(2) Celtics Vs. (3) Magic

[Lamrock]

This series still doesn't have a thread dedicated to it somehow, so I reckon I'll do the honors. A series that would be a close lengthy grind with KG will likely be a cakewalk for Orlando, as Howard and the gang should walk all over the shorthanded fatigued Celtics. Orlando in 5.

[AMenace]

Orlando in 5, If the celtics barely were able to scrape through against the bulls, then their time is up now.

"I wish the bulls were in this one"

Couldn't agree more!!!!!!

[JaoSming]

Celtics in 7 since every other playoff series is 7 games for them

iirc, baby did a great job in the last game of the season against dwight w/o KG

[Andrew]

Magic in six thanks to the Celtics being shorthanded and possibly a little fatigued from the Bulls series. I'm casting an unofficial vote for "I wish the Bulls were in this one..." though.

[Oakrhum]

Methinks Magic in six.

[Modifly]

Magic in six or even five. Dwight will crack into Boston's defense and throw down dunks while Orlando's guard will be raining shots from the perimeter.

The Celtics only gets one day of rest and they're out of gas since they used it all up against the Bulls. Orlando already had a 7 days rest or something and their legs are way fresher.

[Killer Crossover aka OG]

I hope the Orlando Magic bewitch the Boston Celtics on the Court Sweeping please

[dopeboy]

Boston in 7. Howard probably will be dominant (he was against Sixers who have weaker frontcourt, but they still lost 2 games), but without Lee Orlando don't have a guy that can guard Rondo for 40 minutes plus Boston has experience in situations like that. Boston's backcourt will get them in the East Finals.

[Oakrhum]

Orlando's leading by 18 at halftiime. 54-36.

[Lamrock]

Orlando was up 28 at one point before Boston went on a mini-run. Its not over yet, but it looks like this is a statement game for Orlando. Boston will probably take game 2 or 3, but I don't see them having much of a chance in this series barring a major Magic injury.

[Oakrhum]

They still have excuses come presscon time.

"we're tired etc.. etc.." -Doc Rivers

[Lamrock]

Orlando didn't deserve to win that game. If they are going to challenge Cleveland, or even win this series, they are going to need to close out games better. Blowing a 28 point lead and letting Boston within 3 (and 90% of the time, Allen's three towards the end would have rolled in) is unacceptable.

Still saying Orlando in 5, but I think the Celtics take game 2.

[Oakrhum]

yeah, major letdown in the 4th..

[Brave Sir Rubin]

Not a great win, but a decent win.

The bench really came through for us (the Magic).

Lewis went pretty damn cold in the 2nd half.

That 8 second violation on Hedo was bullshit.

Oh well.

[Dan's Brain]

My vote was for wishing the Bulls were in this one, but i think it's going to the Magic in 7. Kendrick Perkins is the only player on the Celtics who can come anywhere anywhere close to containing Dwight Howard, but if Perkins gets in foul trouble (a 285% likelihood), then the Celtics are sunk. Perkins did seem to keep himself out of trouble today, but that won't last.

[Andrew]

Mind you, they cut into the deficit and only ended up losing by five despite some very poor shooting by Allen and Rondo. I picked the Magic in six which obviously still gives the Celtics two wins in the series but I'm wondering if still underestimated them.

[Killer Crossover aka OG]

Start the sweep 1-0 Go Magic Go

[byczek]

Gortat, 4 minutes, 4 points, my man! Go Magic but not for Championship.

[puttincomputers]

what if the celtics win the championship again? then the bulls would be considered better than they are now since they took the celtics to 7 games and appeared to be even with them in talent.

[kibaxx7]

what if the celtics win the championship again? then the bulls would be considered better than they are now since they took the celtics to 7 games and appeared to be even with them in talent.

That's what happened with Atlanta and they took the 4th seed this season, I think the same will happen with Chicago next season

Orlando in 6.

[Andrew]

what if the celtics win the championship again? then the bulls would be considered better than they are now since they took the celtics to 7 games and appeared to be even with them in talent.

Well, Kevin Garnett was still out the entire series. I don't want to take anything away from the Bulls of course but his absence did help them greatly. I guess it does trickle down to the Bulls and anyone else the Celtics face if they were to end up winning the championship as they could all say it's no shame to lose to the eventual champions and if they make it a competitive series so much the better; however, since they're missing key players, I'd say the Celtics repeating would say more about them than any of their opponents.

[puttincomputers]

what if the celtics win the championship again? then the bulls would be considered better than they are now since they took the celtics to 7 games and appeared to be even with them in talent.

Well, Kevin Garnett was still out the entire series. I don't want to take anything away from the Bulls of course but his absence did help them greatly. I guess it does trickle down to the Bulls and anyone else the Celtics face if they were to end up winning the championship as they could all say it's no shame to lose to the eventual champions and if they make it a competitive series so much the better; however, since they're missing key players, I'd say the Celtics repeating would say more about them than any of their opponents.

and the bulls were without deng!

[Oakrhum]

Missing a Garnett is more costly than missing a Deng.

But you can't take anything away from Chicago.

[Andrew]

what if the celtics win the championship again? then the bulls would be considered better than they are now since they took the celtics to 7 games and appeared to be even with them in talent.

Well, Kevin Garnett was still out the entire series. I don't want to take anything away from the Bulls of course but his absence did help them greatly. I guess it does trickle down to the Bulls and anyone else the Celtics face if they were to end up winning the championship as they could all say it's no shame to lose to the eventual champions and if they make it a competitive series so much the better; however, since they're missing key players, I'd say the Celtics repeating would say more about them than any of their opponents.

and the bulls were without deng!

As Oakrhum said, the loss of Deng is not equal to Garnett. The Celtics were also without Leon Powe, for what it's worth. Again, I'm not trying to take away from what the Bulls did, I'm proud of the way they hung with the Celtics but the absence of KG did leave the door open for them.

[Drex]

It's all about the matchup. When Dallas played against GS and got a first round upset, it was because the Warriors were the worst team that they could play, and it showed. Maybe if the Bulls played another team they would have been swept. This year was the Blazers beating the Lakers, but the Lakers killed the Jazz and they probably kill the Rockets, too.