(2) Celtics Vs. (3) Magic

[Andrew]

That too. Just because Team A beats Team B and Team C beats Team A, they mightn't necessarily beat Team B as well. It can work out that way of course but not in every instance.

[NovU]

Game 2 tonight.

My prediction is 98-95 for the Celtics.

I just don't think the defending chump Celtics will slip 2 home games in a row.

[dopeboy]

Probably you're right. Celts still won't have Lee and considering how they were able to fight back in game 1, they should win if they play better.

One thing weird about Orlando is that they can't keep their lead when it's big. Against Sixers, now Boston...

My pick tonight - Boston 105-92.

[Oakrhum]

The Celtics will win by 11.

[Lamrock]

This is like Mavs/Spurs Game 2. The Celtics want this so much more than the Magic.

[dizzle]

celtics win 112 -94, without paul pierce for most of the game due to foul trouble, orlando didnt seem like they were in the game at all, eddie house had a killer game tho.
and maybe no alston for game 3 since he slapped house in the back of the head after he got sniped on.
hilarious comment after the game too

david aldridge - "did you say something to make rafer slap you in the head"
house - "no i just made a shot, and i think thats what happen you start bustin somebodys ass, they get upset like that and resort to bushly attacking"
haha

[puttincomputers]

celtics win 112 -94, without paul pierce for most of the game due to foul trouble, orlando didnt seem like they were in the game at all, eddie house had a killer game tho.
and maybe no alston for game 3 since he slapped house in the back of the head after he got sniped on.
hilarious comment after the game too

david aldridge - "did you say something to make rafer slap you in the head"
house - "no i just made a shot, and i think thats what happen you start bustin somebodys ass, they get upset like that and resort to bushly attacking"
haha

lol!

[Killer Crossover aka OG]

Damn man 1-1 equaliser no sweep-time So the next victory is in Orlando for the Magic-Team Hopefully!

[bee-boy]

Rajon Rondo is excellent. he will be the new premier point guard for a while.

[JaoSming]

Well according to www.nba.com/awards he is competing against David Lee, Devin Harris, and Charlie Villanueva for the MiP award, IMO he should easily win that.

[dopeboy]

You think he deserves it more than Devin Harris? Interesting opinion. I think MIP award goes to Harris this year because he had better regular season compared to year ago, but I have to agree that these 2 are only real candidates. Rondo could get it next year if he keeps playin' like in playoffs.

[JaoSming]

well in the definition of the award, Harris should win hands down, but I think Rondo would win it due to the bigger role he played in the team this year and the whole we're in the playoffs, you're not kinda situation

[dopeboy]

Good point. I'm not sure it will be enough to win, but the fact that he runs one of the best nba teams, does help. Who knows, if he would play for weaker team, what his stats would look like. With KG and Powe out, he suddenly averages close to tripple double.

[Lamrock]

Harris is having a worse season that 2007-08. He just uses more possessions. Rondo deserves the award, but I think he wins it because he plays on a 62 win team.

ApparentlyMIP hasn't been discontinued but...

[NovU]

MIP is all about individual improvement, team improvement or record doesn't really matter I believe. As far as Rondo's improvement, it was just ok since he was also great last season.

[dopeboy]

Harris doesn't have a worse season this year. Yes, he uses more possesions, but he has improved. He has more points, rebounds and assists per 40 minutes and less turnovers. And his PER is career high by a wide margin. Don't get me wrong, I really like Rondo, it's just Harris is my vote for MIP this year.

[Oakrhum]

Harris got his first all-star appearance. I also pick him but Rondo will get the votes.

[dopeboy]

Definetely. I don't know how close it will be though. They should be pretty close in the voting, but recent MVP, DPOY and ROY votings make me think that majority of 1st place votes will get one of them and that's gonna be the deciding factor.

[Lamrock]

MIP is all about individual improvement, team improvement or record doesn't really matter I believe. As far as Rondo's improvement, it was just ok since he was also great last season.

So why did Monta Ellis beat Kevin Martin for the award in 2006-07?

Harris doesn't have a worse season this year. Yes, he uses more possesions, but he has improved. He has more points, rebounds and assists per 40 minutes and less turnovers. And his PER is career high by a wide margin. Don't get me wrong, I really like Rondo, it's just Harris is my vote for MIP this year.

Harris' PER is higher because he gets more possessions and thus does more stuff per minute. His win shares have increased by 1 since 2006-07 (2007-08 was a slightly off year) because, again, he got more minutes. Even so, Rondo's increased by 2.7. Rondo's effective field goal percentage improved by almost 3 percent, while Harris recessed one percent.

Devin Harris is a great player, just not the most improved player.

[dopeboy]

Rondo's FG percentage would be way down too if he had to be teams leading scorer for first full season, especially when there wouldn't be any other scoring threat besides aging VC. Harris makes less turnovers when opposing teams are trying to shut down him all night long. When Rondo will start taking long 2pointers and treys regularly, his stats will look a bit different.

[Andrew]

MIP is all about individual improvement, team improvement or record doesn't really matter I believe.

In all fairness it shouldn't matter, but so often it ends up being a deciding factor so if the question is who will win as opposed to who should, then one has to take team success into account as the voting usually does.

[NovU]

Yup. But again, it's not The Most Improved Player On Improved Team award. Improved team record might help in the cause, but let's face it, Rondo's stats isn't really MIP material, the team didn't improve either. However, he was able to be a bigger part of Celtics overall scheme. That alone won't win him the award in the end nor that makes him MIP deserving.

[Andrew]

No argument here. But like I said, right or wrong team success often seems to be a deciding factor. If you're simply stating their own opinion of who should be the MIP, then it can be disregarded. But if you're making a prediction it's a factor that has to be considered since it would seem to be part of the voters' criteria, even if we armchair analysts see it differently.

[Killer Crossover aka OG]

Wow great game by Orlando Magic R.Lewis and Mister 4th Quarter Hedo Türkoglu, they was the best (Hedo huh as playmaker yes He-Do it) the bench was good too All in one a Great Magic-Team keep it up, the Magic-Ball

[AMenace]

Here's hoping to the magic owning in the rest of the games.