Celtics Ready For Sixers In Potential Playoff Preview
BOSTON (CBS) - The Celtics host the Philadelphia 76ers Tuesday night in what could be a preview of the first round of the NBA Playoffs.
But that will not put any more importance on the game for the Celtics.
"It's important to win anyway," Coach Doc Rivers said. "I don't know what that means if we play them first round, honestly. I don't like anybody winning on our court. I think every time you play a basketball game it's a competition and you should want to win the game."
Boston has won two of the three meetings so far this season, with the 76ers winning the most recent match-up in Philadelphia. The Celtics are not concerned about Philly sending a message with another win, because Rivers does not believe in "Statement" games.
"You think if they beat us and make a statement, do you think that means anything in Game One," Rivers asked. "It doesn't matter to us. But let's beat them when they're making a statement. Maybe that will make a statement."
Statement or no statement, the Celtics know what their possible first round foe brings to the table.
"We know already, there's no secret at this stage in the game," guard Ray Allen said of the young and athletic 76ers, who could pose a problem for the aging C's. "We're who we're going to be, they're who they're going to be. It's just a matter of us taking who they want to be away from them. It's a battle of wills in the playoffs."
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Both teams are dealing with injuries late in the season. The Celtics hope to get center Nenad Krstic and forward Troy Murphy back Tuesday, but will be without center Shaquille O'Neal. Shaq returned Sunday against the Pistons, only to leave with a calf injury after just six minutes. The Celtics do not think the injury is serious, and could have O'Neal back as soon as Friday.
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Philadelphia will be without reserve guard Lou Williams, their third leading scorer, who is out for the rest of the season with a hamstring injury.
The schedule does not get any easier for Boston with a match-up with the Eastern Conference leading Bulls in Chicago on Thursday. After playing the Washington Wizards on Friday, the Celtics head to Miami to take on the Heat, who lead Boston by half-a-game for the two-seed in the East.
"I would rather have it that way," Allen said of the tough competition. "These last games, I want the best teams in the NBA. I want them to be the teams that are going to challenge us."
