Keyon Dooling News

It was tougher than many expected, but the Celtics have advanced to the Eastern Conference finals against the Miami Heat .

Several Celtics took the court for Game Seven hoping this would not be their final game wearing the green and white.

Perhaps Sixers forward Evan Turner put it best this morning when he said: "You don't have anything to lose.

Whatever thin hopes the Celtics [ team stats ] had that Avery Bradley would be able to return this postseason were dashed yesterday when the starting shooting guard underwent surgery on his left shoulder.

The Celtics [ team stats ] have become so mercurial, they are oozing silver liquid.

Philadelphia sports fans are known for booing their own teams, let alone the opposition, but after Kevin Garnett criticized them, they should be especially boisterous when the Celtics visit the Sixers at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia at 8 tonight in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Most people don't think the Celtics have a chance at their 18thA championship, but as the eastern conference playoffs have unfolded, the Celtics chances look more and more favorable.

Last night, as it turned out, the Philadelphia coach was talking about the Celtics [ team stats ] . But even Collins couldn't have predicted that it would take Brandon Bass' greatest night as a Celtic to spark the Green to a 101-85 Game 5 win for a 3-2 conference semifinals edge over the 76ers.

Tonight's Game 5 at TD Garden should have been a close-out game, should have been the night when the Boston Celtics send the Philadelphia 76ers packing for the summer and start enjoying some much-needed rest in preparation for the Eastern Conference Finals.

Looking back at May 16th "Per Diem" article by John Hollinger at ESPN Insider , which was written after the Celtics -Sixers series was tied after 2 games, I found a little bit of comfort.

But the Celtics [ team stats ] have a reputation to uphold. They are in that handful of teams, including Chicago and San Antonio, that view defense the way Michelin prides itself on tires.

The Philadelphia 76ers' Jrue Holiday gets fouled by the Boston Celtics' Keyon Dooling during Game 4 of the NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Friday, May 18, 2012.

Celtics coach Doc Rivers was not taking a "mission accomplished'' attitude about winning a game on the road in the Eastern Conference semifinals to take a 2-1 series lead over the 76ers into Friday night's game.

Prognosticating the Celtics has turned into hardest job in the northeast this side of Mt.

Garnett has lifted his game and the Celtics certainly follow in the Game 3 rout of Philly.

The anticipation was palpable as 20,351 fans filed in to Wells Fargo Center on Wednesday and picked up their red T-shirts that sported the Sixers' marketing slogan: "Passionate, Intense, Proud." Instead of an electric atmosphere, the sellout crowd was treated to 20-plus minutes of garbage time as Boston ran the Sixers off their own floor, 107-91, ... (more)

Boston outlasted the Atlanta Hawks in six games, while Philadelphia got past the injury-depleted Chicago Bulls Thursday night.

Forward Paul Pierce #34 of the Boston Celtics dribbles around forward Josh Smith #5 of the Atlanta Hawks during Game Five of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals.

During the Celtics' playoff series with the Atlanta Hawks, we have found out that Rajon Rondo is called "Swag'' by teammates and that Kevin Garnett thinks of him as "Voltron,'' a television cartoon super robot.

Paul Pierce scored 24 points in 18 minutes and the Boston Celtics opened a 37-point third-quarter lead before coasting to a 101-79 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday night to take a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.