Oh my lord, what a finish to the game. I think if you're a fan of either team after game 1 you have to feel good and bad about your chances about winning the series IMO.

 

Boston is more physical and can guard all facets of Orlando's offense for stretches at a time. However, the Magic are capable of going on runs that Boston doesn't have the firepower offensively to keep up with. This is going to be a good series.

 

I'm not sure I'd feel tha great if I were Orlando. It's not like the Celtics played their best game. Certainly Orlando can play better, but so can Boston. Rondo had a solid game, nothing spectacular. I thought Orlando would win because I was skeptical of Boston being able to maintain the necessary level of play without wearing down. If they don't, their defense is going to give Orlando a lot of problems. Howard is the only big on Orlando's team that you have to worry about and Boston has four guys they can throw at him. They have the type of team that can match up defensively.

 

Howard is the best center in the league, but he's still not a guy that I want to go to late in games. Even in a single coverage situation, if you can force him to shoot anything besides a dunk or layup, you've got a chance to force a miss. He missed several today in the fourth against single coverage.

 

I think this series will be a good one. I wonder if home court will be a huge deal in this one...these teams played 7 last year, so I think both are capable of winning on the road. Getting the first one in Orlando was a huge win. I was iffy on picking anyone to win this series, so winning game one, especially as the road team could be a sign of things to come.

 

Go Boston. I'm really intrigued by a Lakers/Celtics rematch...assuming LA can beat Phoenix.

Orlando was going to lose a game eventually, we will see how they respond in Game 2

I'm not sure I'd feel tha great if I were Orlando. It's not like the Celtics played their best game. Certainly Orlando can play better, but so can Boston. Rondo had a solid game, nothing spectacular. I thought Orlando would win because I was skeptical of Boston being able to maintain the necessary level of play without wearing down. If they don't, their defense is going to give Orlando a lot of problems. Howard is the only big on Orlando's team that you have to worry about and Boston has four guys they can throw at him. They have the type of team that can match up defensively.

 

Howard is the best center in the league, but he's still not a guy that I want to go to late in games. Even in a single coverage situation, if you can force him to shoot anything besides a dunk or layup, you've got a chance to force a miss. He missed several today in the fourth against single coverage.

 

I think this series will be a good one. I wonder if home court will be a huge deal in this one...these teams played 7 last year, so I think both are capable of winning on the road. Getting the first one in Orlando was a huge win. I was iffy on picking anyone to win this series, so winning game one, especially as the road team could be a sign of things to come.

 

Go Boston. I'm really intrigued by a Lakers/Celtics rematch...assuming LA can beat Phoenix.

 

I think Orlando has a few things they can be optimistic about. The key one being that they only shot 5-22 from 3, and at least 3 of those came late in the game. You'd have to think they'll shoot better over the course of the series. Also, Boston let them back in the game, which is a problem I think Boston has had all year. They just always seemt to find a spot in the games where they can't score the rock. Today, it was the last 5 & 1/2 minutes of the game, where they hit zero FGs. Had Orlando played a little better they probably win the game.

 

However, credit has to go to the Celtics. They can stop the two things that make the Magic go. One they don't have to double DHoward, as you said. Like JVG said during the game, he looked more like Lois Lane than Superman today. The other is that they don't let the Magic penetrate and swing the ball at will. I think that is one of the reasons Orlando shot so poorly, they couldn't play their normal style of basketball against the Celtics. I took the Celtics to win the series, and I see no reason why I would want to change. They match up very well with Orlando and I'm going with the Big 4 over Howard, Carter & Nelson at the end of games. Howard can't do anything besides dunk, Carter hid at the end of the game (only shot 5 FTs or so) and Nelson is a warrior but I'd take my chances with him beating me. Lewis hasn't been the same guy all year.

 

With that said Orlando now gets a chance to bounce back. But if Howard cannot keep his emotions in check against the Celtic D, I don't think this is going to be a particularly long series at all.

Boston takes care of business in game one. They may be long in the tooth but it's hard to doubt a team with two to three possible HOF'ers and a young player like Rondo. The Magic have been awesome since the AS break but winning series over Charlotte and Atlanta aren't huge accomplishments in my mind.

I had the miss the last 6 minutes of the game. Saw everything up until then. Rasheed is the type of player you want on your team, but never the type of player you want to go up against. He was in Howard's head from the start.

Rasheed is a huge asset to Boston if he can flash some of his old form.

 

Orlando is facing a must win in game 2. I can't see them rebounding if they lose two on their home court to open the series. I expect they'll win Tuesday.

Orlando needs Vince to step up in this series...especially late in games.

Orlando needs Vince to step up in this series...especially late in games.

 

What did I say earlier? :lol:

 

Vince Carter is not a proven guy in crunchtime in the playoffs. I wouldn't want to base my season around him being af finisher at the end of games.

Call me crazy but I'm still not buying the Magic as being better than last season. Turk was huge for them last year and was a big time playmaker. The Magic had only 10 assist yesterday. I know they didn't shoot well, but it's not like Boston played well offensively either.

That was an ugly ugly game, don't really know what to expect when they play game 2.

2 T's in a matter of seconds.

The Lakers are killing the Suns. Lakers-Celtics would be an awesome series.

Kobe doin work!!!!!

Somebody must have told Kobe he was back in 2005 or something HT.

Haven't we seen Kobe do well after a long rest, it's game 2 we need to look at. Lakers coasting in game 1, no surprise