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Heat Sadly Head into Conference Finals Red Hot: A Fan's Take (Yahoo! Contributor Network)

The Philadelphia 76ers wanted to avoid the Miami Heat when the playoffs started, and they clearly made the right call. Sixers fans like myself certainly can't see how they would have gotten to Game 7 of the conference finals if they faced the Heat first, instead of the Chicago Bulls. Unfortunately, now the Sixers have no way left to avoid Miami in the postseason - unless they lose to the Boston Celtics in Game 7 on May 26.

 

Wade scores 41, Heat eliminate Pacers 105-93 (The Associated Press)

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Miami's Big Two was more than enough to finish off the Indiana Pacers.

 

LeBron hails "spectacular" Wade, Spoelstra (Reuters)

(Reuters) - Miami's LeBron James hailed team mate Dwyane Wade's "spectacular" 41-point performance after the Heat booked their place in the Eastern Conference finals with a 105-93 win over the Indiana Pacers on Thursday. The victory wrapped up a 4-2 series win for Miami, who lost Chris Bosh to injury in Game One then lost two in a row to trail the Pacers 2-1 in the series. Following a 94-75 Game Three road loss, James and Wade took control of the series and lifted the Heat to three wins in a row. ...

 

Wade takes charge as Heat reach East final (Reuters)

(Reuters) - Dwyane Wade turned on the style as the Miami Heat clinched a place in the NBA Eastern Conference finals with a 105-93 win over the Indiana Pacers in Game Six on Thursday.

 

Wade scores 41 to help Heat close out Pacers (The SportsXchange)

INDIANAPOLIS -- The nightmare that had been a 2-1 series deficit a week earlier turned into a ticket to the Eastern Conference finals on Thursday night for the Miami Heat.

 

Heat 105, Pacers 93 (The SportsXchange)

INDIANAPOLIS -- The nightmare that had been a 2-1 series deficit a week earlier turned into a ticket to the Eastern Conference finals on Thursday night for the Miami Heat.

 

Celtics, Sixers prepare for another seventh game (The Associated Press)

BOSTON (AP) Julius Erving strolled through the 76ers locker room as Philadelphia celebrated beating the Celtics to set up another Game 7 in Boston.

 

Create-a-Caption: Allen Iverson, superfan (Ball Don't Lie)

After presenting the game ball before Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinal series between the Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics, NBA legend Allen Iverson headed back up to his seat and he cheered. Man, did he cheer. Oh, boy, did he cheer. What kind of cheers came out of the mouth of "The Answer"? Best caption wins a head's up that The Questions are back . Good luck. In our last adventure : LOUD NOISES!

 

Jrue Holiday attacked, attacked, attacked, and the Sixers won Game 6 (VIDEO) (Ball Don't Lie)

Heading into a win-or-go-home Game 6 against the Boston Celtics on Wednesday night, Philadelphia 76ers head coach Doug Collins said his team needed point guard Jrue Holiday to ramp up his aggression, get to the basket more frequently and put up more shots to give Philly a chance of extending the series to Game 7. Apparently, the third-year guard listens. Holiday took 15 shots on Wednesday night, the most of any Sixer, and posted a team-leading 20 points as Philly scored an 82-75 Game 6 win to knot this second-round series at three games apiece. As we discussed Wednesday, though, the key wasn't just that Holiday get his shots up, but where he got them up; after taking just five attempts at the rim in Games 4 and 5 combined, Holiday went 3 for 5 at the tin in Game 6 and 6 for 10 within nine feet of the basket, according to Hoopdata's shot location statistics , meaning that despite having gone 9 for 19 from 3-point range in the series' first five games, he refused to fall in love with his jumper and just continued attacking the paint. Even when he didn't connect on the bucket, the attacks paid dividends — Holiday attempted (and made) six free throws Wednesday night, one fewer than he'd tried in the first five games combined, and four of his six assists led to baskets at the rim for his teammates. By routinely beating Boston's defense off the bounce and getting into the lane, Holiday was able to generate offense not only for himself, but for the rest of the Sixers, and in a game where both teams struggled with their jumpers — Philly was just 12 for 35 from beyond 10 feet, while Boston was a ghastly 17 for 56 — the team able to produce and convert more up-close opportunities came away with the win.

 

Behind the Box Score, where the Philadelphia 76ers refuse to go quietly. If at all (Ball Don't Lie)

Philadelphia 76ers 82, Boston Celtics 75 (series tied, 3-3) The Boston Celtics' recent history of failing to close out series after series on the road is well-documented, but this is getting a little silly. The Philadelphia 76ers are certainly good enough to beat the Celtics in a series. They're a legitimate conference finals contender, even as an eighth seed considering that end of the bracket (which was designed for the top-seeded Bulls to play a mediocre Eastern team in the second round), and the Sixers are certainly good enough to stand their ground at home with the team's season on the line. For the Celtics to lose like this, though? Giving up on offensive possessions in the half court once Philly took away an initial option, and refusing to run out after misses? This was disappointing. And unlike other Celtic eras, which would see the team head back home for a deciding Game 7 with a (relatively) younger roster, nothing is guaranteed in Saturday's Game 7. The game starts at 0-0, and the Sixers have all the promise in the world if they keep their wits about them.