Archive for the ‘Previews’ Category

Well, here we are. I can’t believe that what started in mid-October with us wondering whether Lester Hudson could contribute or Marquis Daniels would fit in ends tonight, eight months later, in a winner-take-all Game 7 against the Los Angeles Lakers. 

In my lifetime, the Celtics have played in one Game 7 of the NBA Finals—in 1984, also against the Lakers. There’s a decent chance we’ll never experience one of these again. Appreciate the history. Hope for victory. 

Consider this your Game 7 open thread. Tell us what you’re seeing. And, as always: Go Celtics.

There’s really no need for a prelude to this game, is there?  This is as big a non-elimination game as there can ever be in the NBA. 

Consider this your Game 5 open thread. Tell us what you’re seeing. 

Let’s hope the last game in Boston this season ends happily.

The Los Angeles Lakers have lost three consecutive games just once since dealing for Pau Gasol in February 2008. 

Consider this your Game 4 open thread. Tell us what you’re seeing.

The Los Angeles Lakers have not trailed in a series since last year’s second-round bloodbath against the Houston Rockets, when Houston won Game 1 and never led in the series again. 

Tonight is a chance to make the Lakers feel the sort of pressure they haven’t felt in a long time. 

Consider this your Game 3 open thread. Are the C’s trying to get KG going? What about Pierce? Has LA changed their defense in the wake of Ray Allen’s Game 2 explosion? Does Pau Gasol look like an ostrich? 

Tell us what you’re seeing. Let’s hope we all sleep well tonight.

You all know the odds—that teams that go up 2-0 in best-of-seven series have gone on to win nearly 90 percent of the time. That only 14 teams in league history have ever rallied from a 2-0 deficit in any round. The Celtics are already facing the 47-0 Phil Jackson thing; lose tonight, and you’ll be reading about a pile of bad historical stats before midnight. 

A win tonight, and this is a whole different series. 

Consider this your Game 2 open thread, and this game promises to provide a lot of fodder for a nice open thread. We could see a bundle of adjustments in how Boston guards Kobe; how the C’s respond to the Gasol/Kobe high screen/roll; and how Doc divvies up the minute and match-ups among his four-man front line. 

Tell us what you’re seeing—what’s working, what doesn’t appear to be working, how Rondo looks, etc. 

Let’s hope we all sleep well tonight.