I don’t have anything witty to say, so I’ll just toss up some links if you want some pre-game reading:
(7:55 p.m. update) Just got out of the locker room. Everyone is dressing for tonight with the exception of Marquis Daniels, who Doc says could be out for awhile. Brian Scalabrine will take his place on the active roster. Glen Davis also fielded questions by reporters, noting he did not lose a tooth in his collision with Dwight Howard’s elbow.
Rasheed Wallace also worked up a full sweat in the team’s pregame walk through and appeared to be moving well as he served himself in the dining room pregame. Feel free to insert joke here.
All in all, felt like a fairly loose but focused locker room tonight. A full recap to follow in just hours. —B Robb
• Here’s an ESPN roundtable where seven experts answer various questions about tonight’s game, including whether an Orlando series win would be better characterized as a Boston collapse or a Magic comeback. Four of the seven experts pick Boston to win the series.
• In that ESPN roundtable, Marc Stein says that Rajon Rondo has “curiously lost some zip,” making Stein the latest NBA watcher to wonder if Rajon is hurting. Other that have mentioned it include SI’s Ian Thomsen, yours truly, and Sebastian Pruiti at NBA Playbook, who notes that the Magic are punishing Rondo when he tries—and fails—to be a factor on the offensive glass.
To my eyes, Rondo appeared to be having trouble changing directions in Game 5. Jameer Nelson had great success getting Rajon moving one way and then darting the other way around a screen.
But Rajon continues to insist he is fine, and Danny Ainge went on WEEI earlier today and said (among other things) that he is not aware of any cramps or spasms bothering Rondo.
I will close my eyes and believe.
Not just in Rondo, but in the team, and in the idea that they can limp to one more win against Orlando, tonight.
Do you still believe? Consider this your open thread. Tell us what you’re seeing. How’s Rondo look? How is Doc dealing with a (potentially) much thinner big man rotation? Is Glen Davis OK? Any defensive adjustments on Orlando’s screen/roll attack?
Have at it.
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@RBD – yes. We’ve really hit more than our share of last-second 3s tonight, and it’s got a lot to do with why we’re keeping them at arm’s length..
@complexity – let’s talk about it after the game.
Okay assuming the Suns don’t steal game 7 here’s my take on the matchups for Cs vs. Lakers
Rondo vs. Fisher (or Bryant). Rondo would steam roll Fisher, so after the Lakers find out this matchup isn’t working they’ll go to Bryant. Kobe will do a good job limiting his scoring, but he’ll still get a lot of assists, so either way we win.
Ray vs. Bryant (or Fisher) Bryant wins by a large margain, but Fisher will end up guarding Ray who is not quick enough to guard Ray off the screens so he wins against Fisher.
Pierce vs. Artest. PIERCE DOMINATES. Nuff sed.
KG vs. Gasoft. Each will play well, but KG plays better D so slight advantage to KG.
Perk vs. Bynum. Since Perkins is nonexistent on offense it goes to Bynum, but he’s not going to scoring much.
Sheed, BB, and TA vs Odom, Brown, and Farmar. Odom is the best out of that group, then Sheed (when he’s trying) then Big Baby, and then TA. But it will be close if Brown or Farmar score over double digits in some games.
C’s take game 1, 3, 4, and win game 5 115-75 to raise #18!
KG’s shots get so flat when he loses confidence.
Come on, how about some stops?
@Danno, yes sir.
Paul Pierce is making Vince Carter bow at his feet!
@IloveGreen, I love your confidence, but Artest always gives Pierce fits. Pierce’s game relies on being stronger than the guy he’s going against, and he’s not stronger than Artest. And I don’t see how KG wins the matchup against Gasol since Gasol is going to score much more than KG. True, KG’s team defense will help slow down the other Lakers more than Gasol’s defense will slow down the other Celtics, but I have a hard time not seeing this matchup favoring the Lakers.
Only a couple of minutes to go boys, keep scoring, keep defending.
Wow. How does Eddie House feel right now?
Ray Allen. Yes.
Aww, Mama Allen is so cute.
Perk hits a jumper!
Late dagger by Perkins!
I love how the resident pessimist, I love Green (No offence intended buddy), is so pumped up right now, loving it haha!
Gino time!!
VICTOREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
NBA FINALS BABY!!
Love how Rondo went up to Pietrus after he missed the free throw, as if Pietrus was his teammate.
Wheeeeeeee!!!
Celtics!!!!!!!!!!!Wow…
Holy F*@kin Sh!t!!! We’re playing for the Championship!!!!
Classy words from Pierce to Doris Burke. Seems the Celtics aren’t nearly as down on the Magic and Duwight as their fans are.
@dslack- If KG is hitting his jumper consistantly, and hitting those fadeaways in the post like he did against Cleveland consistantly, he’ll win the matchup. He doesn’t even have to play that well on offense. Although I have a feeling he’d pay A LOT more of his attention to limiting Gasol.
Pierce had to go against one of the strongest guys in the league, and quickest in Lebron. Obviously he didn’t play well on offense, but against the Lakers he won’t have to be guarding a Lebron, he’ll be guarding Artest. Less energy spent on defense, more on offense, and he’ll be more effective against Artest than Lebron. Even though Artest is a MUCH better defender, Pierce will have the advantage.
MEAN
@LStrike- My pessimissm usually comes after a brutal loss and I’m just pissed off at the Celtics.
No hate on this board tonight, WE’RE GOING FOR #18!!!!!!!!
Didn’t I say Boston by 10 tonight?
And everyone was saying this earlier, but I didn’t wanna say it until the win was in the bag: By golly, Nate really did win a game for us!
I agree the 6-0 run by Ray and the play by N.R, and Pierce, them three points, wow.
I don’t know, man. I had thought that Artest was done, but he got quicker as the season went on. After seeing him shut down Durant in round 1, I’m not feeling too good about Pierce’s chances against him. But I’m glad we’ll have the chance to see what’ll happen.
Go Suns! Take the Lakers to 7!
Doc is a nostradamus.
I don’t think you can say he “shut him down” because I’m pretty sure he dropped over 30 once or twice and got in the high 20s a few games. Pierce will average in the low 20s and grab around 8 rebounds, and Artest will probably drop like 8 points a game. So he won’t be much of a factor.
LMAO @ KG’S KARATE CHOPS, HAHA, I SAID THAT.
It really was a Paul/Ray series.
Durant’s shooting numbers were 5-23, 5-14, 6-12, 8-24, 12-26, and 7-24, for a total of 35% from the field and 28.6% from 3PT. I’d call that shutting him down. He did a great job of getting to the line so he still put up 25 per game (30+ once), but he had a lousy shooting series. I hope we see better from Pierce.
Well Paul is not going to be puttin up 20+ shots per game if he’s off. He’ll look for better shots, and I think he’ll do better than Durant. Although I take back what I said, he won’t dominate, but he’ll definitley win it.
Artest is dead on offense nowadays.
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