I strongly believe the Celtics will step up against Cavs

[gkiteisscal]

i don't think they are saving anything for anyone nor do i think they are totally gassed. they just don't have a good inside post game.  they can't play inside out, so they get trapped and doubled.  they are a good enough team to break down the defense for stretches. but the the defense adjusts, the c's have no other scoring threat and then they try to force it. this creates fast break points and kills momentum.

the only reason why i think they may match up better against Cle is that they have a size advantage in the backcourt (didn't make that much of a difference against chicago) and cle doesn't have great shot blockers.  side-show and wallace are good shot blockers but they are not noah, thomas & howard. 

[crownsy]

i don't think they are saving anything for anyone nor do i think they are totally gassed. they just don't have a good inside post game.  they can't play inside out, so they get trapped and doubled.  they are a good enough team to break down the defense for stretches. but the the defense adjusts, the c's have no other scoring threat and then they try to force it. this creates fast break points and kills momentum.

the only reason why i think they may match up better against Cle is that they have a size advantage in the backcourt (didn't make that much of a difference against chicago) and cle doesn't have great shot blockers.  side-show and wallace are good shot blockers but they are not noah, thomas & howard. 

CLev has one of the top Shot blockers in the league, that lebron fella can be a little nasty on those.

[xmuscularghandix]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkTxir8jFJM&feature=channel_page

hype machine.

[guava_wrench]

After we win game 7 of this series, I believe the Celtics will step things up. I think they are fully aware of the task ahead and how they are the underdogs.

I just get this feeling that they aren't playing their best basketball(except maybe rondo) because in the back of their mind they know they can beat the Bulls and the Magic in a 7 game series without it.

The "not playing their best basketball" line is empty of significance. People say this all the time, but does every player on a team ever play their 'best' basketball at the same time? Look at Orlando -- are they playing their best basketball? Look at Hedo's horrible shooting night. Look at Redick.

Alternate sports realities can always be speculated about. But all that is truly meaningful is reality, because what what actually happens was, by definition, possible.

It seems we might already be stepping things up, and we might not have anywhere else to go. Our only shot against Clev might be high risk-high reward gameplay - lot's of 3's that, if they fall, would be hard for them to keep pace with. Lots of pressure defense might also be a good idea for the same reason. We might be outclassed if we try to win it on ability.

What would really help is Pierce playing monster defense on Lebron, but that will be tougher without KG backing him up.

[LarBrd33]

making the leap that we actually win game 7...

The only way we "step up" against the Cavs is if KG "steps on" the court.

[hpantazo]

i don't think they are saving anything for anyone nor do i think they are totally gassed. they just don't have a good inside post game.  they can't play inside out, so they get trapped and doubled.  they are a good enough team to break down the defense for stretches. but the the defense adjusts, the c's have no other scoring threat and then they try to force it. this creates fast break points and kills momentum.

the only reason why i think they may match up better against Cle is that they have a size advantage in the backcourt (didn't make that much of a difference against chicago) and cle doesn't have great shot blockers.  side-show and wallace are good shot blockers but they are not noah, thomas & howard. 

CLev has one of the top Shot blockers in the league, that lebron fella can be a little nasty on those.

Dwest aint too  shabby either

[gkiteisscal]

i don't think they are saving anything for anyone nor do i think they are totally gassed. they just don't have a good inside post game.  they can't play inside out, so they get trapped and doubled.  they are a good enough team to break down the defense for stretches. but the the defense adjusts, the c's have no other scoring threat and then they try to force it. this creates fast break points and kills momentum.

the only reason why i think they may match up better against Cle is that they have a size advantage in the backcourt (didn't make that much of a difference against chicago) and cle doesn't have great shot blockers.  side-show and wallace are good shot blockers but they are not noah, thomas & howard. 

CLev has one of the top Shot blockers in the league, that lebron fella can be a little nasty on those.

Dwest aint too  shabby either

i failed to mention LBJ because i figured he would have a 1-on-1 assignment with paul.  this would negate his presence as a help defender/weak side shot blocker. 

but i can't deny the fact that he is a beast (in all facets of the game).

as for dwest he is a good shot blocker for a guard and is at his best in transition.  but i don't think he is a serious threat to alter shots at the rim, certainly not in the way that DH, Noah and Thomas were. More like a Rose in that regard.

[hpantazo]

i don't think they are saving anything for anyone nor do i think they are totally gassed. they just don't have a good inside post game.  they can't play inside out, so they get trapped and doubled.  they are a good enough team to break down the defense for stretches. but the the defense adjusts, the c's have no other scoring threat and then they try to force it. this creates fast break points and kills momentum.

the only reason why i think they may match up better against Cle is that they have a size advantage in the backcourt (didn't make that much of a difference against chicago) and cle doesn't have great shot blockers.  side-show and wallace are good shot blockers but they are not noah, thomas & howard. 

CLev has one of the top Shot blockers in the league, that lebron fella can be a little nasty on those.

Dwest aint too  shabby either

i failed to mention LBJ because i figured he would have a 1-on-1 assignment with paul.  this would negate his presence as a help defender/weak side shot blocker. 

but i can't deny the fact that he is a beast (in all facets of the game).

as for dwest he is a good shot blocker for a guard and is at his best in transition.  but i don't think he is a serious threat to alter shots at the rim, certainly not in the way that DH, Noah and Thomas were. More like a Rose in that regard.

I agree, but the cavs totally kill us on size. Big Z, Big Ben, Sideshow bob, and Joe Smith versus Perk, Davis, and Scal is very tough.

[ScoobyDoo]

Crownsy, I understand what you're saying. I can honsetly say I'm as proud of what this team has accomplished without KG as I've ever been of any Celtic team...and that goes back along way. They have fought and clawed and gone further so far than most would have expected. They have "tremendous heart".

But to say that this team plays with anywhere near the fire and intensity on a  consistent basis, minute to minute as they do when KG is on the floor doing his thing is inaccurate. It's an emotional impossibility. That's why KG is KG and why a handful of other players in the history of the sport are who they are ( Bird, Magic, LeBron, etc...). Their intensity level is off the charts and they "demand" the same from the other players. Their intensity is contagious and it elevates the emotional levels of everyone around them. That's why they're so unique.

KG gives them the intesnity at another level, the swagger at another level and the mental aggression at another level.

It's not a knock on thsi team it's just a statement of fact and I think KG's impact on this team is greater because of this than because of any numbers he may or may not put up.   

[Jon]

As much as I'd like to think otherwise, the only way that the C's beat the Cavs is if KG comes back near 100% or LeBron goes down.