Boston Celtics take Game 1 on the Road

[theticklingmaster]

I was severely unimpressed with the Orlando Magic. A team hungry for a title does not lay an egg in the first three quarters of game 1. Boston looks like the best team of the four remaining teams. But what do you guys think of Game 1.

 

[thetmfobserver]

I thought the Celtics did a great job handling Dwight Howard. That, to me, is the key to this game. The C's have a number of big men who should be using up all of their fouls to keep Howard off his game. Without him, the Magic can't stop Rondo / Pierce / Allen / KG.

 

[Angel_2]

make that a 2-0 lead on the Magic now

 

[Mitchell]

I didn't watch the game, because I was watching the Mets and Braves, but I'm very surprised to see what happened to the Magic. I definitely thought they would win Game 2.

I dont recall if or when it's happened in the NBA, where a team lost the first two games of a seven game playoff series at home, and then recovered to win the series. I know it's happened in baseball twice. The 1986 Mets lost the first two games of the World Series to the Red Sox at Shea, before winning the Series in seven games, and, my most personal worst postseason ever, when the 1996 Yankees lost the first two games of the World Series, in the Bronx, to my Braves, before winning four straight to win the series.

Down 2-0 isn't over yet, but the Magic have put themselves in a bad position.

The Lakers might be happy about this outcome. If Boston gets to the Finals, and the Lakers beat the Suns in the West Finals, the Lakers have home court advantage in the NBA Finals. If the Magic would rally to make it, the Magic have home court advantage in the Finals.

Orlando is a very talented team. It will be interesting to see if they can rally.

Mitch

 

[Angel_2]

I think the way Boston is playing they can't be stopped. Howard has only a low post game and thats it no jump shot. and for Boston its not the big 3 anymore its the big 4. Rondo is playing out of his mind right now and the Magic have no answers for him. throw in a better bench for Boston and i see this being over in 5 games IF that.

 

[theticklingmaster]

@ Mitchell - (I think 1993) Chicago Bulls lost Game 1 & 2 vs. The Knicks, but went on to take 3 & 4 & eventually the series in 7.

The sloppiness of the Magic really surprised me. I guess two consecutive sweeps will do that.

I see Boston being the best team of the 4 right now, because they seem to play better on the Road & they have the previous championship experience to win it again.

 

[Mitchell]

It looks like it is going to be sayanora, Orlando, as the Celtics now have a 3-0 series lead, after letting the Magic have it in Game 3 at Boston tonight.

Unless Phoenix pulls off an improbable comeback against the Lekers in the West finals, it looks like the NBA Finals is going to be Lakers-Celtics. That series should be interesting, but, if it does happen, my call would be that L.A. should win.

Mitch

 

[Cy/MiG]

I don't think Boston fans are too confident after the B's blew it vs. the Flyers not more than ten days ago.

 

[Angel_2]

The Celtics should win but as a poster already said thats what Bruins thought too, and look how that turned out. now the Flyers are one win away from playing for the cup.

should the Celtics advance I don't see LA or the Suns beating them

 

[thetmfobserver]

C's in 4. If you saw any of last night's game, you saw that the Magic are done. They knew it, the C's knew it, everyone knew it. They have been beaten down too much, and Dwight Howard isn't enough of a superstar to bring them back.