Sixers Celtics Game 3 Preview

The Sixers hung on to win game two by a final of 82-81 and in the process knotted the series up 1-1.  Tonight the Sixers will look to continue their success in front of their home crowd and to go up 2-1 in the series.  Here are the keys to a game three Sixers' victory.

4th Quarter Defense
In games one and two, the Sixers struggled to hold off the Celtics in the fourth quarter.  The Celtics' veterans were able to fully come alive in the final quarter, and the Sixers had trouble defending them.  Tonight the Sixers have to clamp down in the final quarter.  They can't go into cruise control late in the game and hope to win.  They have to be at their best defensively in the final minutes.

Build A Bigger Lead
No matter how big of a lead the Sixers build, the Celtics will inevitably make a run.  Tonight, if the Sixers have a 6 point lead heading into the fourth, they could lose.  But if they are able to build a 10-15 point lead after the third, they stand a much better chance at winning.  The Sixers are a very good third quarter team.  They outscored the Celtics 21-11 in the third quarter of game two, and they need to have another strong third tonight so that they have a large sustainable lead heading into the fourth.

Spencer Hawes
Hawes has had a pretty solid series so far with 15 points in game 1, and 8 points in game two.  But I would still like to see Hawes be more of a factor, because it seems like when he's hot the rest of the Sixers' offense benefits greatly.

Home Court
I'm expecting a lot of energy from Sixers fans tonight.  Sixers fans were completely alive and electric after the Sixers knocked off the Bulls in round one.  Tonight, they need to come with that same energy and propel the Sixers to victory once again.

Right now the Sixers are proving that they have the ability to make it to the Eastern Conference finals.  They just have to play consistently and not let their foot off the gas.