Momentum
by Jeff Clark on May 8, 2009 10:06 AM EDT
in Boston Celtics Articles
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PrintThe Celtics have the momentum fully in their hands at this point. In the last 6 quarters of play (1.5 games) Boston has outscored Orlando 166 to 135. (Update: Third Quarter Collapse has more fun stats on the contrast between the first 2 quarters and the next 6) The Magic just lost their starting point guard to suspension and even when he was in the game he had no hope of staying in front of Rondo. The Celtics have already won on the road in this year's playoffs and there's no reason to believe they can't do it again.
However (and you knew that was coming didn't you?), that doesn't mean that the rest of this series will be a cakewalk by any means. We still need to win at least one game on the road to win the series and if they don't capitalize on the momentum tonight, that might be a tall order.
The Magic have very good shooters and adding Courtney Lee to the lineup will only help. Shooting at home on familiar baskets tends to help as well. They will have the crowd in their corner and they'll be eager to wipe the memory of game 2 out of their minds. Oh yeah, and we probably haven't seen the best from Dwight Howard yet either.
The bottom line is that the Magic will come out of the gates fired up and if they start hitting shots, they'll could pull out to an early lead. If that happens it puts the onus on the bench to help us keep pace or come back from a deficit. I'm not sure the bench is going to be quite as effective on the road.
The Magic took home court away from us by dominating the first half of game 1. Can the Celtics take it back by keeping the momentum going? Or will it swing back the other way tonight?
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Losing starting point guard
Like the Fischer suspension. I am not sure if that is good or bad for both teams. Being a Laker fan, we actually having been breathing a sigh of relief when Shannon Browne take the court, even Farmar lately as they both can guard Aaron Brooks. The same might be said with Alston ,especially with Lee back in the line-up…be curious to see the effect, not to mention, has Alston been able to finish one shot at the rim. And I agree…momentum is in favor of Celtics…at least 4 of those last 6 Orlando quarters hardly resemble NBA basketball. The last game was a joke, they were clearly content with their one win in Boston which is a dumb mindset. The one cause for concern as you mentioned is really Howard…you have to assume they will shoot a bit better at home but Howard has yet to tee-off and he will, esp at home. Perkins is doing a nice job but he is no Dwight Howard. If Howard is playing his A game, that changes the entire dynamic, opening up cleaner kick out options etc and put Boston on its heels a bit, particularly if Perkins picks up a few fouls. I honestly have no idea who really “guards” Howard after that? Moore? good lord.
by lakersbluedevil on May 8, 2009 10:13 AM EDT reply actions
good points on the whole.
in regards to Howard, let him try and go off. there is no time that we should EVER double team him. they can only beat us by getting hot from 3, if we stay at home and challenge Howard to drop 40 on us, their team has no chance.
I am concerned
with the prospect of Perk getting into foul trouble and Howard figuring out what Baby is doing to push him away from the basket – in time, he’ll find a way to destroy Baby and/or anyone else we throw at him
"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers" Henry V
I agree, I completely expect for Perk to be saddled with 2 quick ones and relegated to the bench for the first half.
I say let Howard try and destroy our backups in single coverage. That will likely result in lots of half court sets and no open looks at 3 for their team, in which case I like our chances.
Here is an interesting stat that Roy pointed me towards the other day. In playoff games where Howard scores 30+, his team loses.
It all depends on how Rondo starts the game...
if like in game 1 = we lose.
if like in game 2 = we win.
Echo the last point....
Rondo as always is the key. We need him attacking the hoop, and not settling.
Here's the thing...
They will not let Perk play Howard so physically in Orlando…
also all of those picks that sprung Eddie loose will ‘magically’ become illegal in Orlando.
I expect a ton of foul trouble in games 3 and 4 and subsequent losses.
That's the key
If Perkins can get out of the 1st half with less than 3 fouls Boston will win this game.
'We circle all the games' - KG
The Celtics Do Not Believe In Momentum
They will continue to punish us and make us listen to national network commentators till the series is over. There will be 4 more overtimes and we’ll go to at least 6 games, but probably seven. It is the mission of the Celtics to get us all to go to a Cardiologist for a check up.
"I don't come to play, I come to WIN"--Larry Bird
"Criminally Negligent Officiating"--Tommy Heinsohn
Many good points here. Orlando is going to get the benefit of some calls tonight simply because they are home. I also expect some quick whistles on Perk and BBD. I fully expect to be pacing up and down once again tonight. But, the Celtics have been down this road before and the key is to keep playing hard for 48 minutes. I expect the Magic to go up early but the blown lead in Game 1 will be in their heads. The Celtics just have to stay calm. It would be great to get both games in FLA, but we really just need one. I will bet on the C’s in a Game 5 at the Garden any day of the week so let’s get at least one game. Alston’s departure is not much of a game changer in my opinion since Lee will step up. If I am the C’s, I want a rattled Alston to lead this team. It would also mean Reddick sits more with Lee and Alston in the game. Reddick was the only one in Game 2 killing us and he would go off even more in Orlando with the home crowd egging him on. Enjoy tonight’s game everyone!
we don't HAVE to win tonight but
we sure better win one of the next two and this is better than Sunday.
Yep keys to the game are Rondo dominating, Perk staying out of trouble and us getting some reasonable calls for Paul and at least good outside shooting.
When you think about our guards, we have Rondo and Ray as starters and Steph and Eddie as backups. We should be KILLING them at guard. Perk, PP, Baby and Scal have to hold their own and minimize the damage at those positions while we destroy them at guard
let me add that Rajon might be taking it to even another higher level since the start of the 2nd half in game one
His attitude about and toward reporters and his comments since then just make me think that its possible he has had some sudden metamorphosis into a superstar at the the next level. I dunno. Its just a feeling that his play was saying this already but that he suddenly realized that if he could grow up right now and lead this team to a title even while very shorthanded that his legend would be born, right now. I am setting myself up for a big disappointment because he is probably 70% of the player he will be when he gets a good jumper, can hit 37% from 3 and shoot 80% ft’s. I just feel like his words were very unusual and he is on a mission now
Rajon's new attitude toward the media is really odd
I’m not sure how much it reflects a “metamorphosis into a superstar” (if it is, I couldn’t be happier), but I think more likely, it’s an attempt to salvage his reputation. His play on the other hand, I agree, definitely conveys that he’s on a mission!
There's a reason...
… he just got his first big endorsement deal, with Red Bull (of all things). Wouldn’t be surprised if the contract says he needs to do more media. Kid’s making his rep, stepping out… seems against his nature, but more power to him.
Game 3 will be tough
I expect the Magic to be far more aggressive and energic than before, and the referees will probably be more severe with Perkins.
However I think the Celtics will come out focused and determined to win on the road to regain HCA, like they did in Chicago in game 3. Hopefully they will crush Orlando but it’s not going to happen in my opinion, especially if Lee makes his return tonight. It will be a close game.
Can’t wait to watch the game!
Completely agree with wahz. Rondo is on a mission and we have 4 excellent guards that should be causing all kinds of problems for the Magic. Our quickness at the guard position can trump any height disadvantages in this series. But so far, Orlando’s size has not been much of a factor. Rondo is a big reason for this, since his penetration opens up the shooting lanes. Ray and House are also the key, since they are the ones expected to make the shots. Pierce is the X-factor tonight. If he gets it going, then we will not lose. We will have too many scoring options for the Magic. Think about it. Rondo penetrating. Perk and BBD on the inside and Ray and PP on the wings. with the former shooting lights out and the latter shooting or driving. That is an awesome offense when everyone is on. I just cannot imagine what it would be like with KG on the floor (oh, I can imagine it. We won a championship last year…lol). We can win another one this year.
I also have the sense that Paul is struggling a bit because he is trying to fit in with the level Rajon has gone to. I haven’t heard anyone else say this, maybe they have, but about midway through the Bulls series I started thinking that was the deal. I know it doesn’t explian missed ft’s. He was working hard on d and Salmons is about the same size as Paul and those factored in too(I think Paul controls Kobe so much because PP is significantly bigger, wider than Kobe and as quick and savvy.)In any case, leave it to PP to once again adjust his game to those around him. It not an easy thing to change with Rajon going into dominating tha ball mode, to an even larger degree.
I hope we control one of the next two games enough for PP to get a bunch of rest again
PP will rebound tonight
I think PP has just been drained. Maybe it’s because more of the burden is on him now, or just the toll of a long season catching up to him. either way, I expect him to rebound tonight with 30 timely points en route to a 2-1 series lead. Heard it here first.
long ball
i agree, if the the magic are forced into a jump shooting team, not good. but on the other hand, let’s be real, if perk picks up two quick ones, it is not like eddie house dropped 30 last game by taking it to the whole and i don’t see Moore becoming an inside threat. the celts are also very much a jump shooting team, particularly since PP has NOT been looking sharp, particularly in the middle. and BBD is oddly, much better as the recipient of a kick out 14-16 ft jumper than a post player. and i do not see House shooting 80 percent or whatever that was again and I think Howard’s mindset at home is going to be bring it hard inside.
Good points about PP, above
I cringe when Paul brings the ball up. He too often slows the ball down, makes it stickier than it should be. Rondo should be bringing it up every time, and Paul needs to flow with the offense… which needs to flow like in game 2.
Hard to believe it’s just fatigue. They’ve all played hard, and they have plenty of rest between games. One hour of work every 2 days is wearing him out? A pro athlete? Doubt it. Seems to me it’s either a failure of will, or the much darker possibility of something physically wrong. I hope it’s the former, because he can snap out of that anytime.
I’m pretty sure we can beat Orlando with or without Paul, because they’re a mediocre team (for now). But for Cleveland, we’re gonna need last-year’s-Finals-MVP Paul to have a shot.
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