The team that most needs to win Game 2 to stay in the series is the Spurs. #1) they let last game slip away and mentally they need a boost against the Lakers. #2) the Lakers have won like 15 of the last 16 playoff games, what is the odds no matter what kind of roll their opponent is on they can take 4/5 from a Shaq/Kobe team? 3/5 is difficult, but is far more attainable. The next team that needs to win Game 2 is Charlotte. Now I could conceive of Charlotte getting on a role, especially if they get all their players back playing well, and getting back into the series after being down 2-0, but I think it will be tough. The Nets have a fairly balanced team and good road team as well so it will be hard to take 4/5 even if Charlotte starts to peak. Still if any Eastern team could do it on the Nets (come back 0-2), it is Charlotte. Now for the next two teams I don't think it is near as important. The Celtics. While the Celts were not good on the road so far, Detriot looked even worse on the road against the feeble Raptors. I look for the first road win in the series to be telling, and even if the Celts lose game 2 I would expect them to return to Detriot for game 5 tied 2-2. While if Detriot wins game 2 they have the upper hand, if Boston wins game 2 they have a upper hand as well. Nonetheless for either team the series will not effectively be over after game 2 or even game 3 (unless Detriot is up 3-0). The Mavs. I expect these series to be more up and down than anyone. Both teams are good road teams capable of getting on multi-game shooting rolls hard to deal with. The Mavs can get down 2-0, go home and get even 2-2, with a sprint to the finish. 2-0 certainly puts the pressure on them to hold serve at home, but they could do it. On the flip side if Dallas wins I don't think Sac panics, either team can certainly win one on the others court. Anyway, that is how I see it.
