Thaddeus Young News

Philadelphia's Thaddeus Young, left, Evan Turner, middle, and Lavoy Allen look on as the Celtics close out an 85-75 victory in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals Saturday night.

After a second straight disappointing season, Pau Gasol is once again the talk of the rumor mill.

Andre Iguodala scored 18 points, and Elton Brand and Jrue Holiday had 15 apiece for the 76ers, who eliminated the top-seeded Chicago Bulls in the first round but couldn't do the same with the Kevin Garnett had 18 points and 13 rebounds, and Ray Allen hit a pair of fourth-quarter 3-pointers after missing his first five attempts.

Regardless of how Game 7 turns out in the Eastern Conference semifinal against the Boston Celtics, the 76ers have benefited greatly from a playoff run that has exceeded expectations.

Just one game between two teams who don't like each other very much. For the Sixers and the Celtics , it's not about what happened during the season or what'll happen against Miami or who stays or goes once the final whistle sounds.

Red Auerbach acknowledged as much in his and John Feinstein's Let Me Tell You a Story when he said: Coaching, in the end, is about communicating.

With the Philadelphia 76ers forcing the Boston Celtics to a Game 7 and Andre Iguodala having stellar performance in the postseason, the spotlight could not shine any brighter on Iguodala.

From a harsh statistical standpoint, we know that teams needing to win the final two games of a seven-game playoff round in the NBA usually are playing against very long odds.

PHILADELPHIA - Jrue Holiday scored 20 points, and Elton Brand had 13 points and 10 rebounds to lead the tough-and-determined Philadelphia 76ers past the Celtics, 82-75 on Wednesday night to send the Eastern Conference semifinals back to Boston for Game 7. Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo could be playing their last game ... (more)

May 14, 2012; Boston, MA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers power forward Lavoy Allen shoots the ball against Boston Celtics center Greg Stiemsma during the first quarter in game two of the Eastern Conference semifinals of the 2012 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden.

Playoff series are usually determined by the play of each team's stars, and two of the best small forwards in the NBA - Boston's Paul Pierce and Philadelphia's Andre Iguodala - have pitched a spirited battle over the first five games of their Eastern Conference Semifinals matchup.

Boston Celtics forward Brandon Bass drives to the basket against Philadelphia 76ers forward Thaddeus Young during the third quarter of Game 5 in their NBA basketball Eastern Conference semifinal playoff series in Boston, Monday, May 21, 2012.

If there is anything about this Eastern Conference semifinal series between the 76ers and Boston Celtics that makes sense, it is hiding itself better than Evan Turner's jump shot.

An No. 8 seed in the NBA Finals? At the beginning of the playoffs, you would've thought I was crazy.

May 18, 2012; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Andre Iguodala celebrates making a three point shot during the fourth quarter against the Boston Celtics in game four of the Eastern Conference semifinals of the 2012 NBA Playoffs at Wells Fargo Arena.

Lou Williams scored 13 of his 15 points in the second half as the Philadelphia 76ers overcame a dismal first half to take a 92-83 victory over the Boston Celtics and even their Eastern Conference semifinal series at two games apiece.

Indians manager Manny Acta had a simple explanation for why his team's four-game winning streak came to a halt Friday night.

There were no cracks about Garnett sitting next to Moses in history class or Paul Pierce being born when the Dead Sea was sick.

When Doc Rivers was asked before Game 1 of the series what Sixer he would not want to have the ball in a clutch situation, he didn't hesitate.

The Associated Press PHILADELPHIA - Kevin Garnett yapped his way down the court after big baskets and clearly enjoyed taking it to the Philadelphia 76ers.