EC Playoffs Round 3, (2) Orlando vs. (4) Boston

[rhythmless]

They got beat by 20 points. How big of a factor could the refs have been? I didn't see the whole game, so I'm not sure, but if you get beat by 20, I think you have a lot to look at other than the officiating.

I will add, though, that this would be an ideal game for the NBA to "affect", because it adds some interest to what had been a pretty dull series, and Boston has a chance to win Game 6 on their own floor, although Orlando is 5-1 on the road in the playoffs.

The refs took Perkins out, who is basically anchoring the entire Celtics defense by being able to play single coverage defense on Howard. If you can't understand the immense importance of that and the implications of not having Perkins for 2 quarters, then I have no idea what to tell you.

Bad officiating is bad officiating, be the final score close or far. You have no idea how far bad officiating can change the final score. It's a butterfly effect, and I'm not here to discuss whether the outcome of the game is affected, and if so, how much. You are focused on the win and loss, which is middle of the road. The view should either be myopic, in that bad calls are bad calls, or the grand scheme, in which this further damages credibility of the league, especially with David Stern basically telling people that they cannot express their opinion to obvious miscalls regardless of how blatant replays show the calls.

I watched. The Celtics never had any sort of team play. They were discombobulated from the start. You can say that they just didn't bring it that night. You could also argue that all the fouls took the Celtics out of the game from the start. I'm not going to debate that with you. Bad calls are bad calls. They need to be addressed, and there needs to be some sort of accountability from the NBA in terms of explaining what is going on. Stern's just leaving room for more conspirators.

 

[juicij36]

BOS is in trouble. I'm not sure what team I was watching last night. It wasn't BOS though. The offense just isn't there any more (started in game 4, not as bad as game 5 though). The rotations, the extra pass, it's just not there. Rondo isn't creating like in games 1-3. I give ORL credit, they've been defending the paint much better since game 4, and getting waaay to many open looks behind the arc. BOS's defense inside hasn't been there either. The multiple lobs/alley's for Dwight show it. Games 1-3, some of those were batted away/denied. I have to give credit to Jameer, he's been a lot more patient on the screen 'N rolls & looking for the breakdowns in BOS's switches/rotations. And he's been nailing his open looks.

I don't like what I see from BOS tho. All the pressure is on them now not to make history & blow a 3-0 series lead.

Perk's 2nd tech was waived, so he'll play in game 6, but I'll just go 'head & say it, BOS has to win game 6. The atmosphere last night was just... WOW! I could barely hear afterwards. Even made FT's were ear shattering. They don't want to go back there for a game 7. I know they won games 1 & 2 there already, but ORL is not that team from last week.

Pierce, handle those 1 on 1 match-ups, nobody on ORL can guard you, and stop play-acting for fouls. Just play hard & be aggressive.
KG, where you @ man!?
Rondo, "Now. Is. the Time." (Troy, Pastor).

 

[pdxKingsFan]

I think Boston wins game 6 but the parrallels right now to the Bruins 2 weeks ago are downright erie. They were blown away in game 5 after an overtime loss in game 4. Perkins is going to have a chip on his shoulder and I bet get gets that 7th technical making game 6 even more of a must win.

As hard as it will be for my Boston fandom to deal with blowing two 3-0 series leads in 2 weeks I will accept it as payment for the 0-3 comeback of the Sox in 04. Though the sports gods at that point will owe me big time for David Tyree's helmet.

 

[kennadog]

Rooting for Orlando and Phoenix. Probably not gonna happen, but I don't want either Boston or LA in the finals. Hate both.

 

[Bibby_10]

Rooting for Orlando and Phoenix. Probably not gonna happen, but I don't want either Boston or LA in the finals. Hate both.

Just curious what you actually like about Orlando? You have a guy in the middle who apparently can't stop elbowing everyone and a bunch of 3 point shooting scrubs. Not to mention Vince Carter who doesn't play with any heart whatsoever. As I called it before the series started. Celtics in 6.

 

[Superman]

Just curious what you actually like about Orlando? You have a guy in the middle who apparently can't stop elbowing everyone and a bunch of 3 point shooting scrubs. Not to mention Vince Carter who doesn't play with any heart whatsoever. As I called it before the series started. Celtics in 6.

This is silly. Rashard Lewis is probably the most overpaid player in the playoffs, but he's definitely not a scrub. Neither is Jameer Nelson. Both would start for our team. JJ Redick is earning his stripes in these playoffs. Pietrus and Barnes are both good players who fill specific roles for their team. They certainly rely on the three ball too much, but you're taking it a bit too far.

I agree about Vince Carter. And I think the Celtics probably close it out tonight. But a lot of people are rooting for Orlando, for several reasons: 1) the Celtics are a team that a lot of people love to hate; 2) Dwight Howard is a likable guy; 3) the idea that we could see the first 0-3 comeback in a seven game series in NBA history.

 

[pdxKingsFan]

1) the Celtics are a team that a lot of people love to hate

I gotta admit that I hated them before my first stint in New England and only began to actually like them towards my junior year of university when an obsessive Knicks fan decided that my condo was the best place in Boston to watch hoops. No league pass in those days so I gave in to the Celts and the bizarre commentary of their living legend announce team. I think I got the final Kings game of the season since they were competing for a playoff spot that year, which they finally got the next season.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

I try not to pass judgment on players... most of the time... but Dwight Howard taunting the opposing crowd when his team is down eighteen just screams "straight outta high school."

 

[pdxKingsFan]

Yeah I don't know about Dwight. It appeared to me in game 5 he was trying to dislocate Paul Pierce's shoulder when he came down on a play beneath the basket. The announcers said it was no big deal and it probably wasn't, but it looked like something straight out of the UFC. To be fair the Celtics seem to be just as bad if not worse and I can only look forward to them brutalizing the Lakers.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

To borrow from our favorite piksimist, I'm going to have to give Stan Van a DNC-CD.

 

[juicij36]

Played like some trU champs tonight. Defense 1st, to ignite your offense.
BOS vs. L.A. rematch underway shortly (sorry PHX, you had to win game 5 to have a chance to pull out the series). & this time around L.A. has homecourt in the Finals, so no excuses Laker fans.

 

[Lockehead]

I love Celtics basketball. Good games Orlando, maybe next year.

 

[SacKings7]

I HATE the Celtics. I used to really like Garnett a few years ago but he has quickly become my most hated player in the league. He's not "straight outta high school" anymore, he's getting towards the end of his career, and he still acts like a child. I liked Allen when he was part of the "other" big 3 with Cassell n Robinson but that's it. Don't like Rondo although I'd probably love him if he played for the Kings. Pierce is ok I guess.

But with that being said, I hope they take it to the Lakers if they play them in the Finals

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

The enemy of my enemy is my friend.

 

[Sparky6string]

The enemy of my enemy is my friend.

This. For some reason right now I can't find anything wrong with the Celtics.

 

[Larry89]

This. For some reason right now I can't find anything wrong with the Celtics.

http://www.break.com/usercontent/20...s-tongue-roll-lip-lick-boston-celtics-1844012

 

[Bricklayer]

I try not to pass judgment on players... most of the time... but Dwight Howard taunting the opposing crowd when his team is down eighteen just screams "straight outta high school."

I think it is rather extraordinarily safe to say in that environment, in Boston, with a local columnist even calling for the Celtics to put a hit out on him, that the crowd would have said some rather provocative things first.

 

[Sparky6string]

http://www.break.com/usercontent/20...s-tongue-roll-lip-lick-boston-celtics-1844012

You hadda go and ruin it.

 

[Bibby_10]

This is silly. Rashard Lewis is probably the most overpaid player in the playoffs, but he's definitely not a scrub. Neither is Jameer Nelson. Both would start for our team. JJ Redick is earning his stripes in these playoffs. Pietrus and Barnes are both good players who fill specific roles for their team. They certainly rely on the three ball too much, but you're taking it a bit too far.

I agree about Vince Carter. And I think the Celtics probably close it out tonight. But a lot of people are rooting for Orlando, for several reasons: 1) the Celtics are a team that a lot of people love to hate; 2) Dwight Howard is a likable guy; 3) the idea that we could see the first 0-3 comeback in a seven game series in NBA history.

The only thing that proves is how much the Kings suck at the moment. I may have taken it too far with the scrubs comment but they are for the most part overpaid and overrated. As for the reasons you wanted the magic to win, a magic victory would guarantee another Lakers championship. I don't care how much you hate the Celtics you should be hating the Lakers more.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

This is silly. Rashard Lewis is probably the most overpaid player in the playoffs, but he's definitely not a scrub. Neither is Jameer Nelson. Both would start for our team...

Where? Nelson would start over Evans? Lewis would start over...? What position does he even play again? The "stretch four?" To quote Sir Cumference, "What do you call a power forward who averages five rebounds a game? A small forward." Start over Greene? I guess; he's offensively better, sure, but you expect a twelve-year pro to be better offensively than an NBA sophomore. Any change in defense would be lateral at best.

 

[SacKings7]

Where? Nelson would start over Evans? Lewis would start over...? What position does he even play again? The "stretch four?" To quote Sir Cumference, "What do you call a power forward who averages five rebounds a game? A small forward." Start over Greene? I guess; he's offensively better, sure, but you expect a twelve-year pro to be better offensively than an NBA sophomore. Any change in defense would be lateral at best.

Umm, if Beno Udrih can play next to Tyreke then I'm sure Jameer Nelson can too. And Nelson's better than Udrih. He's not an All-star guard regardless if he made the team or not, but he's a pretty good one.

No argument from me about your Lewis comments.

 

[pdxKingsFan]

I think it is rather extraordinarily safe to say in that environment, in Boston, with a local columnist even calling for the Celtics to put a hit out on him, that the crowd would have said some rather provocative things first.

I missed this... who called for a hit?

 

[Bricklayer]

I missed this... who called for a hit?

Pure class.

 

[Bricklayer]

Umm, if Beno Udrih can play next to Tyreke then I'm sure Jameer Nelson can too. And Nelson's better than Udrih. He's not an All-star guard regardless if he made the team or not, but he's a pretty good one.

No argument from me about your Lewis comments.

Nelson would actually be a more problematic fit I think with his compelte lack of size, and without being as smooth of a shooter. Beno essentially plays SG when he's matched with Reke, although a ballhandling shooting guard. Hard to imagine even pretending a 5'11" is your shooting guard unless his name is BJax.

 

[SacKings7]

Nelson would actually be a more problematic fit I think with his compelte lack of size, and without being as smooth of a shooter. Beno essentially plays SG when he's matched with Reke, although a ballhandling shooting guard. Hard to imagine even pretending a 5'11" is your shooting guard unless his name is BJax.

I didn't say he'd be a perfect fit, but it could be done. I think Nelson is just as good a shooter as Beno, although probably slightly worse from midrange. And it's not like Beno is a staggering height for a SG either

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

Umm, if Beno Udrih can play next to Tyreke then I'm sure Jameer Nelson can too. And Nelson's better than Udrih. He's not an All-star guard regardless if he made the team or not, but he's a pretty good one.

Can he play next to Evans on a winning team?

 

[SacKings7]

Can he play next to Evans on a winning team?

Well that wasn't part of the criteria. Probably not. But answer me this, can Beno Udrih? All I was referring to was I'd rather have Jameer Nelson playing at his best than Beno Udrih playing at his best.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

I was, in fact, referring to Udrih. As an example of why I wouldn't want Nelson playing along Evans. Yeah, I'm sure it can be done but, as Chris Rock said, you can drive with your feet, if you want to, but that don't make it a good ****in' idea.

 

[pdxKingsFan]

Pure class.

Well it's the Herald and Borges so that explains a ton. Thanks Brick.

 

[Superman]

Where? Nelson would start over Evans? Lewis would start over...? What position does he even play again? The "stretch four?" To quote Sir Cumference, "What do you call a power forward who averages five rebounds a game? A small forward." Start over Greene? I guess; he's offensively better, sure, but you expect a twelve-year pro to be better offensively than an NBA sophomore. Any change in defense would be lateral at best.

If Tyreke and Beno can play together, then Tyreke and Nelson could play together. I'd assume it would be Nelson at the point and Reke at shooting guard. And Lewis would start at either the three or the four. He averaged 16 points a game and shot the lights out in the first two rounds of the playoffs. So if you want to move him to his more natural position at small forward, that's fine. But he would start.