Three things we learned in Game 6:
SIXERS 82, CELTICS 75
HOLIDAY SEASON
Once again, Jrue Holiday proved that he’s the Sixers’ most valuable offensive piece. In the Game 5 loss, he took just six shots and the Sixers got blown out. Last night, he got up 15 shots and led the team with 20 points. It’s the fifth time he’s scored 17 or more in the playoffs. In those games, the Sixers are 5-0. It’s not a coincidence and the Celtics need to think about making Holiday the focal point of their defense.
FOR FREE?
For a professional basketball player, free-throws are supposed to be simple. The Sixers managed to turn the exercise into a catastrophe last night. By going 17-for-28 (60.7 percent), they allowed the Celtics to hang around way longer than necessary. Boston went 20-for-23 from the charity stripe. Andre Iguodala — whose free-throws won the first-round for the Sixers — is shooting a Shaq-like 50 percent in the series.
WEARING DOWN
Much has been made of the Celtics’ age, and it appeared to catch up with them in Game 6. Kevin Garnett struggled early jumper, missing nine of his first 14 shots. Ray Allen (ankles) couldn’t even move on defense, so he got in foul trouble and was limited to 25 ineffective minutes. With Rajon Rondo unable to finish at the rim and Brandon Bass crashing back to earth, the Celtics wilted. They can take solace in the fact that they’ll have two full days off to get fresh legs before Saturday’s Game 7.
