The Sixers were on the right side of a one-point victory when they beat the Celtics 82-81 in Boston Monday night.
The series is dead even at one and the teams have even scored the same amount of points as they enter Game 3 Wednesday night in Philly.
Here are three questions you can expect to have answered in Game 3:
1. How many minutes will Lou Will play?
Sixth-man Lou Williams played about 26 minutes a night for the 76ers this season using his sharpshooting to average nearly 15 points a game. He averaged about the same amount of minutes and 13 points against the Bulls in Round 1. Game 1 against the Cs was more of the same (24 minutes) but in Game 2 he played a season-high 39 minutes.
Despite the extra minutes on the court, Lou Will only managed eight points on 3-of-13 shooting.
Coach Doug Collins would be better off keeping Williams in the scoring-spark-off-the-bench role in Game 3 if he wants the most out of the offensively-minded Lou Will.
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2. Who will get time in the middle?
The Celtics don’t really play big. Centers Ryan Hollins and Greg Stiemsma combined for just 25 minutes in Game 2 but with the 6-foot-10 force at power forward known as Kevin Garnett in the middle, the Sixers still need big minutes from their bigs.
So far in the series Sixers starting center Spencer Hawes has played 30.5 minutes a game. Rookie Lavoy Allen (25 minutes a game versus the Celtics) has picked up the slack for starting power forward Elton Brand who has struggled with back pain.
The Hawes-Brand-Allen three-head monster has accounted for a combined 27.5 and 18.5 boards on average through two games to keep up with the C’s bigs. It will be interesting to see if Collins continues to give more minutes to Allen over Brand. Also, watch for veteran Tony Battie or rookie Nic Vucevic to possibly get their first action of the playoffs if Brand continues to hurt.
3. Will the Celtics answer?
Veteran teams like Boston have a way of responding after a loss. With Ray Allen, Paul Pierce and Garnett all playing 35-plus minutes in Game 2, the Cs seems healthier than at the start of the playoffs. Add in point guard Rajon Rondo and it looks like the Cs could be due for a breakout game.
The Sixers defense will need to continue to contain the perimeter if they hope to keep the Cs in check Wednesday night.
