Do you still believe?

[Celtics4ever]

I am rooting for us , but it is a tall order and a longshot

[cman88]

I am rooting for us , but it is a tall order and a longshot

Yeah its a longshot, one game at a time. I think the series is at least going 6. In my mind I just cant see the celtics losing 3 straight in the TD garden.

Only thing that gives me hope is that maybe the Celtics found something in Game 4 that has jumpstarted them playing to their potential and MAYBE the law of averages is going to bring the Heat back to earth somewhat. i mean this was a tad shocking on ESPN

"Boston had come into this game shooting 31-for-106 (29.2%) from 3-point range over the first three games, compared with 44-for-92 (47.8%) for Miami."   So boston is shooting well below their averages and Miami was shooting lights out.

[gouki88]

The thing to keep in mind is that this one loss could be the start of an invasive and fatal crack in Miami’s armor.

The simple fact is that the talent discrepancy in this series is monumental, and we should be winning virtually every game. Miami has been playing way over their head, and I think a lot of that is due to their confidence and riding that high.

If we can keep our energy high and take a convincing win in game 5, I think we see Miami revert back closer to their regular season form after getting off this high and it becomes a coin flip series.

The biggest concern we should have is Spo. He’s such a master tactician that can throw us a loop with an adjustment tgat could turn the tide of a single gamr.

Right now it’s still a long shot given our inconsistency and home play. But if we can get Game 5 and keep up our intensity, I truly think it’s a 50/50 series after that.

Yeah, if Vincent & Martin revert to their usual level of play then this series is back on. Spo is the wildcard.

[Donoghus]

I am rooting for us , but it is a tall order and a longshot

Yup. 

Can't say I really believe yet but ride or die.

[Kernewek]

The thing to keep in mind is that this one loss could be the start of an invasive and fatal crack in Miami’s armor.

The simple fact is that the talent discrepancy in this series is monumental, and we should be winning virtually every game. Miami has been playing way over their head, and I think a lot of that is due to their confidence and riding that high.

If we can keep our energy high and take a convincing win in game 5, I think we see Miami revert back closer to their regular season form after getting off this high and it becomes a coin flip series.

The biggest concern we should have is Spo. He’s such a master tactician that can throw us a loop with an adjustment tgat could turn the tide of a single gamr.

Right now it’s still a long shot given our inconsistency and home play. But if we can get Game 5 and keep up our intensity, I truly think it’s a 50/50 series after that.

Yeah, if Vincent & Martin revert to their usual level of play then this series is back on. Spo is the wildcard.

Miami's eFG in Games 1 and 3 was .635 and .685. That was all Spolestra?

[gouki88]

The thing to keep in mind is that this one loss could be the start of an invasive and fatal crack in Miami’s armor.

The simple fact is that the talent discrepancy in this series is monumental, and we should be winning virtually every game. Miami has been playing way over their head, and I think a lot of that is due to their confidence and riding that high.

If we can keep our energy high and take a convincing win in game 5, I think we see Miami revert back closer to their regular season form after getting off this high and it becomes a coin flip series.

The biggest concern we should have is Spo. He’s such a master tactician that can throw us a loop with an adjustment tgat could turn the tide of a single gamr.

Right now it’s still a long shot given our inconsistency and home play. But if we can get Game 5 and keep up our intensity, I truly think it’s a 50/50 series after that.

Yeah, if Vincent & Martin revert to their usual level of play then this series is back on. Spo is the wildcard.

Miami's eFG in Games 1 and 3 was .635 and .685. That was all Spolestra?

That was the Martin & Vincent surprise supernova. And us leaving them open

[Neurotic Guy]

On the downside we’ve been looking for that indicator that the Cs have found their way the entire second half of the season.  Every time they show a spark, we think maybe this is it.  So the likelihood that they’ll sustain whatever got into them last night is low.  But not impossible.

[Kernewek]

The thing to keep in mind is that this one loss could be the start of an invasive and fatal crack in Miami’s armor.

The simple fact is that the talent discrepancy in this series is monumental, and we should be winning virtually every game. Miami has been playing way over their head, and I think a lot of that is due to their confidence and riding that high.

If we can keep our energy high and take a convincing win in game 5, I think we see Miami revert back closer to their regular season form after getting off this high and it becomes a coin flip series.

The biggest concern we should have is Spo. He’s such a master tactician that can throw us a loop with an adjustment tgat could turn the tide of a single gamr.

Right now it’s still a long shot given our inconsistency and home play. But if we can get Game 5 and keep up our intensity, I truly think it’s a 50/50 series after that.

Yeah, if Vincent & Martin revert to their usual level of play then this series is back on. Spo is the wildcard.

Miami's eFG in Games 1 and 3 was .635 and .685. That was all Spolestra?

That was the Martin & Vincent surprise supernova. And us leaving them open

Indeed it could be - it's no secret that we've made the series harder than it should be, but at the egregious risk of oversimplification (on CelticsBlog? say it ain't so!) flipping heads four times out of seven is the same no matter if you flip 3 tails first.

It's very possible Miami wins the next game, but I would be more surprised if their roleplayers didn't fall back to earth.

[gouki88]

The thing to keep in mind is that this one loss could be the start of an invasive and fatal crack in Miami’s armor.

The simple fact is that the talent discrepancy in this series is monumental, and we should be winning virtually every game. Miami has been playing way over their head, and I think a lot of that is due to their confidence and riding that high.

If we can keep our energy high and take a convincing win in game 5, I think we see Miami revert back closer to their regular season form after getting off this high and it becomes a coin flip series.

The biggest concern we should have is Spo. He’s such a master tactician that can throw us a loop with an adjustment tgat could turn the tide of a single gamr.

Right now it’s still a long shot given our inconsistency and home play. But if we can get Game 5 and keep up our intensity, I truly think it’s a 50/50 series after that.

Yeah, if Vincent & Martin revert to their usual level of play then this series is back on. Spo is the wildcard.

Miami's eFG in Games 1 and 3 was .635 and .685. That was all Spolestra?

That was the Martin & Vincent surprise supernova. And us leaving them open

Indeed it could be - it's no secret that we've made the series harder than it should be, but at the egregious risk of oversimplification (on CelticsBlog? say it ain't so!) flipping heads four times out of seven is the same no matter if you flip 3 tails first.

It's very possible Miami wins the next game, but I would be more surprised if their roleplayers didn't fall back to earth.

I agree, I think our defence is slowly waking up to the idea that these players will punish us if we let them shoot open shots. I think that was exemplified by how hard White was fighting over and around screens to keep attached to Robinson, who scored 2 points compared to 22 in G3.

[Celtic_Pride777]

No. For my own sanity, I'm not gonna get my hopes up unless the Cs win Game 5. Then I might believe in this team.

If they win Game 5, Game 6 will undoubtedly be the most important game they will ever play in their lives.

If the Celtics make it to game 7, the series is over for Miami.

[celticsclay]

The thing to keep in mind is that this one loss could be the start of an invasive and fatal crack in Miami’s armor.

The simple fact is that the talent discrepancy in this series is monumental, and we should be winning virtually every game. Miami has been playing way over their head, and I think a lot of that is due to their confidence and riding that high.

If we can keep our energy high and take a convincing win in game 5, I think we see Miami revert back closer to their regular season form after getting off this high and it becomes a coin flip series.

The biggest concern we should have is Spo. He’s such a master tactician that can throw us a loop with an adjustment tgat could turn the tide of a single gamr.

Right now it’s still a long shot given our inconsistency and home play. But if we can get Game 5 and keep up our intensity, I truly think it’s a 50/50 series after that.

Yeah, if Vincent & Martin revert to their usual level of play then this series is back on. Spo is the wildcard.

Miami's eFG in Games 1 and 3 was .635 and .685. That was all Spolestra?

That was the Martin & Vincent surprise supernova. And us leaving them open

Indeed it could be - it's no secret that we've made the series harder than it should be, but at the egregious risk of oversimplification (on CelticsBlog? say it ain't so!) flipping heads four times out of seven is the same no matter if you flip 3 tails first.

It's very possible Miami wins the next game, but I would be more surprised if their roleplayers didn't fall back to earth.

I agree, I think our defence is slowly waking up to the idea that these players will punish us if we let them shoot open shots. I think that was exemplified by how hard White was fighting over and around screens to keep attached to Robinson, who scored 2 points compared to 22 in G3.

Gouki hundred percent agree with you about the shooting over screens, but have to point this out about Robinson because I was discussing him with my brother today. 12 or 15 of Robinson 22 came in the last 5 minutes of the games. His box score really made him look like a factor in the game he wasn’t. Whenever he is out there it is a gift to Boston caused by heat injuries and we target him relentlessly on D. What you are saying is true about Strauss, vincent and Martin. If we stop what they were doing the first 4 games it is huge.

[Stig]

As much as I want to believe, this team has not played two great games in a row this off season, with our terrible record at home, I think next game is the last one of the series.

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

No. For my own sanity, I'm not gonna get my hopes up unless the Cs win Game 5. Then I might believe in this team.

If they win Game 5, Game 6 will undoubtedly be the most important game they will ever play in their lives.

If the Celtics make it to game 7, the series is over for Miami.

yeah if we somehow get this to 6 this will be a call to arms for miami and basically a last stand because they do not want a game 7 at the garden . game 6 would be a war and put all on pins and needles.

[SparzWizard]

No. For my own sanity, I'm not gonna get my hopes up unless the Cs win Game 5. Then I might believe in this team.

If they win Game 5, Game 6 will undoubtedly be the most important game they will ever play in their lives.

If the Celtics make it to game 7, the series is over for Miami.

yeah if we somehow get this to 6 this will be a call to arms for miami and basically a last stand because they do not want a game 7 at the garden . game 6 would be a war and put all on pins and needles.

Jimmy Butler already saying that Game 4's loss will build momentum for Miami, and to play like their backs are against the wall in Game 5. Very interesting mindset for being up 3-1

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

No. For my own sanity, I'm not gonna get my hopes up unless the Cs win Game 5. Then I might believe in this team.

If they win Game 5, Game 6 will undoubtedly be the most important game they will ever play in their lives.

If the Celtics make it to game 7, the series is over for Miami.

yeah if we somehow get this to 6 this will be a call to arms for miami and basically a last stand because they do not want a game 7 at the garden . game 6 would be a war and put all on pins and needles.

Jimmy Butler already saying that Game 4's loss will build momentum for Miami, and to play like their backs are against the wall in Game 5. Very interesting mindset for being up 3-1

sounds like a few things here:

1) he is taking nothing for granted and realizes it can go south quick and altho unprecedented sometimes it is hard to stop the bleeding when yo are cut,

2) he thinks their best shot to finish us off is game 5 because we have been horrendous in these games.

3) he has ore faith in beating us in game 5 than them at home in game 6 because he knows we play better on the road

4) we suck at home but not in game 7. he knows this. he does not want this wound to fester anymore. if they lose game 5 game 6 is a must win for them and he knows this.