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 yakyakyak |
Boston Celtics vs Orlando Magic Eastern Conference Semi Finals Game Thread |
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Posts: 1371 (05/04/09 09:18 AM) Bigshot Genius |
Game 1: Monday, May 4, at Boston (8 p.m.; TNT) Game 2: Wednesday, May 6, at Boston (8 p.m.; TNT) Game 3: Friday, May 8, at Orlando (7 p.m.; ESPN) Game 4: Sunday, May 10, at Orlando (8 p.m.; TNT) Game 5*: Tuesday, May 12, at Boston (Time TBA; TNT) Game 6*: Thursday, May 14, at Orlando (Time TBA; ESPN) Game 7*: Sunday, May 17, at Boston (Time TBA; TNT)
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JMost |
Key to beating the Magic (other than not listening to Barkley) | ||
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Posts: 1803 (05/04/09 08:58 AM) Rondoism President |
There are probably a million different things that we could point to, but to me the number one key to winning this series is keeping Perk on the floor.
That means Perk has to play smart, not picking up silly fouls (no moving picks) and the rest of the guys have to stay in front of their men so that Perk
isn't picking up fouls on drivers. Perk is one of the few big men in the league who can hold their ground against Howard (who shoots a much lower
percentage against the Celtics than he does against the rest of the league). If Perk saves his fouls for defending Howard and can take him on (at least some
of the time) by himself, we don't have to leave the other Magic players free and some of them really can't hurt you if you don't leave them wide
open.
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Surferdad |
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Posts: 2132 (05/04/09 10:29 AM) Member |
I agree JMost and another key factor is perimeter defense. Magic basically have one huge guy in the paint and everybody else sets up outside. Runs those guys
off the 3-point line!
Doc pointed to the PF position as key (obviously w/o KG). |
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yakyakyak |
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Posts: 1372 (05/04/09 12:12 PM) Bigshot Genius |
I hope they play one-on one coverage on Howard. Let Howard get his 20 and 20 if he hits his shots but don't double on him to let the others get started.
Lewis and Hedo are average slashers but they make their living on the perimeter. If the game is close down the stretch, they won't go to Howard down low
because he doesn't have a reliable move. They'll either go to Lewis or Hedo and if they haven't gotten started, it'll be harder for them to
close the deal.
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tenaciousT |
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Posts: 2255 (05/04/09 01:25 PM) Grey Vanilla |
Davis matching up against Lewis is a very tough one for Davis. Check my article for a bit more on that if you like. He will have to get help if he plays up on
Lewis. He also has to find his man in transition better than he did in the last series. It will be interesting to see how Doc plays this one.
The fact that the Magic play more of a half court game with Howard is a help for the Cs. Rajon Rondo's health has me worried. He was 6 for 25 in the last two games and seems to have no lift left, for jumpers or lay-ups. Right now Davis (16) has a better PER than Pierce (14). I think we have to continue to expect a less efficient Paul Pierce as he secretly nurses his own injuries. Still, I'm amazed at Pierce's completely positive attitude. Ray on Redick - light him up, Ray!
Last Edited By: tenaciousT
05/04/09 02:45 PM.
Edited 1 times.
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JMost |
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Posts: 1804 (05/04/09 01:53 PM) Rondoism President |
It's ironic, but in some ways I now wish we didn't have HCA this round. If we were starting in Orlando I might seriously think of resting Rondo for
Game 1 to let him recover a bit, but with it being a home game we can't really afford to do that.
Never underestimate the heart of a champion! |
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yakyakyak |
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Posts: 1375 (05/04/09 02:00 PM) Bigshot Genius |
Unfortunately I see the C's dropping one of these next two home games. Fatigue and letdown after a grueling mental series (even Doc admitted the team
didn't experience this last playoffs) is bound to catch up to them eventually over the next few days. But I also see them winning one of the road games as
they play their best when their backs are to the wall.
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ManchvegasBob |
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Posts: 2770 (05/04/09 03:10 PM) Juan(abee) Hollinger |
Well - getting Howard in foul trouble surely has been everyone's strategy, and it sounds like a good one.
As tT says, Rondo and Pierce being less than perfect is concerning, but hopefully opens the door to playing a sub or two more than usual - I'd think that Marbury could hang with Alston all day, and perhaps Billy Walker can see a few minutes to give Ray Allen and Pierce a breather. Otherwise, you can rest assured that Doc will have his finger on the trigger to matchup small with Orlando whenever he can and get House on the floor and move Ray to the 3. I think Mikki may have redeemed himself on Saturday to get 10 minutes tonight. I guess I have Perkins staying in the game and Davis figuring out how to hang with Lewis (he handled his alumni Tyrus Thomas fine enough - although Lewis will be camping way out in the 3-land). But along comes Scalabrine who seems to be a perfect match for Lewis or Turkoglu, especially since he didn't let quicker John Salmons torch him while playing most of the 2nd half. My prediction? No problem - I'm going with the Celtics in 6 but will take Celtics in 7 
Last Edited By: ManchvegasBob
05/04/09 03:14 PM.
Edited 1 times.
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JMost |
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Posts: 1806 (05/04/09 03:13 PM) Rondoism President |
I'll go with the C's in 7. They'll split the first two, split the next two and then win Games 5 and 7 at home. KG will not walk through that
door.
Never underestimate the heart of a champion! |
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ManchvegasBob |
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Posts: 2773 (05/04/09 05:01 PM) Juan(abee) Hollinger |
Okay - about the Orlando game - I just wanted to point out that they are kind of vanilla everywhere when it comes to shooting pct. like the Celtics when it
comes to shooting at different spots on the floor:
But that is not the case for Mr. Lewis who seems to lack that mid-range game - unless it is the right baseline . . . so the strategy is defend the 3 if he drives and gets around Davis/Scalabrine, you don't really have to pick him up until he gets to 15 ft - which the Celtics help defense should be able to manage just fine. 
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ManchvegasBob |
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Posts: 2774 (05/04/09 05:07 PM) Juan(abee) Hollinger |
Amen! On every drive make sure they end up on the floor. Make their old bodies hurt and think about it every time they drive in the lane! It can be lonely being a Celtics fan when everyone hates you across the land - including the referees . . . |
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yakyakyak |
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Posts: 1377 (05/04/09 06:00 PM) Bigshot Genius |
They're just jealous because our game thread is cooler and has bouncing boobies.
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ManchvegasBob |
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Posts: 2775 (05/04/09 06:19 PM) Juan(abee) Hollinger |
Bouncing boobies? My 9-yr old daughter was peering over my shoulder and wondering what those were . . . . what happened to the G-rated avatar like Doris Day
winking at James Garner like
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yakyakyak |
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Posts: 1378 (05/04/09 08:17 PM) Bigshot Genius |
Looks like the first home game will be a lost much like the previous round.
Rondo looks and plays hurt. Way too passive. Ray Allen needs to be more aggresive as well. Come on JR Reddick? |
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yakyakyak |
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Posts: 1379 (05/04/09 09:45 PM) Bigshot Genius |
Valiant effort by the Celtics goes for naught. No luck for the Celtics as some shots that should have felled rimmed out late in the comeback.
Celtics waited way too long to get their heads in this game. Rondo finally decided to show up but made some bonehead plays as well ( I knew one day he would get caught with that letting the ball dribble without touching it routine, somehow it turned to a Scal three?). Ray Allen should shoulder the majority of this loss as well. To get outplayed by Reddick at this level is simply inexcusable. Now that the comeback fell short, I wonder if it's better that they did get blown out so the starters could have gotten more rest. As it stands Pierce and Rondo played the entire second half. At least the Celtics now know if they play hard nose defensive, they can shut the Magic down for long stretches. A must win in Game 2? |
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BostonDave |
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Posts: 94 (05/04/09 10:09 PM) |
Ok, Orlando came out smoking hot shooting in the first half. I was almost certain that that wouldn't last. Live by the 3 and die by it, or almost die.
I predict that from here on out I'll be a grinding type series that will favor the Celts. Ray Allen disappeared again for some strange reason. I'm not sure if its the defense keying on him or not. I do know we could have used that one shot of his from the 3 that rattled in and out and would have made it a 1 point game with around 30+ seconds or so left. The Celts took some time to get adjusted to Superman in the middle, but I think they may've done it. He's a force, but you can't shy away from taking it in to him. A spark from Marbury? Man o man o man if he can wake up in time it'll shine a whole different light on this Celtics team. Doc went away from him early after he started showing some signs of aggresiveness and spark tho. Lets hope we can see some more next game. Coming back from 28 points was impressive by any measure and we were there in it at the end but came up short. Orlando is definitely beatable. Go Celts Go Celts Go!!!! 
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ManchvegasBob |
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Posts: 2776 (05/05/09 05:49 AM) Juan(abee) Hollinger |
Perhaps a moral victory to save some face - there would be a lot more hand-wringing if they hadn't made the valiant comeback effort. The team was giving
themselves a bye the first half for eaking by the Bulls. Rondo must have overslept or something, as he showed up only an hour before the game, played
listlessly in the 1st half, and then turned on the jets the 2nd half. How about the air ball free throw by Mr. Rondo? Just a fluke, and this game was hopefully
a fluke.
Don't know what to say about Allen, but he seems to have started every playoff series slower than he finishes . . . if Doc would only play him knowing that . . . Favorite shot - the up and under reverse layup by Big Baby to avoid Howard's block near the end of the game. Howard doesn't scare me given what happened the 2nd half - lots of layups that should have gone in didn't and Pierce got hammered by Howard with no call. |
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tenaciousT |
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Posts: 2257 (05/05/09 10:02 AM) Grey Vanilla |
Looks like you may have something there Bob. Brian did a pretty fair job on Rashard in the second half. I'm still a bit skeptical that Scal can keep Lewis
down long term, but certainly willing to give him the chance. LOVED what he did last night.
Orlando did not impress me, FWIW. Boston just has to play smarter sooner. Both teams seemed to try to give the game away. If Rondo was healthy, he would be taking Alston apart. As it is, Alston has trouble with him. I give the Magic some credit for playing good defense on Ray. As is being discussed on Celticsblog, if Brain starts, then Baby can relieve Perkins at times, off the bench, in addition to spelling Scalabrine. It might be worth a look. |
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JMost |
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Posts: 1807 (05/05/09 10:44 AM) Rondoism President |
That may have been the worst FT attempt I've ever seen. It looked like it was not only FEET short but also way off to the left. Complete loss of focus or
something else? The odd thing is that other than that FT and the one right after it (on the same trip to the line) Rondo went 10 for 10 from the line.
I think Rondo is suffering from more than two bad ankles and fatigue. I think he's suffering from some kind of illness and when a wave comes over him he just can't play. I don't know how else to explain the Dr. Jeckyl and Mr.Hyde nature of his play. They said he was late arriving for the game and I can't believe he overslept. Beyond Rondo, the whole team was horribly flat for the first 30 minutes. I was frankly amazed that they played their way back into the game. But that's the thing about Orlando - they always seem to let you back in. I think this series is all about how well the Celtics play. Orlando is good but not scary good. If Rondo can be Rondo and not whatever it was we saw for parts of last night, and Ray and PP can play at their usual level, we have a legit shot at this. Never underestimate the heart of a champion! |
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yakyakyak |
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Posts: 1380 (05/05/09 01:48 PM) Bigshot Genius |
We absolutely have a shot at this. Overall I think our roster is better than theirs. We are better at the 1,2 and 3 position and bench players as well. They
have an edge in the 4 position and naturally at the 5 spot.
Sometimes this team doesn't play smart. Pierce wants to go all the way to the hoop when he has that elbow jumper down to an art. Ray Allen needs to learn to pump fake more early in games to see if he get his man into foul trouble and thinking more. I hope the coaching staff will put Perk more on the perimeter next game to see if they can draw Howard away from the paint. At least put Perk on the strong side and then swing the ball to the weak side for drives to the hoop. After watching last night's game I would be disappointed if the C's don't win this series. This is essentially the same Magic team that got ousted by the Pistons 4-1 last playoffs. Howard might be stronger and elbower but they are still a jump shooting team. And when the lead started to shrink so did their ability to hit jump shots. Which tells me when push comes to shove, they don't really have a bread and butter play other than chucking 3's. |
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ugghhhh |
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Posts: 1357 (05/05/09 10:36 PM) VIP Member |
Ahhhh, all Doc cared about was winning one round in the playoffs and he killed his starters doing it. Now the starters are dead, the bench has no confidence,
and they are listless. It doesn't look good.
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and