Cs Look to Throw Counter Punch
by CelticBalla32 on May 6, 2009 4:05 PM EDT
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PrintOrlando Magic at Boston Celtics, May 6, 2009 8:00 PM EDT
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@ 
0Wednesday, May 6, 2009
8:00 pm ET
TD BankNorth Garden (Boston, MA)
The outcome of Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals was a tough one to swallow for Celtics supporters. Nothing went right in the first half, and that had everything to do with the intimidation factor of Dwight Howard. The Celtics were scared to attack the paint and challenge him, especially Rajon Rondo, and they were so afraid that they didn't earn a single trip to the free throw line by intermission. Not one. The team was out of sync in every way possible, and the only true positive from the first half may have been the offensive surge from Stephon Marbury.
The third quarter was a different story, as the Celtics played desperation basketball while Orlando got comfortable, and the tables turned. Rajon Rondo knocked down 10 of his 12 free throw attempts in the third quarter alone, and the Celtics willed themselves back into the ballgame. Boston came from down 28 to bring the deficit to just four with about a minute and a half to go. Unfortunately, Ray Allen's corner three-ball bounce back out after falling three quarters of the way down, and the Cs were unable to cap off the miracle comeback with a victory.
However, as disappointing as Monday night's loss was, there is plenty of basketball left to be played. On the bright side, this game showed us that the Celtics can indeed beat Orlando in this series. It showed the players that they aren't going to get anywhere if they don't relentlessly attack, and it showed the fans that our guys were right there with Orlando despite a putrid overall performance. Ray Allen put up yet another Game 1 stinker (2-12 FG), Paul Pierce shot just 7-18, and Rajon Rondo was atrocious for roughly three quarters and finished with seven turnovers to go along with a 2-12 shooting clip. I'll be damned if all three of them duplicate those abysmal outings in Game 2.
As crazy as it sounds, we should feel confident after losing Game 1 on our home floor.
Go get 'em, boys, and get 'em with a 48-minute sense of urgency this time, will ya?
Regular Season Record: 59-23
Eastern Conference Seed: 3
Conference Quarterfinals Result: ORL 4, PHI 2
Projected Starters
PG 
SG 
SF 
PF 
C 
Series Leaders
PPG: Rashard Lewis (18.0)
RPG: Dwight Howard (22.0)
APG: Rafer Alston (7.0)
SPG: Rashard Lewis (3.0)
BPG: Dwight Howard (3.0)
Regular Season Record: 62-20
Eastern Conference Seed: 2
Conference Quarterfinals Result: BOS 4, CHI 3
Projected Starters
PG 
SG 
SF 
PF 
C 
Series Leaders
PPG: Paul Pierce (23.0)
RPG: Kendrick Perkins (16.0)
APG: Rajon Rondo (8.0)
SPG: Rajon Rondo (3.0)
BPG: Kendrick Perkins (3.0)
Injury Report
Jameer Nelson (torn right labrum - out)
Courtney Lee (recovering from sinus surgery - out)
Kevin Garnett (right knee - out)
Leon Powe (torn ACL - out)
Keys to Victory
- Sense of Urgency
- Get Back On Defense After Missed Shots
- Control the Defensive Glass
- Take Care of the Ball
- Ball Movement
- Avoid Foul Trouble
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we just have not to fall behind
and it is an easy task (easier said than done).
when the Magic are hitting their shots, slow down the game and don’t try to just counter with the same shots. These guys get hot and cold, and so far, in the last 3 losses the celtics let them go up by 20 and then attempt a come back.
Celtics need to win otherwise their chance will be less than 10% at winning this serie.
it's up to Rondo
If he gives some back court pressure that should set the tone for the defense. disrupt their playmaker and that should help. let’s go C’s!!
Kick in the door waving the 4-4.....all you heard was poppa don't hit me no mo'
Agreed, aboubata
As we saw in game 1, when the Celts buckle down on defense it shakes the Magic up and they make stupid mistakes… C’s gotta resist the temptation to play Orlando’s game — gotta bring ’em down to earth and lock down Thibodeau-style… the Celts offense grows out of turnovers and opportunities caused by those lockdown moments, plain and simple.
Above all, the Celtics have to come out swinging tonight… put the pressure on from the get-go, guys!!!
Go C’s!!!
I'll do you one better, Jeff
I’ve got C’s by 20 tonight…
Celtics in 6, baby!
by Hal Jordan on May 6, 2009 6:44 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Refs for tonight's game
Bennett Salvatore, Eddie Rush, Tom Washington
Well…things just got a little easier for the Cs. Salvatore is very susceptible to the homecrowd.
Bork bork bork!
Not good
I couldn’t think of worse trio of officials. Eddie F. Rush has a beef with Doc that goes back years. And Bennett Salvatore consistently makes terrible calls. Anyone remember the offensive foul he whistled on Pierce in game 6 of the Detroit series? The one where Pierce leaned into a defender who had bit on an upfake, hit the three, and then Salvatore gave him the offensive foul…
by SalmonAndMashedPotatoes on May 6, 2009 6:28 PM EDT up reply actions
Have you met Eddie F Rush?
That is one terrible crew of officials. Please let the C’s blow this one open early. We can’t count on their calls down the stretch or at any point of the game for that matter.
Orlando fans are already looking ahead to Cleveland
Just skimming through the talk-back section on BSPN where all but one ‘expert’ has Orlando advancing; and most of the Orlando fans are up in arms that they aren’t given better odds at beating Cleveland.
Seriously Magic fans?
We’ve only played one game of this series and its a foregone conclusion that the Magic advance?
Didn’t ya’ll learn your lesson when TMac was savoring the 2nd round before closing out the 4th game against the Pistons?
Talk is cheap.
D Dub, I too am a die-hard Celtics fan but to be honest, one of the things that bothers me the most is that same ‘look ahead’ attitude that we Celtics fans ourselves have shown. Invariably, before the Bulls series, most of the media and the Celtics-bloggers were simply trying to figure out how many games it would take before the C’s put away the Bulls, then the Magic and met up with the Lebrons. Though I do not live in Boston, I watch Sports Tonight daily and often listen to WEEI radio. If you think and look back, you’ll find plenty of printed data to verify this point. So it is now with the Magic fans.
From my perspective, taking it one game at a time is a very prudent approach. I was horrified to watch the C’s performance in the Orlando Game 1. Of course I’m not alone. Nobody can predict what will happen. Can we win the title again this year? Of course, but it’ll be a tough go. Things happen. Injuries (which we know so well) can derail the most powerful force. And for some reason, this current Celtics edition is a lot like their own Tony Allen. They both lose focus for no good reason.
The C’s are no less underdogs to the Magic this series as they were to the Lakers in last year’s Finals. We all know how that turned out.
Like certain parts of one’s anatomy, everyone has an opinion. Like last year’s Lakers series, I’d much rather the Celtics let their play do the talking.
by DrD on May 6, 2009 5:40 PM EDT up reply actions
Lots of Injuries this year, but...
When is it the Celtics` turn to get ridiculously lucky this year?!?
That`s all we all really want.
We want the Celts to go from being the unluckiest team {Feb.-May}…to being the luckiest team from {May 6-June 20}!
We Just Need To Play The Way We Are Supposed To Play
And we will win.
"I don't come to play, I come to WIN"--Larry Bird
"Criminally Negligent Officiating"--Tommy Heinsohn
i mean
it’s okay to guard Redick, u know…
"if my kid said 'uhh' that much, i would say, Hey! ... stop saying 'uhh' that much..." - dennis miller
2 fouls
"if my kid said 'uhh' that much, i would say, Hey! ... stop saying 'uhh' that much..." - dennis miller
yeah doc
nice adjustment there
"if my kid said 'uhh' that much, i would say, Hey! ... stop saying 'uhh' that much..." - dennis miller
Cs in 5?!!
great call KJR.
Eddie is running riot
Rondo is distrubuting at will
Ray is back
Scal is knocking open 3s
Baby is getting easy layins
we are killing them with even with Pierce on the bench!
perkisabeast.com
How could i forget the big guy,
He wants to prove it to everyone out there.
Remember after the olympics some1 asked him how he felt that Howard had won a gold medal and Perk responded saying,
did anyone ask Howard how he felt that Perk had a championship ring!
Classic love Perks attitude.
SICK!
Oh MY.
That was a nasty dunk by Rondo.
Skip to My Lou
Let’s hope the league gets this one right and throws Rafer out for Game 3.
I don’t believe a suspension is warranted.
by The Walker Wiggle on May 6, 2009 10:13 PM EDT up reply actions
Antoine
I respect your opinion.. mainly because of your sign-in name
by TakesItMakesIt on May 6, 2009 10:40 PM EDT up reply actions
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