What does it take to be successful in the NBA playoffs?
The recipe for success is strong defense, timely scoring and contributions from your bench. Three things the Sixers got Friday night at the Wachovia Center.
In game one the most memorable moment will of course be Andre Iguodala’s game winning shot. In game three the most memorable moment will be Thaddeus Young’s game winning shot with 2 seconds left. And yes without those big shots being made the Sixers do not win either game. However, to have a good out come you must first lay the ground work for winning. 
Defensively the Sixers were remarkable, they had the Magic complaining about every call and every non-call. When your in the playoffs the last thing you need to be doing is blaming the officials for how badly your team is playing.
The two Andre’s, Miller and Iguodala, both stepped up. Miller has been there all year to pick up the Sixers when they have needed it. And Iguodala has really impressed me with his play thus far in the playoffs. Really proving himself to be a star in this league.
Smartly the Sixers attacked Howard on the offensive side, and defensively they gave him no easy baskets. They realized that Howard could not beat them alone.
Howard is going to get his points and he’s going to get his boards. So let him, what you can’t do is pay too much attention to him and allow 
others to beat you with easy chances at the basket.
Winning game one someone could say the Sixers just played above themselves, they had a little adrenaline running and got lucky. Now after taking a 2-1 lead, after really earning the victory last night what can people say now?
The Sixers held a lead on their home court, weathered a late comeback by the Magic and still came out on top. The Sixers played like teams who know they can win in the playoffs, they played with a bit of a swagger. As if to say “the Magic ain’t so tough,” and when a team really believes that and backs that belief up with actual results it can spell trouble for a higher seed.
These Sixers certainly aren’t playing like a team that lost 6 out of their last 7 regular season games. This Sixer team is starting to build momentum and believe. And maybe, just maybe the Magic are starting to believe it to.
-Mike Santa Barbara
