POINT GUARD:  Jrue Holiday was rock solid in the first round of the playoffs against the Bulls.  He played in 6 games (all starts) in the first round of the playoffs and he averaged 38.7 minutes, 18.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.3 steals per game.  Holiday is going to have to step up against the physical style of Rajon Rondo.

Rajon Rondo is the guy that makes the Celtics’ offense really go as he is a man in charge.  Rondo played in 5 games (all starts) in the first round of the playoffs and he averaged 41.8 minutes, 16.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, 11.8 assists and 3.4 steals per game.  He is a money player.

EDGE:  SLIGHT FOR CELTICS

SHOOTING GUARD:  Evan Turner stepped up against the Bulls and they need him to keep up the good work in Round #2.  Turner played in 6 games (5 starts) in the first round of the playoffs and he averaged 33.7 minutes, 11.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game.  He only shot 39.4% from the floor against the Bulls.

Avery Bradley didn’t have his best series against the Hawks.  He played in 6 games (all starts) for the Celtics in the first round of the playoffs and he averaged 25.5 minutes, 7.2 points, 1.8 rebounds, 0.7 assists and 1.0 steal per game.  Bradley only shot 37.2% from the floor and only 20% from the three point line in the first round of the playoffs.  The Celtics will need him to step up in this series.

EDGE:  SLIGHT FOR 76ERS

SMALL FORWARD:  Andre Iguodala’s play is going to be huge in this series for the Sixers.  He is going to be challenged by Paul Pierce.  Iguodala played in 6 games (all starts) in the first round of the playoffs and he averaged 40.2 minutes, 12.0 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.8 steals per game despite only shooting 35.1% from the floor.

Paul Pierce is the Celtics’ go to man offensively.  He played in 6 games (all starts) in the first round of the playoffs and he averaged 37.7 minutes, 21.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.3 steals per game.  Pierce is going to be challenged in this series as Iguodala is a darn good defensive player.

EDGE:  CELTICS

POWER FORWARD:  Elton Brand is still a solid player around the basket.  He played in 6 games (all starts) in the first round of the playoffs and he averaged 32.5 minutes, 8.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 0.7 assists and 2.5 blocked shots per game.  Brand is going to have his hands full with Brandon Bass.

Brandon Bass is a solid player.  He has been a late bloomer in his NBA career.  He played in 6 games (all starts) in the first round of the playoffs for the Celtics and he averaged 31.7 minutes, 9.0 points, 5.7 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game.

EDGE:  EVEN

CENTER:  Spencer Hawes really stepped  up in the first round of the playoffs as he was a much tougher guy than usual.  He played in 6 games (5 starts) for the Sixers in the first round of the playoffs and he averaged 28.0 minutes, 11.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.0 blocked shot while shooting 51.9% from the floor.  The Sixers are going to need big series out of Hawes if they are going to upset the Celtics.

Kevin Garnett really filled up the stat sheet in the first round against the Hawks.  He certainly didn’t look his age as he was spurred by the Hawks’ owner who called K.G. a washed up and dirty player.  Garnett played in 6 games (all starts) in the first round of the playoffs and he averaged 37.7 minutes, 18.7 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.8 blocked shots per game.  He appears to have plently left in his gas tank.

EDGE:  CELTICS

BENCH:  The Sixers didn’t use the bench near as much as they did in the regular season in the first round of the playoffs.  Don’t look for that to change much in this series.  Shooting guard Lou Williams is the best player the Sixers have coming off the bench.  He played in 6 games (0 starts) in the first round of the playoffs and he averaged 26.3 minutes, 12.8 points, 1.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.2 steals per game, but he only shot 36.9% from the floor.  Forward Thaddeus Young needs to play better in this series if the Sixers are going to pull another upset.  Young played in 6 games (0 starts) for the Sixers last year and he averaged 21.8 minutes, 7.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.0 assist and 1.0 steal per game.  PF/C Lavoy Allen played in 5 games (1 start) in the first round of the playoffs and he averaged 15.8 minutes, 4.8 points and 4.4 rebounds per game.  The Sixers are going to need more from Allen in this series.  SG Jodie Meeks played in 6 games (1 start) in the first round of the playoffs and he averaged 5.3 minutes, 0.7 points and 0.3 assists in the first round of the playoffs.  He will likely be watching Evan Turner take his minutes again against the Celtics.  Sam Young played 1 scoreless minute in the first round of the playoffs and centers Nikola Vucevic and Tony Battie didn’t get to play in the first round.

The Celtics aren’t likely to use the bench much in this series.  SG Ray Allen will be the first player off the bench for the Celtics in this series and he might get starter-type minutes.  Allen played in 4 games (0 starts) in the first round of the playoffs and he averaged 28.0 minutes, 11.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.0 steal per game.  Keyon Dooling will give Rajon Rondo a breather in this series when he needs one.  Dooling played in 6 games (0 starts) in the first round of the playoffs and he is averaging 9.5 minutes, 3.5 points, 0.8 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game.  SG/SF Mickeal Pietrus played in 6 games (1 start) in the first round of the playoffs and he averaged 16.7 minutes, 1.7 points and 1.3 rebounds per game.  He will likely get a few minutes per game in this series.  Rookie center Greg Stiemsma will likely play a few minutes per game, pitching in with defense and rebounding.  Stiemsma played in 6 games (0 starts) in the first round of the playoffs and he averaged 10.0 minutes, 0.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, 0.5 assists and 1.0 blocked shot per game.  Backup center Ryan Hollins played in 5 games (0 starts) for the Celtics last night and he averaged 11.8 minutes, 1.4 points, 2.4 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game.  Marquis Daniels played in 3 games (0 starts) in the first round of the playoffs and he averaged 12.7 minutes, 2.7 points, 1.0 rebound and 0.7 assists per game.  Daniels and Sasha Pavlovic will likely share minutes off the bench, as they play the same positions.  Pavlovic played in 3 games (0 starts) in the first round of the playoffs and he averaged 8.7 minutes, 1.3 points, 0.7 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game.

EDGE:  76ERS

COACHING:  60-year old Doug Collins did a great job in the first round of the playoffs, leading the Sixers to a 4-2 record.  He is now 20-29 (40.8%) in his career as a head coach in the playoffs.

50-year old Doc Rivers is a rock solid coach as he led the Celtics to a 4-2 series win over the Hawks in the first round of the playoffs.  He is now 55-46 (54.5%) in his career as a head coach in the NBA Playoffs.

EDGE:  CELTICS

PREDICTION:  CELTICS IN SIX