Celtics-76ers Game 4: 'Not A Lot Of Room For Error'
BOSTON (CBS) – With a chance to go up 3-1 on the Philadelphia 76ers, the Boston Celtics are a focused bunch heading into Friday night's Game 4.
They know that giving Philadelphia any kind of momentum could easily swing the series back in their favor.
"The series couldn't be any closer when you think about it,' head coach Doc Rivers said Friday morning after the Celtics morning shoot around. "Someone's going to do something tonight, and we'd like it to be us. It's a great opportunity for us, but it's a great opportunity for them as well."
Doc, Ray Allen Pre Game 4:
"We already don't have a lot of room for error, especially on the road," said forward Paul Pierce. "Teams can gather momentum; they can get behind the crowd. Teams are more confident at home, they obviously play better at home. You have to have an extra special focus, even more so on the road because there is not a lot of room for error."
Read: Celtics-76ers Game 4 Preview
The Celtics did nearly everything right in Wednesday's 107-91 Game 3 win. They out-rebounded the 76ers, something the Celtics rarely do, outscored them 50-38 in the paint, and took great care of the ball with just seven turnovers. Boston shot nearly 52-percent from the field, with five players scoring in double-figures.
What does that all mean for Friday night though? Nothing.
"We have to make sure we come out with the same spirit, the same intensity," guard Ray Allen said. "We're still on the road. Game 3 went considerably well in our favor, that doesn't mean Game 4 is going to be that way. We have to build into the game again, make them make mistakes. We have to create our own opportunities."
"They're going to be better. It's a make-miss league, and we'd like to continue to make as many shots, but we can't make the assumption they're going to continue to miss shots," said Rivers. "On film, they did have some open shots they just missed, and we have to do better defensively ourselves."
One thing the Celtics have been stressing after splitting the first two games in Boston, and even as the series got underway, is getting Philadelphia's guards out of the paint.
"That's really the true key to their ballclub," said Pierce. "They don't really feed the post a lot. That's been our emphasis since the start of the series. The key for us is to challenge shots. They're a team that thrives on making open shots. You have so many guys that can knock down shots. There's not one weak link out there. Most teams have that one guy you can help off of, but they really don't have that guy."
Read: Celtics Expecting Philly's Best In Game 4
As for Pierce himself, he was sporting a metallic knee brace that he said was just for the morning practice. But his sprained MCL did not look too bad Wednesday night, with Pierce aggressively attacking the basket and getting to the free throw line 14 times.
Expect more of the same from the C's captain on Friday night.
"That's part of my game. That's what I've been doing over the years; trying to do a good job mixing it up when my shot isn't falling from the outside," he said. "They're really collapsing and not really giving me open looks. It gives me the opportunity to drive to the basket, try to use my strength and get layups and beat the defense before the help comes."
While Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Rajon Rondo were lighting up the scoreboard on Wednesday, Allen enjoyed the view. In his 25 minutes on the floor, the future Hall-of-Famer took just one shot -- which he hit -- and finished with just three points. While he wasn't a point of emphasis in the offensive attack, he knows just being out there does change things for opposing defenses.
"I'm always ready to take the shot and make the shot, but I do know that me being on the floor changes the complexity of how teams play defense," said Allen. "It changes cutting, with pick-and-roll coverage, it helps with a lot of things. You have to do what you have to do to help this team win. It can be frustrating because you want to get in and get involved, but the ultimate objective here is to win games and move on."
"I don't have to change anything tonight," said Allen. "The way they guarded me, the way they guarded us as a team, the final score was the result we were all hoping for. I can do everything, the whole day, the same way. The object is to win."
