EC Semies: [#2] Boston vs. [#3] Orlando

[Vinsane]

sidenote: vinsane...what the hell were you doing spelling "semis" haha

Don't know, typos happen?

Instead of making poor jokes, we should stay on topic. That being said Game 1 was horrible. How do you blow a 28 point lead? If Orlando keeps this up they might not be as lucky the remainder of this series. The Celtics showed that when they're hitting shots, they can tear teams apart.

I think that coupled with better defense in the second half is what propelled the Celts to one of the best comebacks I've witnessed in my lifetime. I actually thought they would pull it off and win, Ray Ray's three pointer to bring them within 2 I believe hit every part of the bucket except the bottom of the net. It will be interesting to see what happens in game 2.

 

[Whatupdoe44]

being a magic fan, I am quite used to them blowing huge leads (trust me, this was not the first time this season it has happened), anyway this series is going 7, each half was basically 2 different games, as the magic crushed in the first half and the celtics fought back in the 2nd.

now im just gonna get this out now, NBA has the worst refs in the world, both ways, just retarded and inconsistent, It really makes it difficult to watch a whole game.

k anyway, I kinda expected the magic to blow the lead as that has been something they are kind of known for. How many times di they pass it to dwight in the post in the 2nd half, I understand the celtics were playing solid D in the post, but seriously, give your best player some looks, way too many 3 pointers, seriously one of the most frustrating games ever.

If allen was on tonight, magic would have been embarassed in the 2nd half, Courtney Lee is someone also the magic could really use for his defense and hustle that he beings to the game aong with a really nice outside shot, even though JJ had a ok stat line, he really hurts the team out ther defensively.

 

[Kuzzy Powers]

Celtics aint even gonna get it to 7.. Magic in 6.

 

[AJay]

Orlando will win in six because:

1) KG is out

2) In order for Boston to contain Dwight they will have to put so much attention on him the other guys for Orlando will get it done so either way it's a lose/lose for the Celtics.

3) Pierce and Allen won't get the help they are going to need this series.

4) Magic matches-up very well with Boston at each position.

I wouldn't even be surprised to see Orlando win this in 5 now that I think about it. Magic have bigger bodies to cover Pierce and Allen. They don't have those small quick guards but they do have the bigger guys to play defense which will allow them to contain Boston's players. If Boston wants to win they need to send Glen Davis and whoever else they have playing down low to just pester Dwight Howard all game. Then the other guys, Pierce and Allen and Rondo need to make keep Turk and Lewis in check all game. If Howard, Turk and Lewis are kept in check and just put up avg numbers then Boston will make this a series, if they can't contain those 3 guys then there going home.

The only thing Boston doesn't have to deal with is the guard play in this series. Last series Derrick Rose exploited the Celtics weakness. The C's couldn't keep a guy like Rose from driving the lane and getting his points. The Magic don't have a guy who can do that. Even though I still don't think they match-up very well. But who knows, this is why they play the game.

 

[A Tasty Burgerr]

Like Chuck said, the Celts don't have anyone that can stick with the size/speed combination of Shard and Turk. Someone like KG or Powe :shifty:

Side note: Did anyone else here Barkley call Gortat "Very Nice"? I was dying

 

[AJay]

Huge no doubt, but Boston has learned to play without him and Big Baby has filled the offensive void very nicely.



ehhh...all season Perk has matched up pretty well with Dwight, very similar bodies...Dwight just has a couple inches and a vertical leap over him....but Perk has done a nice job containing him.



Why is that...just curious? Rondo and Glen Davis are basically the reasons the Celtics had a chance at advancing past the first round...and both have pretty favorable matchups on the offensive end.



Rondo>Rafer
Ray>>>>>Courtney Lee or JJ
Pierce>Hedo
Glen<<<Rashard
Perk<<<<Dwight

I wouldn't say matches up very well position to position, Magic dominate the post game, Celts dominate the guard play...not to mention, even with the lack of Powe...the Celts are a deeper team with House, Scal, Marbury, Mikki, and if Tony Allen ever regains form again..him.



While it's true Orlando has the bigger bodies to cover Pierce and Allen, it was pretty evident that didn't matter with Pierce last night...and to guard Allen you don't need a bigger body...you just need someone who could keep up. Ray was just off last night, the basketball gods were not looking down upon him, especially with that last three that did everything but put 3 points up on the board. Lets not forget to leave out that Rondo had 7 turnovers(5 above his season average), played god awful basketball, and went 2-12. The offense all season has gone as he's gone, and last night that wasn't good. Ray also went 2-12 and with all of these things in mind...the Celtics still had a legit shot at winning the game. These things lead me to believe that it's going to be another great series. Both teams have their advantages and disadvantages, it will all come down to who exploits them the most.

Let me thank you for not being a dick and just coming out and saying "Fuck You, Celtics > All"

You put out your argument and I put out my side. I still think that the match-ups on Orlando's defensive side of the ball going up against Bostons offense makes it tough on Boston.

I am not sold on Perk and especially Glen Davis yet. They always seem to fade away as the pressure gets bigger. If Rondo gets his head in the game and plays smart basketball then he will prob be the X-Factor that Boston needs to win this series. Rondo is a good point guard but Alston isn't bad either. It shows when Nelson went down this season and Alston stepped up. I think Alston has the speed to pester Rondo and it may get him fustrated. He will match Rondo's play unless Rondo steps it up a notch, which in spurts he shows he can do.

Ray will get his points and come up big like always but the question is will it be enough? Maybe, maybe not.

If Pierce can get it done this series without KG then I'll give him his credit, I just don't think he can do it. If he does, then I eat my words and I will never doubt Paul Pierce again.

Should still be a great series no matter how far it goes. Every game will be entertaining but if Orlando plays a full four quarters then I don't see it going seven.

I have a case of beer and hooters wings on this series against a guy at work lol.

 

[Thesportsguy]

i predict boston in 6 or 7 but it all depends on Perkins staying out of foul trouble clearly without him on the floor the celtics have no big man to stop howard. if jj redick can outplay ray allen the celtics are in trouble im a huge celts fan but im getting worried about that i didnt like the fact that rashard lewis could get to the basket at ease

 

[.RoCkEtS1]

I'm still riding Orlando in this series although the Celtics playoff experience may cause a problem for Orlando.

 

[Vinsane]

Game 2:

This game is the definition of being content with a split. Orlando came out flat footed from the get go and once Boston got up. It seemed like the Magic were looking past this game and wanting to get to games 3/4. This is the biggest mistake by Orlando. The more you let Boston hang around, the more they hurt you, just ask Chicago this year. Ask all the teams that had to face them in the previous years championship run. Leaving Boston within reach leaves you in a vulnerable position.

The biggest gripe I have about this game is the fact that Paul Pierce was a none factor, 3 points, 4 fouls. Rajon Rondo steps up, I'm not jumping on the Rondo wagon, triple double (again) or not. Here is an Orlando team that has the size on the Inside with Dwight alone to get it done against the Celtics and they REFUSE to go inside with him. He needs to get into a position to knock in easy buckets and draw fouls. Why easy buckets? Because he can't shoot FT to save his life.

Now with all that Orlando did bad, what did the Celtics do good? They attacked the Magic, they went at their throats. I believe at half Perkins was the leading scorer. This to me is amazing, all of us that were pulling for Orlando, myself included thought the Inside game would be in the Magic's favor. Here you have Dwight Howard playing SOFT under the rim. The Celtics continue to get that kind of production down low? This series is over.

Guard Play was better this time around for the Celtics, that in turn was able to get the rest of the team running.

The biggest thing that Boston did well against the Magic? Was not the guard play or the Inside play, it was the off-ball movement. They're able to split the Orlando defense with their speed off the ball. Everyone cuts well and move well off the ball, that split the Orlando defense for easy lanes to the basket and wide open jumpers/threes that were not there in the first game. If that's Doc River's coaching or better execution of the same game plan they tried running game one, it worked.

Oh yeah...Eddie House.

 

[Len B]

This is the biggest mistake by Orlando. The more you let Boston hang around, the more they hurt you, just ask Chicago this year. Ask all the teams that had to face them in the previous years championship run. Leaving Boston within reach leaves you in a vulnerable position.

Not really following how the #1 seed last year and the #2 seed this year is just "hanging around" because other teams let them. Usually hanging around is a term for underdogs who shouldn't be in the series. Last year it was Boston who let teams hang around. In round one it was the Celtics who let the Bulls hang around.

 

[Vinsane]

Not really following how the #1 seed last year and the #2 seed this year is just "hanging around" because other teams let them. Usually hanging around is a term for underdogs who shouldn't be in the series. Last year it was Boston who let teams hang around. In round one it was the Celtics who let the Bulls hang around.

Last season teams had the chance to eliminate the Celtics, why else would they have gone seven games with teams like the Hawks, and Cavs? Agreed the Celtics are no chumps but they're not the same team without KG, without Pierce (in foul trouble). Teams will have to take advantage of the mismatches and put away the Celtics early. When I say hanging around, I look at the lead the Bulls blew and how the Celtics were able to take it into OT, on more than one occasion.

True the Celtics shouldn't of had trouble with the Bulls, at 100% The Celtics very well could of swept Chicago. I truly believe that the Celtics, despite their two seed rating are the underdog without KG, and Powe. I think back to the Beginning of the season and that outstanding start they had. That gave them a lot of floating room when KG went down. That coupled with the wins they did get post KG injury was enough to hold down the two spot.

I look at this Celtics team as the underdog because they're not the same Celtics without their post play. Guys like Eddie House, Rajon Rondo, and Perkins. They stepped up last night in a big way, and showed the depth (minus Rondo) that this team really has. The Celtics are scrappy now, and they play like it. It will be interesting seeing how Orlando responds to them back home. Hopefully, they make it interesting instead of rolling over if the Celtics get up early, like Orlando did in game 2.

 

[MVP1991]

[10-05, 22:53] Gonzo the
[10-05, 22:53] Gonzo fuck
[10-05, 22:53] Lanteri87 how fucking improbable is that
[10-05, 22:53] Yawkey Way baabbbbyyyaaaaaahhhh
[10-05, 22:53] Gonzo what
[10-05, 22:53] Chadman omg big baby??
[10-05, 22:53] jags224 wtf......
[10-05, 22:53] MVP1991 i called it
[10-05, 22:53] Whatupdoe44 I hate my life
[10-05, 22:53] MVP1991 holy shit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
[10-05, 22:53] X Misogi glen baby davis
[10-05, 22:53] X Misogi OH SHIT
[10-05, 22:53] guchi45 OMG!
[10-05, 22:53] Lanteri87 OMG
[10-05, 22:52] X Misogi Allen scores if he takes the shot
[10-05, 22:52] guchi45 DWIGHT GONNA STUFF
[10-05, 22:52] MVP1991 give it to baby lol
[10-05, 22:52] X Misogi Pierce misses if he takes the shot
[10-05, 22:52] guchi45 DEFENSE!
[10-05, 22:52] Whatupdoe44 ive seen this before
[10-05, 22:52] MVP1991 4-0
[10-05, 22:52] Yawkey Way give it to perk and let him take that little hook
[10-05, 22:52] X Misogi pierce is gonna miss it
[10-05, 22:52] Lanteri87 bruins raped
[10-05, 22:52] jags224 niceee
[10-05, 22:52] jags224 haha
[10-05, 22:51] MVP1991 yeah the Bruins won
[10-05, 22:51] Chadman exactly jags..lol
[10-05, 22:51] Chadman i dont care who wins though
[10-05, 22:51] jags224 PP is going right to the wing head fake fall away shot

I called it lol

 

[seaplus]

lulz at big baby for pushing that kid afterwards

 

[Len B]

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

 

[Vinsane]

Damn, now Orlando's back is against the wall as the series swings back to Boston. Orlando needs a win in Boston in game five. I could see Orlando pushing this series 3-3, but not winning a game 7 in Boston. Should the Celtics win game 5 tomorrow. How the hell does Big Baby hit the game winner, lol. I didn't get a chance to watch the game but I caught the end via DVR when the wife and I were done watching movies.

 

[QuietStorm]

Im an Orlando fan and the Magic deserved to lose that game. I can't believe they let them come back like that. Man Im so piss right now. Dwight Howard needs to be set down at the end of the game, he has no offensive game.

 

[QuietStorm]

I remember how everyone had been saying Dwight was going to walk all over Perk and blah blah blah.

It's basically been the opposite this series. The only thing Dwight has been doing well is rebounding, but for the most part, he's been unable to stop Perk, and Perk has been stopping him.

Right and thats because Perkins can hit a jump shot. I dont think Ive ever seen Dwight shot a jumper. If Dwight had that in his game, it would be a different story.

 

[Len B]

Dwight Howard is absolutely brutal on offense. Anything besides a dunk is a miss.

 

[Len B]

By the way, Doc isn't a "great coach" by any means, but this sums up tonight nicely:

-Celtics get the ball to Ray Allen for free throws
-Magic get the ball to Dwight Howard

Shaq was right, Van Gundy is a choke artist.

 

[Vinsane]

I remember how everyone had been saying Dwight was going to walk all over Perk and blah blah blah.

It's basically been the opposite this series. The only thing Dwight has been doing well is rebounding, but for the most part, he's been unable to stop Perk, and Perk has been stopping him.

By the way, Doc isn't a "great coach" by any means, but this sums up tonight nicely:

-Celtics get the ball to Ray Allen for free throws
-Magic get the ball to Dwight Howard

Shaq was right, Van Gundy is a choke artist.

This series is proving just that, Van Gundy cokes. I hate this guy, when he has the game in hand he doesn't know how to manage. You live and die by the jump shot and right now Orlando is dying. I'll be the first to write them off right now. Let the Cavs/Celts ECF talk begin. Orlando is done.