Game 1 - Tuesday night issues

[DrD]

Here's something that has been mentioned a bit, but maybe has not received as much significance as I think it is.

The Celtics come off a tough series with the Hawks. Game 7 (blowout) against Atlanta itself wasn't tough, but the well documented players' loss of sleep before the game, the emotional energy spent worrying, pumping themselves up before and during the game certainly takes a lot out of a person.

Then the Cleveland series was a knock-down-drag-out physical brawl. Culminating with a very physical game 7 which went right down to the wire. Looking at KG's face during the 2nd half, he often appeared tired and could be seen blowing(mouth breathing). Clearly, he expends so much energy before during and after the game that exhaustion is expected.

My concern is this:
Given the intense battle in game 7 just yesterday, the depth of emotion that it took to win, the physical drain that invariably comes with it and the feeling of relief and accomplishment following the victory, can the C's have enough left in the tank with only one day between games?
I mean, could Ali and Frazier have a day off after one of their fights and then get right back in the ring with another challenger?

I believe if we win this Game 1, we'll be hard pressed to lose the series. But for the reasons stated above, I would be lying if I said I wasn't worried about a well rested Detroit team coming in town for game 1.

Anybody have any thoughts to lessen my fears?
Thanks.

[Roy Hobbs]

I absolutely understand your point.  I think the team has it in them to bounce back, though, especially at home.  The games in the "Texas Triangle" were in quick succession (I'm too lazy to look it up now) and the San Antonio game was certainly mentally grueling and taxing, but the team bounced back.  I think they can do the same thing against Detroit.

[kenmaine]

Wouldn't be too worried about fatigue(easy for me to say!).
At least the C's got to this series. Don't really have any idea how it's going to go. Could be anything from five games either way to a seven game series. The C's seem to have a lot of question marks for a team in the conference finals, but at least the bench is very deep, so it's up to Doc to find what's working.
I know that gives you all great confidence

[libermaniac]

On the one hand the Celtics will be somewhat tired, on the other hand Detroit will be rusty.  Not sure which I'd choose.  Let's hope there's lots of rust!

[DrD]

On the one hand the Celtics will be somewhat tired, on the other hand Detroit will be rusty.  Not sure which I'd choose.  Let's hope there's lots of rust!

Here's a bad stat (for the C's) that I dug up which adds to my concern:

In the first game of a series, teams with 4,5 or 6 days of rest have won 12 of 15 games vs. teams with one day of rest. This over the past four years.

As Paul Harvey would say, and I quote, "now you know the rest of the story".

[LarBrd33]

On the one hand the Celtics will be somewhat tired, on the other hand Detroit will be rusty.  Not sure which I'd choose.  Let's hope there's lots of rust!

Here's a bad stat (for the C's) that I dug up which adds to my concern:

In the first game of a series, teams with 4,5 or 6 days of rest have won 12 of 15 games vs. teams with one day of rest. This over the past four years.

As Paul Harvey would say, and I quote, "now you know the rest of the story".

In those 12 of 15 games... how many times was the winning team the favorite?    Usually the fact a team had 4, 5 or 6 days rest means they spanked their last challenger... like the Jordan Bulls owning the Heat and then sitting around waiting for their next round opponent.   It's to be expected that the better team would win...

In some ways Boston is the favorite.  Plus, the game will be in Boston.

[DrD]

On the one hand the Celtics will be somewhat tired, on the other hand Detroit will be rusty.  Not sure which I'd choose.  Let's hope there's lots of rust!

Here's a bad stat (for the C's) that I dug up which adds to my concern:

In the first game of a series, teams with 4,5 or 6 days of rest have won 12 of 15 games vs. teams with one day of rest. This over the past four years.

As Paul Harvey would say, and I quote, "now you know the rest of the story".

In those 12 of 15 games... how many times was the winning team the favorite?    Usually the fact a team had 4, 5 or 6 days rest means they spanked their last challenger... like the Jordan Bulls owning the Heat and then sitting around waiting for their next round opponent.   It's to be expected that the better team would win...

In some ways Boston is the favorite.  Plus, the game will be in Boston.

Unfortunately, I do not have a further breakdown of the gross stat. All I can tell you is that the data doesn't have any correlation to the favorite/underdog relationship. Merely looks at the rested vs.unrested factor.

[libermaniac]

Just think of the Celtics like the Red Sox and Detroit like the Rockies.  Time for a sweep baby!

[bdm860]

On the one hand the Celtics will be somewhat tired, on the other hand Detroit will be rusty.  Not sure which I'd choose.  Let's hope there's lots of rust!

Here's a bad stat (for the C's) that I dug up which adds to my concern:

In the first game of a series, teams with 4,5 or 6 days of rest have won 12 of 15 games vs. teams with one day of rest. This over the past four years.

As Paul Harvey would say, and I quote, "now you know the rest of the story".

In those 12 of 15 games... how many times was the winning team the favorite?    Usually the fact a team had 4, 5 or 6 days rest means they spanked their last challenger... like the Jordan Bulls owning the Heat and then sitting around waiting for their next round opponent.   It's to be expected that the better team would win...

In some ways Boston is the favorite.  Plus, the game will be in Boston.

And to piggy back on this point, chances are the team that lost probably was the underdog and the away team.  It would be one thing if Boston was playing in Cleveland then had to fly to Detroit, but the Celtics have been home since Saturday, so there is no travel involved which helps alot.

[Bahku]

Of all the games we (could) play against Detroit, I personally worry the most about game two. I think we'll be up for game one, coming off such a winning high, and Pierce getting his "groove" back. I also think we generally do well in Detroit, and are bound to break that streak soon. However, I feel the whole homecourt advantage thing could be taken a bit for granted, and that we may have a "let-down" in game two. I think we'll still persevere, but if we have trouble with any home game, I'd expect it to be that one.

[fairweatherfan06]

I agree with Bahku.  I think Detroit sitting around for a week will hurt them more than help them.  I think the only benefit they get from  the rest is that Chauncey had more time to recover, but Detroit is very much a rhythm team and breaks seem to feed their problem with apathy.  I think Game2 is the game that they have the best chance of stealing, when they will be more focused and we might be even more fatigued from Game 1's effort.

However I think an interesting thing people aren't looking at is for the season series Detroit beat us at home and then we beat them at home (before winning at home on March 5) both teams are comfortable in each others building.  I think its highly likely both teams get a road win throughout the course of this series.