Lee to return in game 3? Celtics Hub on NBA Today

Posted by Brian Robb on May 6, 2009 20371 commenthttp%3A%2F%2Fcelticshub.com%2F2009%2F05%2F06%2Flee-to-return-in-game-3-celtics-hub-on-nba-today%2FLee+to+return+in+game+3%3F+Celtics+Hub+on+NBA+Today++2009-05-06+16%3A52%3A13Brian+Robbhttp%3A%2F%2Fcelticshub.com%2F%3Fp%3D2037

If the Celtics did not feel like game 2 was a must win all ready, the news out of Orlando may have made tonight’s contest even more pressing.

ESPN.com is reporting Lee is planning on being able to suit up for game 3 of this series back in Orlando. This comes only days after Stan Van Gundy was quoted as saying it would be a bonus, if Lee came back this series at all for the Magic.

Quick Analysis: The impact of Lee’s game 3 return comes as two fold for Orlando. First, it gives them a superior defensive weapon at shooting guard against Ray Allen. J.J. Redick and Michael Pietrus held down the fort quite nicely in Game 1, but it’s unlikely they would be able to hang in there and slow down Allen for an entire 7 game series. Lee has proven to be effective on the perimeter against Allen as in the past two regular season games the teams played in March, he helped to limit Ray to just 25 percent shooting from beyond the arc.

The return of Lee is also crucial for the Magic, since it adds some extra firepower to their up and down bench. Pietrus had a phenomenal game 1 scoring the ball, but if you listen to Magic bloggers out there like Ben Q Rock, they considered the Frenchman’s 17 points to be more of an aberration as opposed to a sign of a big series to come.

It is unknown whether Lee will regain his starting spot immediately upon returning to the active roster. Whether it’s Redick or Lee starting though, the odd man out will provide some additional firepower to the Orlando bench that will force the C’s smaller backup guards in Marbury and House will to be aware of Lee or Redick’s presence on the offensive end.

Anyway you look at it, Lee’s early scheduled return is a huge boon for the Magic team, and will make the C’s attempts to dig themselves out of this 1-0 hole without home court advantage a bit more daunting.

Celtics Hub on ESPN’s NBA Today Podcast

I was fortunate enough to speak with Jason Smith yesterday on ESPN’s NBA Today Podcast to discuss the match up between the C’s and Orlando. Some of the topics we touched upon included game 1, the Celtics’ bench, defending Dwight Howard, as well as looking ahead to the rest of the series. You can check out the full podcast here. (My segment begins at the five minute mark)

Check back with Celtics Hub later this afternoon for a Game 2 Preview by Zach Lowe as he debates whether tonight is a must win game for the C’s.