Down 2-0, Do You Believe?

[Vermont Green]

A lot of people predicted that we would take the series in 5.  There are still 5 games left.

Our backs are to the wall now of course, we have no room for error.  But if people thought we could win 4 of the first 5 games, why not win 4 of the last 5 games?

[Silas]

A lot of people predicted that we would take the series in 5.  There are still 5 games left.

Our backs are to the wall now of course, we have no room for error.  But if people thought we could win 4 of the first 5 games, why not win 4 of the last 5 games?

I'm with you.....

[Phantom255x]

They win Game 3, 108-98

Lose Game 4 in a close one, 102-96

Blowout win in Game 5, 116-95

Bow out in Game 6, 106-101

It's kind of like the MIA series in 2023, with Games 3 and 4 results swapped, and this time I think the home team wins Game 6. We could shoot better, but so could NY, it's not like NY has been hot shooting either, they could be due in one of their home games.

[SparzWizard]

They win Game 3, 108-98

Lose Game 4 in a close one, 102-96

Blowout win in Game 5, 116-95

Bow out in Game 6, 106-101

It's kind of like the MIA series in 2023, with Games 3 and 4 results swapped, and this time I think the home team wins Game 6. We could shoot better, but so could NY, it's not like NY has been hot shooting either, they could be due in one of their home games.

Now imagine we win G3, lose G4, win G5 and G6 and lose G7 at home?? That would be the most Celtics thing ever. Losing a home playoff game 7.

[SparzWizard]

I doubt we win three games in MSG. It is the Mecca of Basketball. That crowd is very hostile. More hostile than Milwaukee or Philly.

[Donoghus]

Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?

[Vermont Green]

Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?

Awesome, well said Bluto.

[Who]

A lot of people predicted that we would take the series in 5.  There are still 5 games left.

Our backs are to the wall now of course, we have no room for error.  But if people thought we could win 4 of the first 5 games, why not win 4 of the last 5 games?

I'm with you.....

My thinking exactly.

I feel more confident in Boston getting 4 wins before NY gets 2 more wins.

[celticinorlando]

Just win Game 3 and go from there. Cs play great in that building and change of venue probably will help.

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

celtics in 6. book it.

lulz.

now on a serious note that has happened plenty in the NHL.  seen it many timesa team wins 2 straight on road and up 2-0 headed back home. series appears to be over. then the team down 2-0 wins 4 straight. Seen it plenty in NHL.

now this is NBA. a different animal.

the last time we were down 2-0 and won 4 straight was playoffs against the bulls early in CBS years if i recall. what year was it? 2016?

[SparzWizard]

Even Paul Pierce completed his 8 hour walk from his home to his office. 15 mile walk. He's more believable than this sorry excuse of a squad currently.

What can the current Celtics do to get their first win in this round lol. What they gonna say now right Paul?

[SCeltic34]

Do I believe we can win this series?  Yes.  The knicks are not impressive.  We are beating ourselves.

Do I believe in this team?  Not really.  I believed in last year?s team 100%.  This year they lack focus and aren?t close to last years level.  And we have to overcome Mazzula?s incompetence.

What is the difference? Why did you believe in last year's team but not this year's team?

Without spending too much time on this:

1) Brown is having a down season.  Regressed from last year. 
2) Holiday regressed from last year.  But to his credit he's been solid so far in the playoffs.
3) We're even more 3-point happy than last year, which bodes poorly if we're rushing shots and/or having an off game, which we have already seen twice so far against the Knicks.
4) We don't have the same focus and drive as last year.  Last season we were locked in the entire time.  We looked unstoppable.
5) Question marks around Joe's coaching resurfaced this season, at least from my perspective.  As we've seen so far, his ATO plays are garbage, his substitution patterns poor, and has not instilled disciplined play into his team.
6) Horford has regressed.
7) Teams are better adjusted to KP now.  They've found soft spots defensively.  He's often in no man's land, which I understand is sometimes by design with drop coverage, but it's to the point where we have to compensate defensively.  We've looked terrible with him on the floor so far in the playoffs.
8. We've seen poor 4th quarter execution throughout the year.  This is what has probably bugged me the most.  We slow down, play iso ball while everyone stands around.  The offense is slow, predictable, and ineffective.  Yet we keep doing it.
9) We've also had a recurring pattern of blowing large leads throughout this season, something that should be fixable with a veteran team, especially with the caliber of our players.
10) Joe has not gotten the most out of our talent.  This team is so talented that we can win even if he sits around and does nothing or makes bad decisions.  But we're capable of being better than what we've shown.

We can point to 61 wins.  That's hard to complain about.  But along the way I've seen cracks and flaws that were significant enough to be of concern come playoff time.  And now it's exposed.  We should not be down 0-2 to an inferior team.

[SCeltic34]

I doubt we win three games in MSG. It is the Mecca of Basketball. That crowd is very hostile. More hostile than Milwaukee or Philly.

You're scared of everybody.  Especially your constant irrational fear of the Lakers who were pretenders the entire season, both pre and post Luka. 

Nobody should be scared of NYK or MSG.  It's a great place to play.

[Atzar]

I doubt we win three games in MSG. It is the Mecca of Basketball. That crowd is very hostile. More hostile than Milwaukee or Philly.

You're scared of everybody.  Especially your constant irrational fear of the Lakers who were pretenders the entire season, both pre and post Luka. 

Nobody should be scared of NYK or MSG.  It's a great place to play.

NYK went 1-2 against Detroit at the "Mecca of Basketball" in the first round, lol.  No reason we can't go there and get our work done.  Gotta play better though.

[SCeltic34]

I doubt we win three games in MSG. It is the Mecca of Basketball. That crowd is very hostile. More hostile than Milwaukee or Philly.

You're scared of everybody.  Especially your constant irrational fear of the Lakers who were pretenders the entire season, both pre and post Luka. 

Nobody should be scared of NYK or MSG.  It's a great place to play.

NYK went 1-2 against Detroit at the "Mecca of Basketball" in the first round, lol.  No reason we can't go there and get our work done.  Gotta play better though.

If we play to the level we're capable of playing we will smoke the Knicks in both games at MSG.  That's a big if though.