2010 NBA Eastern Conference Finals: Magic (#2) Vs. Celtics (#4)

because i hate boston. i think it stems from the patriots and red sox winning titles and then suddenly the celtics getting good. made me root against all boston sports.

 

I agree with you that the Lakers will have the revenge factor going in their favor, but Boston will have the motivation of showing that LA only won last year because of KG's injury.

 

Boston was the underdog the last time. Everybody said they wouldn't win, they had the Lakers locked up for a ring.

This time I think Boston not only has something to prove, but they are focused because the time for this kind of run is short so they're not playing around.

If they steal one in LA then woooo

 

I think you are right in principle, but I think I am going to disagree to a point.


Bynum is a better talent than Perkins, of course. Or Gasol being better at this point than KG, offensively. But here's thing that involves effectiveness. It's not simply about being better than other player in overall talent and skill. It's about the match-ups and style of play more than anything. Which is why the Lakers overwhelmed the Thunder (undersized) and Jazz (injured), and will probably do the same to the Suns (undersized and style of play)?

Boston is much different animal from each of those teams, in the fact that both of their starting center and power forward are most likely amongst the best in their position, defensively. Perkins is certainly not an easy task for Bynum (who ailing as we speak), being a bit more bullish and taller than the other centers Bynum has faced so far. The next funny thing is that I have not even mentioned Rasheed Wallace, Big Baby, and even the "seldomly" Shelden Williams.


It's not necessarily about them stopping Bynum and Gasol completely, but more neutralizing them or keeping them from going (well) over their average production (like Gasol having consistent 25-30 ppg and 12-15 rebs). In other words, the two probably are not going to dominate or completely tear apart Perkins and KG, it's not very likely to be a squash match (unless Boston completely gives up, which I do think will happen with the way they are playing) , like it is against the other three teams. Ex. if Bynum scores 12-15 points and 7-10 rebounds vs. Perkins 8-12 and 10-13 rebs. While, I can't see Gasol scoring 38 pts (or even 27-30) and getting 20 rebs against Perkins, KG, and Sheed, unless he has complete out of body experience.


Other things that favors the Celtics is team defense, bench play, and point guard (possibly overall backcourt play). They bring to the table an absolute buzzsaw for a defense

Rondo is probably going to get all sorts of easy opportunities with assist and scoring. If I had a player who is probably going to rip up the Lakers (or have an off the chart) from Boston's side it would be Rondo. Even he rips up Fisher and Co. in Game 1, the Lakers really cannot do anything different against him, because the Celtics have Ray Allen and Paul Pierce to worry about that. THe Lakers could shift Kobe or Artest over to the outstanding point guards from Utah and OKC, but that almost would play right into Boston's hand. Putting Fisher or Farmar on Allen or Pierce, another golden opportunity for Boston.

Another thing is the production of Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, if both players average around 38-44+, they'd have good of chance winning. I believe that Pierce's toughest opposition to play against was LeBron James by a mile. Both, Artest and Kobe are good defenders, but they are not going lock him up like LeBron did (where he was shooting under 40% and in single digits).

In some ways Phoenix or even a younger team, like the Thunder or Warriors, might be nightmare matchup for Boston with the up-tempo (with speed demons) and jumpshooting from the Suns and Warriors. The pace would wear Boston out by Game 4. While, LA is much more methodical team without any real outside shooting threats that try to establish everything in the post or through Kobe-isolation.

In fact, I'll say Boston (during the season) stood a far better chance of sweeping the Lakers (if it weren't for lucky Kobe shot) than did the Suns or Warriors. The last game, against the Suns, they were pretty much run out of the building, while in the first matchup, the Celtics were never any closer than a two car length deficit. While against the Thunder, the Celtics really do not have any to guard Kevin Durant

The matchups are so important.

For example, many posters often argue how much of better player Dwight Howard is than Yao Ming, given his production. Yet, Yao Ming easily outplays Dwight nearly 90% of the time. While, Yao Ming is neutralized by much smaller irrelevant centers with good foot speed and great outside range. Compounding on that thought is the same reason the undersized Rockets struggled so much against bigger teams and no presence in the defensively.

 

People still care about the playoffs?!

But according to ESPN, it's:

 

It's over.

Howard isn't a leader while Rashard and Carter are two of the mentally softest guys in the league. If JJ Reddick wasn't playing like the 6th man of the year both games would have been even worse for Orlando.

Let's talk about C's versus Lakers. I like Celtics in 7 because Rondo is going to absolutely eat Fisher's lunch. I also think Odom and Gasol are still two guys that you can completely disrupt with physical play. You can also expect Kobe to chuck 25 shots per game while shooting under 40% for the series.

 

I want to see how Ray Allen does the rest of the series.

Evidence from the past suggested that Stan Van Gundy can completely shut him down with a certain defense. Ray had a very good game 1 where he adjusted by driving the ball, but completely disappeared in game 2, taking only 6 shots. If Ray is plays like Rashard Lewis the rest of these games it might be better to go with Tony Allen.

 

It wouldn't have anything to do with you wanting the Lakers to play the Magic instead of the Celts, huh? C'mon, fess up.

 

As much as I hate to admit it, Boston is going to win this in 6, I'm a huge Magic and Rockets fan, I think the only reason we hung on last year was because we had 2 people who created for others, Turk and Alston, Also Alston was covering Rondo, which is what jameer nelson can't do. It's sad cuz i thought we had a chance to bring home, guess I'll just pray for a miracle. (Big Three roll there ankles )

 

Good post. I was wondering, during the Cavs-Celtics series, why Brown didn't use Hickson more in place of Shaq, since he was featured in an athletic lineup that Boston couldn't hang with in the regular season. Shaq was intended to matchup with Howard, but there was no place for him against the Celtics. It was not a coincidence that sorry Atlanta, one of the most athletic teams in the NBA, blitzed Boston 4-0 in the regular season.

Lakers-Celtics should be an interesting series, assuming it happens (which seems inevitable right now). Both teams play excellent defense. LA is a bigger, Boston tougher. LA probably has the top two players but Boston the next four. HCA for LA is pretty big.

 

I loathe the Lakers vs Celtics match-up just because Stern is creaming his pants at the thought. Then again I wish it'd be a Magic-Suns final too, lol.

 

I think Stern would have preferred Lebron vs. Kobe to Lakers vs. Celtics.

 

Looking forward to this game........ hoping it'll be close at the end like game 2 was.. Interested to see how SVG inserts Lewis into their offense.

 

Hope Lewis shows up today.

Will this game be on ESPN 3?

 

Should be.

 

Howard is not an elite center. An elite rebounder and shot blocker but beyond that

 

He should be asking Hakeem in the offseason to train him with post moves and how to finish his hook softly off the glass.

 

wow............... that was terrible offense
all i see is people standing around waiting for Dwight to get in position.....
looking like the cavaliers last series

i would trade Lewis and Nelson this offseason

 

The Celtics are going beat that A$$.


However, I think Matt Barnes would be a nice pickup for our team in the offseason.

He brings an element of toughness, can shoot the three, is a great slasher and could thrive in RA's offense.

 

wow...............................

6 points in 10 minutes..............