Kenny Anderson back in guarding Iverson. [Music] Mumbo around the perimeter. Aaron McKe. [Applause] McKe lets it go and hits it for three. Aaron McKe was the sixth man of the year last season. He was hurt a lot this year and in fact he played in only one of the regular season games against Boston. Now you got Matumbo with this matchup here with Rodney Rogers. You see where Rodney Rogers is located. He’s going to be above that three-point line the whole time. Try and open that middle for the rest of the Celtics. to Aaron McKe his second person fourth team foul on the 76 foul on Aaron McKe his second one more and the Sixers are over the limit in this period for now Boston ball at the side on the drive again set up by the pick and roll with Rodney Rogers Matumbbo thinking about Rogers wasn’t as aggressive to help out on Anderson on that play Celtics up by eight Iverson quick catch and shoot blocked by Anderson, but Anderson picks up number three. Tell you what, that was probably was a foul. If you’re, you know, if you’re in the parks playing and you get ball first, you be guys complaining about that one all day long. I mean, Kenny Anderson definitely got the ball before he had any contact with Iverson. Kenny Anderson has lodged five minutes of playing time and now has three fouls. And he sits again. 16 points for Iverson. [Applause] He averaged 31.4 to lead the league. He’s more than halfway to that with 17. There’s still seven and change remaining in the second quarter. Rodney Rogers with the three. Eric Williams set him up for wide open look there. Mumbo’s trying to help down the low post. He did a good job passing the ball out, giving a good run. [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Coleman, Matumbbo. Three on the shot clock and a foul. Boston’s doing a real good job in his zone of keeping the ball out of the inside, forcing uh 76ers to pass the ball around the perimeter and they’re hesitating a little too much. The guy in the corner, the weak side corner is wide open. If they can skip past it and bypass the defending, they’ll get some wide open looks. Walter Mccardi was hit with his first foul. He goes out. Paul Pierce after a brief rest is back in. Mccardi did a whale of a job while he was in there. Iverson slithering through and another whistle. He may have taken a hit on that hand that time. They took a pretty good swipe at him off the dribble. [Applause] Yeah, he got slapped on the right hand the first time, the left hand the second time. [Applause] [Music] Derek Coleman. 5 seconds to shoot. Snow will overshot it from the head of the key and the Sixers touch it last. The Celtics know that the 76ers at time really struggle shooting the ball. They go on runs of 10, 12, 13 times without making shots in a game. and they’re they’re forcing them to shoot the outside shot right now. Pierce had it poked away, but a foul. And that’s number three on Aaron McKe. He just kept running to the bench. He knew what was going to happen here. [Music] That brings Matt Hartbring back as McKe has to sit. Pierce will go to the foul line. Back in 1998, the Philadelphia 76ers had the eighth pick of the draft. They took young Larry Hughes out of St. Louis University. He was a bad fit for them. He’s now at Golden State. With the ninth pick, Milwaukee took Dirk Noiski. And with the 10th pick, the Celtics took this guy, Paul Pierce. Well, the Sixers could have done better with that pick at number eight. [Applause] [Music] Off Delt’s back right into the hands of Antoine Walker and he’s off. Delp trying to follow. Harting trying to save it. Try to diagram that play. Here’s Iverson Snow and Matumbbo to finally restore some order. You know, that’s the first inside play, easy play Philadelphia’s gotten all day long. Pierce leaning in and scoring. He’s got such great body control off the spins. He’s been uh as well as anybody since the days of Earl Monroe. 17 now for Pierce, equaling Iverson’s total. Poked away and another Celtics field. Rogers wide open in the corner. Pierce pulls up. Loose ball tipped to Iverson out in front. Iverson missed him. And Iverson will gun a three. Tony Delk out to Walker. Lines up a three. Del did a nice job of drawing the defense to him and kicking it out to a wide open Walker. Timeout Philadelphia. The Celtic lead is 11. Pierce, what a great spin move here. Getting Co Tolman up his feet and then going between both Coleman and Matumbo for the finish. What a big finish that was. And then Delk on the drawn kick out to Walker. Nobody near him. Coleman drawn into the paint and nothing but net on the Celtic defense in the last couple years, but right here they’re doing a great job of swarming Philadelphia in the paint. Here goes Coleman off the dribble. Weak side comes, gets a clean strip. Walker reaching in on the swarm. Here he comes on the fast break for the finish where Mccardi is the guy who finishes it off for him. The numbers are dramatic from last year, 25th to fifth in NBA rank as far as defensive turnaround. And the man mostly responsible for it, Jim O’Brien as well as Dick Carter. Dick Carter wellraveled assistant. Lots of noise now at the Fleet Center. Celtics once a postseason perennial now in the playoffs for the first time in seven years. And the fans are ready for it. Here’s Heartbreak. Battles it down. Well, that is the shot that is open every time on the weak side on the quick swings because the Celtics have three guys on the strong side at all times. Sixers needed that. They still trail by nine. Pierce got some room. Well, that was interesting. They went to the pick and roll and Matumbo switched to Pierce and soon as Pierce saw that his eyes lit up. He knew he could take him off the dribble. 19 now for Paul Pierce. Harper again. Air ball, but right into the hands of Coleman. Five on the shot clock. Snow has to get rid of it. Shoved back in his face. [Applause] Walker against Coleman. Takes him on the drive and Matumbo slaps it out of there. [Applause] And here we see the pick and roll with Pearson Rogers. Matumbo switching to Pierce. Pierce going to take him off the dribble, shake them, and bake them. [Applause] [Music] Harpin trying to contend with Pierce. That one’s short. Mumbo flips it back into Iverson. Iverson cuts through half the Boston team and misses. Tumbo’s way behind Rogers right now. Here’s Pierce. Somebody’s got to be open. It’s Walker for three. Rogers back taps it to Pierce. His three-pointer. That won’t go. And Walker touched it last as it goes out. [Applause] Two minutes and 38 seconds to play in the first half. The Celtics up. [Music] Okay, Ahmad, thanks a lot. We got to see a tape of both parts of the Krochi interview with Iverson last night. Interesting stuff. Part two at halftime. Iverson has shot the ball well from the field and he’s nine of 11 from the free throw line. Larry Brown was making the point to us earlier today, even though Iverson generally shoots well below 50%. The key is what kind of misses does he shoot? If he gives the rest of the team time to come down and set up, then we’re all over the offensive glass, it’s not so bad. If he pulls the trigger too early in transition and misses, then we get hurt. Here’s Matumba with that sweeping hook. That was one of the few low post possessions they scored on. But even that one was not an easy shot from Matumba. [Applause] [Music] Rodney Rogers. Matumbo giving him some room. His pass intended for Walker. Picked off by Heartbreak. Iverson streaking into the front court. Coleman has to bring it back out. He finds Batumbo. There’s the easy two. Great pass by Coleman. You know, he’s got as much talent as any power in this league. Ability to rebound, score, and pass the basketball. A minute and a half remaining in the first half. Pierce cuts through two defenders, misses, volleyballled around, and Philly comes out with it. Iverson may have traveled, and he did. Well, that that may be one of those times with Iverson, you know, where he didn’t have his steps together. Timing issue, but you could read his lips. He said, “That’s two steps, man.” [Applause] I’m not so sure about that. [Applause] Walker rebound. Matumbbo. See, right now the Celtics need to take advantage of Roger sitting out in the open with Matumbo trying to protect the paint inside a minute. Harper against Pierce. Count it. Plus the foul. That was very piercelike move by Harping in the low post. Good body control and good finish. So now Philly making a push here toward the end of the first half. Harping hangs here, waits for Pierce to go down, then uses his left hand. That was a That was a great play by Matt Harping. Hart [Applause] [Music] three-point play. Philadelphia on a 70 run, cutting an 11-point deficit down to four. [Music] Again, using using Rogers and Walker out on the on the outside. Walker with the contact. Offensive foul. Harbing’s done a great job the last two times down the low post defending Walker one time and then Pierce the other. Philadelphia. The foul is Walker’s first. Philadelphia gets the ball with 33 seconds remaining. They ask for a 20 second timeout and a chance to inch closer here. Coming up next, more playoff action. Two games out west. First, Kevin Garnett, Wally Zerbiaak, and the Wolves against Dirk Noitzky and the Mavericks. Michael Finley and all the rest. That’s a good series there. Then Kobe Sha and the defending champion Lakers host your former team coach the Trailblazers. Both those series I think going to be, you know, really highly highly contested. All all four of those teams are very well matched. How about the game Utah gave Sacramento last night? Well, you know, as an eighth seed, I mean, you can never underestimate Utah Jazz with all that experience. And when as long as they had Stockton Malone there, you’re always going to be at risk. They just didn’t seem to match up well against Sacramento. 0 and four against them in the regular season and none of the games were close. But that one went right down to the last shot and with some breaks Utah could very well have stolen game one. [Applause] Rogers out on snow and the contact winds up costing Rodney a personal. That’s his second. Well, that that that foul is not a smart foul. Rodney Rogers. I mean, first of all, he had Snow pushed out almost past the half court line. And he stayed with it too long. I mean, Snow grabbed his leg right here. He could have been called for a hook also on the play, but Rodney kept moving his legs right into Snow. And that’s that’s I mean, at this point in the game with a four-point lead, I just that’s just a gift. As long as snow will open the packages, be a gift. Missed the first one. Has one more coming. Alan Iverson goes to the bench and Speedy Claxton comes in. Claxton at this st stage a bit better defender and you don’t want to run the risk of Iverson picking up a foul on the last possession with 19 seconds remaining. And Snow missed them both stalling Philadelphia’s comeback here. [Applause] [Music] Anderson pounding the dribble with six seconds now. 4 seconds to shoot. Rodney Rogers got to get it away. Rogers on the run and a foul called with 4/10 of a second remaining. Well, Rod Rogers Rogers bad foul at one end may turn into two points for the Celtics at the other. And it was Speedy Claxton, the man who replaced Iverson who’s hit with a foul. Claxton second. So Philadelphia had a chance to close to within two after trailing by 11. Snow missed them both. Rogers makes his first. [Applause] Tony left. Rogers can send the Cells to the locker room up six. And he does. That’s it. Paul Pierce is going to join Andrea Joyce in just a moment. And in fact, that moment is now. He scored 19 in the first half. Here he is with Andrea. All right. Thanks, Bob. Paul, great first half for you offensively, but perhaps more importantly, what about the defensive effort you guys put out here? I think we’re doing a good job of controlling the offensive glass. That’s an area where they hurt us in the past and we get down in transition and that’s we’re going to have to continue to do throughout four quarters if we’re going to beat him. Alan Iverson back out there after missing 14 games. Any adjustments you guys can imagine for the second half to slow him down? Well, he’s a tough player. You know, he’s going to come out here and get his shots. We just got to number his easy looks. Stop fouling him. Putting him to the free throw line. Let him get easy looks and not let him get any easy baskets. All right. Good luck in the second half. Thanks. Back to you, Bob. All right, Andrea. Thanks very much. Alan Iverson with 17 to lead the Sixers in the first half. Philly trailing it by six 54- 48. Now stay tuned for Ahmad Rashad and Tom Tolbert. They’re in our New York studios for the halftime report. You’re watching the NBA playoffs on NBC. A little bit better. Back to you guys. Andrew, you’re certainly right about that. The rebounds overall, 19 for Philly, 18 for Boston. In all four games, even the one they lost this year against the Celtics, all four games of the regular season, Philadelphia had a huge rebounding advantage. Not so here. Well, they’ve been a very, very aggressive Boston team right here. And as far as the paint is concerned, [Applause] Walker missed the second half’s first shot. Philadelphia with possession. Here’s Matumbo. He turns with the hook and it comes up short. [Applause] Kenny Anderson playing with three fouls. Antoine Walker looked inside and had it stolen. [Applause] They’re booing Iverson. The second he touches the ball. He has no answer this time. [Applause] Anderson with the lob to Bati. Timing a bit off. Bati with the turnaround. I’m not so sure how coach O’Brien’s going to feel about that shot. That wasn’t the one draw necessarily for Tony Bati. [Applause] Harping. Philadelphia is within four. Harping’s given him a nice lift. He’s hit a couple of open jump shots. He’s been very physical down in the low post. He’s uh he’s having a nice ball game. Here’s the match up. They’re going to try and attack the disadvantage Snow has size-wise with Williams in the paint. A Philadelphia foul as Williams took it to the rack. And it’s Eric Snow hit with his first. [Music] Dawson’s been very efficient at the paint. I mean, at the free throw line today, shooting 12 of 13. Haven’t got there as much as Philadelphia has, but I think I’m going to try and close the gap here. [Applause] It rattles out for Williams who’s stuck on seven points. He got all of them early in the first quarter. [Applause] [Music] [Applause] all Pierce is on Eric Snow. Here’s Matumbbo. Eight on the shot clock. Snow for three. Harping flies in for the rebound. And with contact, he’s coming to the foul line. You know, that’s what Harper does very well. He’s the third best rebounder at the small forward position in the league, averaging about seven. Snow is not a great three-point shooter. Doesn’t even take that many. But you got to put a body on Matt Harper when you’re on the floor regarding him. The foul is on Eric Williams, his third. Harping was just about the only Sixer who went through the entire season in good health. The other four starters were sidelined with injuries for various stretches. In fact, they had their entire team together for only three regular season games this year. And yesterday, the first time Larry Brown said all year long that he’s had 12 players for practice. [Applause] [Music] One of two and again a four-point game. But having had them out that long, I don’t know if these these guys don’t seem as rusty as you would think. Williams. Snow on him. Dumps it into Walker. Guarded by Coleman. Little jump hook is short. Rebound Matumbbo. You know, Walker’s tried a few post ups, but they haven’t the shots haven’t looked very good today. [Music] Iverson fades away from Anderson. Rebound Walker. Paul Pierce, he’s got 21. He does such a great job using that spin move. He He clears himself away from the defenders and he gets a clean look just about every time. [Music] missed it long. Coleman is the beneficiary as it bounced around and wound up in his hands. And an offensive foul on the Sixers. It’s on Matumbo is first. You know, one of the few times because of the offensive rebound where Matumbo was not surrounded in the low post. Iverson delivers the ball. Mumbo catches somebody with his elbow and gets called for the foul. Here is Walker who shot just four of 12 in this game. Pierce over Harbbring. Back comes Philadelphia trailing by six. And it’s a bit too long for Harping. That was a good look ahead by Snow. He just just threw the ball a little bit too far. Harping almost had a chance to get under that. [Applause] Walker from Anderson. Can’t finish it, but Pierce can. What a soft touch he had up above the rim there. 23 for him now. Walkers missed three shots that have been followed up for baskets. Guys have done a good job of following him to the rim. [Applause] [Music] Iverson with the turnaround. He’s now missed his last seven. Matumbbo was on the offensive glass. Sixers with another shot out. Heartbreak makes it count. [Applause] Allan Iverson’s been forced the issue maybe a little bit too much for these 76ers right now. He may need to get some of his try and get some of his guys involved. from the baseline. Tony Bati is off with it and there’s a foul on the rebound. [Applause] Derek Coleman’s the guilty party. And it’s his first. Watch the switch again. [Applause] Pierce catch and shoot and he hits the three. Philadelphia may had a little miscommunication on that play. I think they thought they were going to switch it. Pierce was wide open after popping back off that screen. Pierce has 26. The Celtic lead is built back up to nine. [Applause] [Music] You know, it’s definitely exciting for me. It’s nice to see Paul Pierce’s appreciation of Celtic history before the game. tremendous ovation as Bill Russell came in, Bob Koozie, Tom Heinson, Jojo White, and others. Well, even the 76er players came over and shook hands with them. They were, you know, they were mesmerized as well as the crowd. And a Celtic steel as play resumes. [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Anderson underneath the fore. That was a great find. Kenny Anderson looked around. He said, “I don’t everybody guarding me. Where is he?” And Iverson was on Bati. So they threw the ball over the top to him. Back to a double digit lead, matching their biggest at 11. Harper back taps it. Iverson has it. [Applause] Harper and Williams chases it down for Boston. [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Pierce cooling off a bit. Matumbo the rebound. One of the few open court opportunities Philadelphia has had. Booze for Iverson on every touch and a Philly turnover. Matumbo looked like he was nailed to the ground on that. The pass came over the top. He couldn’t move for it. He’s saying he was held. [Applause] [Music] See right here, Matumbo’s going to cross the middle. He wants to go for it, but his arm’s locked up. He He can’t jump. Sixers didn’t get the call. Celtic ball. Here’s Walker in traffic and it drops for him. That was ugly, but it was effective. He’s He’s just flipping balls up right now. He got a soft roll that time. Walker’s shot selection has never been textbook. [Applause] Iverson on the run for his last eight. Coleman trying to follow and a foul. And a little heat out there as well. You know, the only part of Iverson’s game that I think might be a little bit rusty are his little runners when once he gets into the paint. Everything is kind of going off his hand a little bit sideways and getting these in and outs instead of the ball going down with that soft touch that he normally has. Well, with 7 minutes and 15 seconds to play in the second quarter, let’s watch this again and see where the hard feelings came from. Double technicals have been called. Bati and Coleman. No shots taken. Coleman will take his two shots as a result of the original foul. Started to say that with 714 to play in the second quarter. Allen Iverson had 17 points. He’s still at 17 and hasn’t scored in his last 14 minutes of game action. In fact, he has just two points since the first quarter. Well, you know, you never know if fatigue comes into play here. Conditioning comes into play. You start off, you’re feeling great and you’ve got a lot of spring in your step and you’re shooting your jump shots and all of a sudden as the minutes start wearing you down, your ability to make shots from range decreases. That’s why it’s probably important for him to get to the rim, get a few layups to get his get his focus back, get his get his confidence back. One of two for Coleman. Celtics with the ball and a 12-point lead. [Music] [Applause] Pierce looking for Rogers. They lose it. [Applause] [Music] Iverson contact will bring him to the foul line. You know, he did a really good job there. You know, he’s known he knows he hasn’t finished the last couple of times he went to the hole. He could have shot that ball early or he could have taken the contact. And he takes the contact here. So, he knows he’s going to get to the line and he figures if he can make the shot afterwards, he’ll he’ll take the little icing on the cake if he can. [Music] get off 17 and 15 of those, as you saw in the graphic, came in the first quarter when he looked like the old Iverson. It doesn’t take much for a score cuz he’s only going to remember that last shot he took, that one he made. [Music] As long as he’s on the floor, self-doubt doesn’t come into play with Allen Iverson. Well, you know, and I think for Larry Brown, it doesn’t come in either as long as he defends well, which he put a good effort out on the defensive end of the floor today. Sixers back off the Rodney Rogers miss. [Music] [Applause] [Music] Iverson back up top to Coleman. Good look at a three. He overshot it. Anderson wins the rebound battle. [Applause] They find Rogers deep. That was a great pass by Pierce. He saw them switch the pick and roll to Rody Rogers. Had a little guard on him in the paint. He threw it up high where the only person could get it would be Rogers and he got a nice finish. [Applause] Boston by 13. Here’s Snow slicing through. Down he goes. And a Boston foul. It’s on McCarti is third. [Music] Here’s the pick and roll. They get the switch. You see the Pierce throws the ball up high where Roger is the only guy that can catch it and does a nice job of going straight up and finishing right at the right at the rim. Number 20 on the line. He’ll shoot two. [Applause] [Music] Tony Bati returns to the floor for the Celtics. Tony Bati coming back in for the Celts. Antoine Walker out. Celtics may be able to win this first game without a significant contribution from Walker offensively. At least not his usual contribution. I think the other thing Jimmy O’Brien is thinking here with Matumbbo out, no sense in having both of my shooters, long range shooters at four and five on the floor. You want to save that for when Matumbo’s in the game. [Applause] Here’s Rodney Rogers. Head fake. Gives it back up to Anderson. [Applause] Rogers spinning. gets off the shot, but Coleman got a piece of it and Snow comes out of the pack. [Applause] Iverson for three. And the rebound taken by McCarti, but Boston loses it. And back comes Aaron McKe. See where they need to get Iverson the ball. Exchange of turnovers into the hands of Anderson. Ahead of the field for Pierce and he’s stripped by McKe. Now it’s Snow. Iverson who’s missed his last nine field goal attempts. Booze raining down on him. That doesn’t discourage him. But a turnover and a timeout asked for by Bati as he hits the floor with the ball. You know, the couple of times that Philadelphia’s come down in transition last couple possessions, they need to get Iverson the ball when he can be on attack mode. Only three guys in the half court. That’s where he’s he uses his ability to to slither between defenders and score. 202 to play in the third and the Celtic lead is During the timeout moments ago, we listened in on Larry Brown on the Philadelphia bench. We got and we got to be unselfish. And by that, that’s running our play. We got Hey, we got to get this thing straight. This isn’t the way we play. We haven’t taken five good shots this goddamn quarter. Paul Larry obviously upset with them, but at the in the half court game, you’ve seen that they’ve been slow to move the basketball. They they guys have held the ball a little bit too long and they haven’t gotten great shots. Boston manages to get it to the front court. Rodney Rogers takes it to the rim. And there to finish is Waller Mccardi. He makes his minutes count, doesn’t he? He sure has played with a lot of energy and he and he’s done a great job of following the misses, getting Boston some offensive rebounds. And they’re up by 13 again. Harting rejected. Here comes Walker. Do on the wing and he loses it. All right. Iverson needs to make this play. He’s got a twoon-one. They’ve got to score here. He finds Harper and Harper banks it home. [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Paul Pierce slides past his man and it rattles out. Inside a minute now to play in the third. [Applause] Boston by 11. Harpring from Snow Matumbo. Harpring nothing. Rebound. Walker throws a lot of contact in the paint that time. Rogers. Good look at it. That’s why they made that trade right there. His three-pointer puts the Celtics up by 14. You notice they have both their bigs in the game. So, Matumbo has to guard somebody who’s got three-point range. Game clock overlapping the shot clock by about 6 seconds. [Applause] It’s Eric Snow. Rogers saves it in. They’ve got eight seconds for the last shot, but Walker lost it. Less than a second. And Boston will have to be content with a 14-point lead after three. [Applause] The Celtics, the number three seed, dropped three of four during the regular season to the sixth seated 76ers. They lead this one by 14. reproduction, rebroadcast, or other dissemination or use of this telecast or of the pictures, descriptions, or accounts of this game without the express written consent of the National Basketball Association is prohibited. [Applause] 16 championship banners hang in Boston. Too many retired numbers to count. 11 of those 16 championships came during the 13 seasons when Bill Russell led this team. He’s in the Fleet Center today and he’s with Andrea Joyce. 11 NBA championships in 13 seasons for Bill Russell. You were such a part of some of those classic clashes between Boston and Philadelphia. As you watch these two teams facing off in the playoffs here today, what kind of memories does it bring back for you? Well, they were always tough. Uh Philadelphia, we always had to go through them to get to their championship. So, um same thing this year. You are an official consultant for the Celtics. This team does not have a whole lot of playoff experience. What did you tell these guys to help him get ready for today? This is when the fun begins. Uh I know one thing I noticed the first half is that Alan Iverson heard this particularly not with his scoring but when he got Kenny Anderson in foul trouble then Anthony Walker had to bring the ball up and we would rather have Kenny bringing the ball up. So um that that changed the whole game plan but it’s fun to watch. Do you get the sense that these guys maybe have more of a sense of history, more appreciation um and are inspired more because of your presence and because of the presence of some of the other former Celtic rates? I think it helps uh because uh Koozie and Heinson and myself, we really like these kids and uh the kind of boost we try to give them is u psychological more than anything else. All right. I know you don’t like to not watch the games. We’ll let you get back to it. Thanks so much. Back to you, Bob. Andrea, thanks. An exchange of misses. Philadelphia back with the ball, but facing an uphill climb. They trail by 14. And Philadelphia has changed their guard core here. They got Speedy Claxton in and Aaron McKe playing in the back court. And as Paul Pierce comes away with the loose ball. There’s a Philadelphia foul. It’ll be on Claxton, his third. The basket drew cheers, but came long after the whistle. Iverson sitting. He’s missed his last nine shots. his back court made. The usually reliable Eric Snow has missed his last seven shots. So over their last 16 combined. So therefore natural changing of the guard. Well said, Mike. Very nice. You could be a headline writer. [Applause] Pierce now. Walker in three-point territory with the veteran Derek McKe on him. and he hits the three over him. Now, I love the part where he points to somebody else for the misdirection first and then drains the three. Derek McKe’s been around too long to fall for that, hasn’t he? 15 years in the league. Shouldn’t bite on that. Speedy Claxton, that’s his first basket. Speedy Claxton’s played well during the year, but not usually when Iverson has been with the team because of the minutes that Iverson normally gets per game. Pierce with the turnaround and Matumbo with the rebound. Exactly 10 minutes left. Philadelphia down by 15. [Applause] Aaron McKe wide open three and the rebound to Tony Del Walker. Boy, he has just not been able to finish around the rim even when he’s gotten good shots. How about this one? Well, he was fouled by Matumbo and he took a shot on that left thumb. was holding it a bit after the contact. I don’t think his mind he had any question about making the basket. He was trying to make the contact. Yeah, he went he went right to Matumbo’s body and there was some contact on his hand right there. It’s a 20 second timeout. 9:31 to play in the game and the Celtics up 76-61. The second game of this series isn’t until Thursday night. The games are widely spaced in the first round in the best of fives, mostly for television purposes. Larry Brown and his team will go back to Philadelphia after the game, and they won’t return here till, I believe, Tuesday night, then practice here Wednesday and play Thursday. [Music] The NBA playoffs continue tonight at 8 Eastern on TNT. The Raptors, winners of 12 of their last 14, travel to the Palace of Auburn Hills to face the Central Division Champion Pistons. Coverage begins tonight at 8 Eastern on TNT. Four games today on NBC. The thing you hate as a coach is the spread between the two games from Sunday to Thursday and particularly if you’re the coach of the losing team because you’re just dying to play your next game. So they play game two here Thursday then they don’t play game three until Sunday in Philadelphia. So only one game in the space of a week Sunday to Sunday in this series. [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] a 16-point difference. And Antoine Walker with the foul as he sends Speedy Claxton to the floor. Again, Boston’s really aggressive in their pick and roll coverage. They’re trapping everybody who comes off and they do a good job of jumping out. Walker, who’s a, you know, known to go for steals, he he’s thinking more about steal as opposed to containment on that play. [Applause] Aaron McKe gets into the paint and scores. Does a great job of getting back under control once he beat his man off the dribble to get a nice finish. [Applause] Interesting way Philly has gone with their lineup. They put McKe, took Matumbbo off Rogers and put McKe on him. have Matumbo guarding Mccardi trying to find the answer for that long three-point range shooters. [Music] Philadelphia will have it following the timeout and facing a 14-point deficit. Interesting to see how it all plays out. So, it isn’t just the points that Rogers scores. He has seven. It’s what he does to the interior defense of the 76ers. You’re exactly right. It does not show up in the box for what he’s doing for this team today. A whistle at the other end. Meanwhile, the question, is it realistic to think Philadelphia can make a move in the last 8 minutes plus of a game? They trail by 14 on the road with Allen Iverson, a non-factor. Redot first quarter, 15 points. He hasn’t made a basket from the field since the first quarter. Well, and the fact is that they’re not a high-scoring team. They’re not going to be putting many more points on the board. Matumbo tried to find McKe, but a 3 second violation of Philadelphia steel. Turnovers galore in this game. Fast pace up and down. Speedy Claxton gets the jumper. Claxton is still technically a rookie. He missed all of last year with a torn ACL. That would have been his rookie year out of Hostra. So, this is the first season in which he’s actually seen game action during the regular season. Philly knows that they have to turn up their defense and force turnovers right now. But there’s Mardi with the answer. He’s sitting in a dead corner with Matumbbo trying to protect the paint. And they did a good Celtics did a good job of finding him there. And the lead is pumped back up to 14. Harper with daylight. Shot it too long. Speedy Claxton shows some speed running it down. Here’s Matumbbo. Claxton did a great job there of hustling and and coming up and stealing the ball from Rogers. Kenny Anderson’s got to do a better job of boxing Claxton now. [Applause] Mccardi snaps it to the corner. Kenny Anderson fancy dribbling. McCarti’s free for three. Oh, what a great rebound by Pierce. He got a running start and came up over two 76er players. The edge and energy now belongs to the Celtics. That’s pretty obvious. Here’s McCarti. He was fouled. He hits the reverse. A great play by Rogers. He had the point guard on him in the low post. Mumbo had to come help. He waited for Mccardi to run all the way from the corner to get to the rim and makes a great pass and a great play. And a chance for a three-point play. Mccardi has given him some real strong play today. Mccardi, whose average for the season is 3.8 points per game, stands at the foul line looking for his 14th point of this game. [Applause] Iverson checks back in. [Music] [Applause] Eric Snow also returns. Here is Snow on the move. He like Iverson way off in terms of his shooting touch. Walker. Antoine Walker is nailed with a foul. That’s his third. So Snow is going to shoot a couple. Aaron McKe returns to his lineup. Harpering out Aaron McKe back in [Applause] for the game. Allan Iverson is now 414 and Eric Snow is 2 for1 a combined 6 for 25. Take it into consideration that that Iverson made all the shots early. What has that been after the first quarter? [Applause] [Applause] Coming to NBC in two weeks on Saturday, May 4th, the Visa Triple Crown kicks off with the Kentucky Derby. Harland’s Holiday being touted as the early favorite, but only once since 1979 has the top choice claim victory in the run for the Roses. Don’t miss a wideopen Kentucky Derby coming to NBC in two weeks. Can you name that one favorite to come through and win the derby since 1979? You got me. Obviously, you didn’t have a ticket stuff with his name on it. Pegasus a couple of years ago. The only guys who know anything about basketball who had a ticket stuff without the guys that played at Kentucky. Right. Well, a few of them here today. Antoine Walker, Walter Mccardi, Tony Delt, Jim O’Brien was a patino assistant there. Walker at the line. He’ll shoot two. Two shots for Walker with his team up by 13. 628 remaining. [Applause] Tony Del, former Wildat. [Music] Here’s [Music] Snow rejected and emphatically so by Pierce. This guy is playing such an all-around game today. It is unbelievable. Block block shots, rebounds, points in the paint, three-point shots, steals. He’s got the total package. [Applause] Iverson looking for Coleman. It’s stolen ahead to Walker against McKe. He lays it in. Philadelphia stops the clock, but it doesn’t look like they can stop the bleeding. All right, Mike, thanks very much. Paul Pierce and the Celtics up by 16. Dallas is an interesting team. Speaking of the game Mike Greener is going to call in a few minutes here on NBC. Very interesting team coming into these playoffs. It’s a four five matchup, but Minnesota has not played well in the second half of the season. You have to like Dallas’s chances. and the bracket would then send them against Sacramento in all likelihood. And they’re one of the few teams that’s done well against the Kings, who had the best overall record in the league this year. Dallas won three out of four, including both games, at Arco Arena, where the Sack Kings are close to unbeatable. So, that could be a very interesting second round matchup if Dallas gets past Minnesota. I I really like Dallas’s positioning uh for this playoff run. two teams that they can beat and to get to the Western Conference Finals where you know you think you may see the Lakers or the or the uh San Antonio Spurs who they are one and three against. So if you’re going to meet those teams you’re better off meeting them in the finals of the West. Paul Pierce picked up his fourth foul. Derek Coleman couldn’t convert the first free throw. has the second. Philadelphia trails by 15. [Music] Kenny Anderson against some pressure, gets it across. Phillies playing with their real small lineup, most mobile lineup right now. Walker against McKe. Follows his own shot. [Applause] [Music] Eric Snow and a whistle. Foul on Walter McCarti is fourth. Here’s Walker attacking. Derek McKe is an excellent defender. Gets him off balance, but he’s the quicker jump and gets the ball back to the offensive rebound and score. And Walker, although he hasn’t shot the ball all that well today, has 20 points. You can’t miss free throws if you’re hoping they’re not a comeback. And Philadelphia usually doesn’t. They’re one of the better free throw shooting teams in the league. [Music] [Applause] [Music] Get up. Get up. pressure in the back court again. Anderson gets out of it with the flip to Walker. And that’s the one thing about Walker’s game that is special in that regard. You’re going to trap in the back court. He’s a very, very good ball handler and passer. It’s hard to take advantage of the Celtics in that regard. Iverson pumps up a three and it comes up short for him. He still has not made a field goal since the last minute of the first quarter. [Applause] Paul Pierce. Nice move, but an awkward finish. It’s a $100 move and a $2 shot. And awkward is not a word. Often attached to Paul Pierce. He’s such a graceful player. Eric Snow, he like I completely off with his shot. McCarti thought about it, pulled it back in. Boston burns some clock. Rodney Rogers blocked from behind. Here’s Snow who’s missed his last nine. Iverson’s for his last 10. And fouled on the drive. You know, it’s interesting. He didn’t get foul on that shot. I’m not sure he had enough lift to finish it. I think his legs are really come into play here after the first quarter. Yeah, in truth, he had a clear path to finish that play. He didn’t miss it because of the contact, because of the foul. I don’t think he did. I think you’re exactly right there. I think he’s just trying to Right now, Larry Brown is trying to let Irish get in there, get his conditioning, find his legs, get ready for the next game. Obviously, nothing perfectly simulates game action, and there’s a question of being in rhythm and and all the rest, but the injury is to his hand. He shouldn’t have trouble with fatigue. He should be able to stay in shape in between missing 14 regular season games, right? Well, Allan hasn’t been one to be known for doing a lot of extra work, but in a in a building like this with the energy coming out of it today in the playoffs, you use a lot of energy just up in adrenaline, you know, getting prepared for the game, period, as much as you do physically. And he had the big first quarter, but just about zipped since then. Pierce, another brilliant move. He has 28 now. You know, he’s likely to get to 30. And I think, you know, from the standpoint of guys in the league who scored over 30 points in a game how many times during the year, he’s he’s like second in the league. [Music] [Applause] Speedy Claxton. It rattles out. Heartbringer who gives you an effort on almost every possession. Pulls in the offensive rebound, gets it back from McKe and hits the reverse. Great pass by McKe paying Harper back for his hard effort on the boards. [Applause] Well, the sort of thing a coach likes to see regardless of the outcome. You’re out of the game, but you like to see hustle right till the final buzzer, especially in the playoffs. Yeah. You you want your guys in the mindset of never giving up and always coming after it and and this 76er team has been known to do that. Celtics turn it over. Timeout with 251 to play and this one just about iced for Boston. They lead it by 14. A lot of factors in any game, but if you knew nothing about a given Sixers game and you saw that line, you’d pretty well guess the outcome. Well, you know, Averson had a great first quarter, but as you see right here on these clips. Now, one of the shots he’s had since the first quarter has been an open shot. Every single one of these shots have been contested by one or two guys. And um you know, he’s not been able to get his rhythm, get his confidence, and it’s going to be one of those things where if the 76 is going to win this series, they need to figure out a way to get him open shots in the future games. Well, if in fact he’s suffering from a bit of fatigue because of a layoff, then in this case the scheduling in the first round helps Philadelphia a little bit, game two, not until Thursday night. Yeah, as long as he’s clear to practice and he gets some good practice time in, you may see a different Allen Iverson through 48 the next ball game. [Applause] Antoine Walker. Pierce is there for the rebound. Now 8 for 21 in the game. He scored 20 points. Now he wants to hold it and burn some clock. Pierce, he doesn’t want to hold it. He wants a three and he’s got it. Well, that whole possession, Paul Pierce, you know, he gets that offensive rebound between four 76ers. brings the ball out. They reset and and just stick the dagger right in their heart. He has 31 now. McKe through a crowd and swishes the high arcer. Chance of MVP MVP for Paul Pierce. He probably won’t win it, but he’ll be among the top vote getters. Well, and he should. I mean, a team that’s improved as much as Boston has this year as long as as well as a team like New Jersey with Jason K A minute and a half left. Cox Claxton kicked it and it’s still Boston ball. [Music] [Applause] Walker a three that’s way off. West stays consistent on the season series. He’s he’s shot the ball poorly against the Sixers. Derek Coleman a late and now meaningless three. Coleman has played very well for the Sixers this year, but when you look at him, you can’t help but think of what might have been. He was tabbed for true greatness when he came out of Syracuse and has never fulfilled his maximum potential. Still a useful player, but never became the Hall of Fame player people thought he might have been. Well, it’s true. People look at him and and just he’s got the total package. He’s he rebounds, he defends, he handles it, he scores. There’s nothing he can’t do. Here he is again for three. Can’t make it two in a row. The Philadelphia 76ers have been held at 32 points in the second half. Celtics can’t add to it as Pierce is off with the three, but it’s all just playing out the string now. Matt Harper scoring. So, the final score will look a bit more respectable for the 76ers. They’ll lose it by 10. And the Celtics take a one- nothing lead in the best of five first round series. Paul Pierce, 31 points, 11 rebounds, four steals, three block shots.