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| montrealgazette.com |
The Sixers’ series victory against the Chicago Bulls was the first playoff series the team has won since 2003, when Larry Brown was coaching. But now with new coach Doug Collins, a ton of young talent, and an all-star small forward in Andre Igoudala, the Sixers have made it out of the first round.
With this series win, the Sixers became only the fifth eighth seeded-team in the history of the NBA playoffs to upset the one-seed.
The Bulls appeared to be Eastern Conference favorites to beat the talented Miami Heat team, but they were plagued with injuries and couldn’t advance.
Many may think that the Sixers’ victory will be tarnished due to injuries to Derrick Rose, the 2011 MVP, and Joakim Noah, but the Sixers won fair and square.
The Sixers lost game one, when Bulls’ star, Rose, exited the game with a torn ACL
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However, they battled back to even the series after dominating the second half of game two. Jrue Holiday lead all scorers with 26 points.
The Sixers took the series lead in game three in front of a home crowd at Wells Fargo Center.
With just over nine and a half minutes in the fourth, the Bull’s held a commanding lead of 13 points. Supported by their unrelenting fans, the Sixers fought back and won by five points, largely due to 21 points and 9 rebounds contributed by center Spencer Hawes.
The Sixers took a 3-1 series lead in game four, with a career playoff high 22 points from Spencer Hawes and double-digit scoring from Andre Igoudala and Jrue Holiday.
The Sixers traveled back to Chicago for game five, but ended up losing 77-69, for they couldn’t stop all-star Luol Deng, who had 24 points.
The Sixers returned to Wells Fargo center for game six. With 25 seconds left in the game, the Sixers were down 78-75.
Thaddeus Young drained a four-foot jumper on an assist from Jrue Holiday. Spencer Hawes then fouled Bulls’ center, Omar Asik, who missed both of the resulting free throws.
Andre Igoudala was fouled and he made the tying free throw, and then sunk the winning shot. With two seconds left on the clock, C.J Watson chucked up a prayer that bounced off the rim.
For the first time in nine years, the Sixers have advanced past the first round.
The last time they have done so, the then Allen Iverson led Sixers lost to the Detroit Pistons in six games after beating the New Orleans Hornets in six in the opening round.
The Sixers' second round opponent was the Boston Celtics.
In a challenging series against Boston, the Sixers ultimately failed to advance further, fighting their way
but losing game seven in the series.
The Celtics closed the second round with an 85-75 win to take the series 4-3.
Despite this loss, the Sixers gained playoff experience and have a ton of talent; hopefully, they will further their playoff success next season.
In a challenging series against Boston, the Sixers ultimately failed to advance further, fighting their way
but losing game seven in the series.
The Celtics closed the second round with an 85-75 win to take the series 4-3.
Despite this loss, the Sixers gained playoff experience and have a ton of talent; hopefully, they will further their playoff success next season.
