The Celtics have been through this too many times to feel overwhelmed. Game 7s have become second nature to this team, just four more quarters of basketball before they can advance to the next round. They aren’t treating Sunday’s Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Orlando Magic any differently.

“I think Game 7 is just another game,” said Ray Allen. “Obviously it’s the end of the road for one team but at the end of the day, you can only do what you’re capable of doing -- moving the ball, executing the plays, you’ve got to get defensive stops. Game 7, you’ve seen a team 10 times already that year so there’s not too many surprises.”

The Celtics are 3-0 in Game 7 dating back to the first round of the 2008 playoffs against the Atlanta Hawks. Since then they have defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers and Chicago Bulls in the deciding contests.

Paul Pierce acknowledges that experience doesn’t guarantee a victory, but it certainly helps to know how to stay focused in these high-pressure situations. He is averaging 27.7 points in the last three deciding games and has attempted 27 free throws. He’s only missed one per game.

“[We have to] just understand what we’ve got to do to win the ball games,” Pierce said. “When you go back and look at the film and check out the last two minutes, it’s about settling down and not really rushing what we’re trying to do to get what we want, and not let the defense dictate what we’re trying to do offensively.”

Frantic play can lead to careless -- and costly -- mistakes. In the last three Game 7s played, the Celtics have averaged 10 turnovers while forcing nearly 15. Their backcourt has protected the ball -- Allen did not commit a single turnover while scoring 23 points against the Bulls, and Rajon Rondo has totaled 25 assists and only 6 turnovers in Game 7s.

Doc Rivers doesn’t mind if his team plays with a sense of urgency as long as they can reign it in.

“Controlled desperation is not all bad,” he said. “The old adage is the players always say, ‘Coach I’m playing hard.’ I say, ‘That’s great, now let’s play hard and smart.’ That’s the same thing with desperation. You want to be desperate. You want to play desperate basketball but you want to do it smartly.”

For Rivers, offering advice is about all he can do once the ball is tipped. He has accepted the reality of his role in the final games.

“It’s a players game. Game 7 is the ultimate players game,” he said. “I’ve always thought that. Like I’ve said the last three or four times we’ve had one, I’ve asked them, ‘What was my last Game 7 speech?’ They don’t know because they’re not listening. They’re ready to play. Game 7’s the ultimate player’s game.”

Game 7 is one the Celtics know how to play well. The biggest key to winning, perhaps, is not in the Xs and Os of basketball. Take it from the player who has led the Celtics through these deciding contests.

“At this point it’s about the will and want to win, doing all the little things that’s going to help your team,” said Pierce. “At this point we understand what they’re trying to do out there, they know what we’re trying to do, so both teams are well scouted. We’ve played them six times so it’s about whoever wants it more at this point.”