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Thursday, April 18
Updated:
April 18, 3:15 PM ET
Dr. Jack's Breakdown: Sixers vs. Celtics
No. 6 Sixers (43-39) vs. No. 3 Celtics (49-33)
Hall of Fame coach Dr. Jack Ramsay provides analysis for ESPN on SportsCenter and NBA Today. Here he breaks down the playoffs for ESPN.com. Also a former color analyst for the Heat, Ramsay's impressive résumé includes making the playoffs in 16 of his 20 seasons as coach and winning an NBA title with Portland in 1977.
Throughout the 2002 playoffs, Dr. Jack will break down each series from the backcourts to intangibles. Look for his analysis from the first round all the way through to the NBA Finals.
BACKCOURT
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EDGE
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Assuming Philadelphia has all its players back, the Celtics will have a very difficult time defending Allen Iverson unless they double-team him. In the only game the Celtics won against the 76ers this season, they were able to double Iverson because Aaron McKie didn't play. If Iverson is doubled, he can get the ball to McKie, who can kill you. If the Celtics don't double Iverson, he will kill the Celtics by himself. Eric Snow will defend Paul Pierce, and Iverson will guard Kenny Anderson. Boston will try to match up the same way in reverse. Snow is one of the game's top perimeter defenders. While he may not stop Pierce, someone will help. The 76ers will run another man at Pierce every time he touches the ball. Snow is not a dominant offensive player, but he doesn't have to be. He just keeps the ball where it should be on the floor and gets it to Iverson, a prime target on every possession. Unless Anderson is having a big offensive game, the Celtics will bring in Erick Strickland to guard Iverson. But I expect Iverson to be virtually unstoppable.
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FRONTCOURT
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EDGE
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The matchups should be Matt Harpring against Antoine Walker and Derrick Coleman against Eric Williams. The 76ers will take the same approach to Walker as they do to Pierce. When Walker gets the ball, Harpring will have defensive help. I expect the 76ers to have that type of intense focus on both Pierce and Walker. They want to keep the Celtics' dynamic scoring duo from getting good shooting opportunities on a consistent basis. Meanwhile, Philadelphia will take its chances on the other three, Anderson, Williams and Tony Battie, who historically haven't been consistent scorers. In the middle, Dikembe Mutombo will match up with Battie, who is not a scoring threat. Mutombo could be the double-teaming option or the basket defender in the 76ers' overall defensive scheme.
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INTANGIBLES
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EDGE
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With Iverson on the court, the 76ers have the psychological edge as well as the edge on the court. They are 6-16 without Iverson this season, so having him on the floor gives the 76ers the boost they need in the playoffs.
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PREDICTION
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76ers in 4. The difference will be the unstoppable Iverson and the 76ers' team defense. Iverson has such energy and defensive anticipation to go with his ability to break down a defense. The Celtics couldn't have asked for a worse matchup. I believe they would beat any other team in the first round.
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