Postgame Notes - May 16
Game 6 - May 16, 2003
Pistons 93, Sixers 89 (OT)
Philadelphia led 24-15 after the first quarter. In the Eastern Conference
Semifinal series with Detroit, the team that has led after the first quarter
had won every game before tonight.
Derrick Coleman posted his third-straight double-double (14 points, 11
rebounds) in Game 6 against Detroit, his fourth in the Eastern Conference
Semifinals against Detroit and the 19th of his playoff career. Philadelphia
was 1-3 in the series when Coleman had a double-double.
Three Philadelphia players grabbed 10 or more rebounds - Keith Van Horn (10
rebounds), Kenny Thomas (14 rebounds) and Derrick Coleman (11 rebounds). It
marked the first time that three 76ers grabbed 10 or more rebounds in a
playoff game since, April 18, 1986 when Washington defeated Philadelphia,
95-94, in the First Round. Charles Barkley (22 rebounds), Terry Catledge (11
rebounds) and Julius Erving (11 rebounds) were the last Sixer trio to collect
10 or more rebounds each in a playoff game.
Under Head Coach Larry Brown, Philadelphia owns a 6-5 record when facing
elimination in the playoffs. In elimination games, the Sixers fall to 5-4 at
home and are 1-1 record on the road. Of the six series the 76ers have faced
elimination, Philadelphia has won only two - the 2001 Eastern Conference
Semifinals against Toronto (Game 7) and the 2001 Eastern Conference Finals
against Milwaukee (Game 7).
In six home playoff games (4-2), Allen Iverson averaged 35.5 points and 8.2
assists, while shooting 47.3 percent (79-167 FG), compared to 27.8 points and
6.7 assists, while shooting 35.8 percent (58-162 FG) in six road playoff games
(2-4). Iverson finished the 2003 Playoffs averaging 31.7 points and a playoff
career-best, 7.4 assists.
Entering the 2003 Playoffs, the homecourt advantage has proven to be
significant in a best-of-seven series, with teams with the advantage winning
218 of 288 (.757) series.
Philadelphia is 18-12 in playoff games at the First Union Center.
Detroit’s bench outscored Philadelphia’s reserves, 33-14, in Game 6. The
Pistons bench outscored the Sixer reserves in all six games. Detroit held a
33.2 to 15.7 advantage in bench scoring in the series.