Game 2 Will Decide the Champion

[Discoflux]

After the Game 1 beat down on the Lakers, they are full aware they need to respond in a BIG way for Game 2.  They will play with their absolute best basketball Game 2, I know this team and I know they are unbeatable twice in a row. 

BUT If the Celtics win Game 2:
The Green Machine has elevated its game to meet the challenge and have proven their dominance.  This forces the Lakers to win 3 in a row (no easy feat) only to have to come back to the Garden to win where they couldn’t win Game 1 or 2 when they REALLY NEEDED TO. 

And that’s assuming the Lakers win 3 in a row!  They could very well win 2/3 and come back to the Garden needing to win both when the couldn’t win in Game 1 or 2. 
Bottom line: it ain’t gonna happen.  Celtics win.  Crown their a&&e&.  We are who we THOUGHT they were!

If the Lakers win Game 2:
They have proven they can meet the challenge and beat Boston in their building, early in the series.  This will be a booster shot of confidence.  Lakers now know they can win in Boston.  Huge.

With one win in Boston, we can very likely sweep 3 at home?  We can close it out right here in 5. 
If we go 2/3 at home then we only need to win one in Boston and we’ve proven we can do it already.
 
If we win Game 2 there is a high probability the series is over in 5, and if not then 6. 

Mark my words: Game 2 is going to decide the whole chowder enchilada.

[Redz]

Mark my words: Game 2 is going to decide the whole chowder enchilada.

mmmmmmmmm...chowder enchilada


Fair enough assessment.  The 2-3-2 format does make game 2 huge for the home team (or the road team if they lost Game 1)

[wdleehi]

If the Celtics win game 2, I think the Lakers are cooked. 

reasons:

1) I don't see the Celtics losing 3 in a row.  Therefore, they win one on the road.  They come back to Boston 3-2

2) I don't see the Lakers winning two straight in Boston.




Now if the Lakers win, the Celtics are far from done. 

1) they just beat Detroit 2 out of three in Detroit.

2) Even if they only win 1, they come back with two straight in Boston. 

[Steve Weinman]

If the Celtics win game 2, I think the Lakers are cooked. 

reasons:

1) I don't see the Celtics losing 3 in a row.  Therefore, the win one on the road.  They come back to Boston 3-2

2) I don't see the Lakers winning two straight in Boston.




Now if the Lakers win, the Celtics are far from done. 

1) they just beat Detroit 2 out of three in Detroit.

2) Even if they only win 1, they come back with two straight in Boston. 

"If it's heads, I win.  If it's tails, you lose."  I like the message, wdleehi, go green! 

-sw

[BudweiserCeltic]

I think a combination of games 2 and 3 are the most important; at least in this series in particular with the Celtics already taking game 1.

Let's see how the Lakers respond to being behind in a series, they have led all the way and so have the Celtics, but the Celtics have lost Home Advantage once before and they responded well. We haven't seen that from the Lakers yet since they haven't been in that position.

[Redz]

May the best team (wearing green) win!

[paintitgreen]

Msybe, but I don't know. These teams are so close in ability, but so different, that either team could make the adjustments to take the series even if they lose. Yes, the team that wins tomorrow has the upper hand, but there are going to be a lot of close games in this series, and honestly, I can see anything happening (i.e., the Celtics winning Game 2 and the Lakers rolling off 4 straight; the Lakers winning Game 2, but the Celtics taking 1 or 2 in LA and winning it in Boston). It's a critical game, but with two closely matched teams, every game is critical.

[celtics2]

what a bunch of dreamers. the Championship winner will have won 4 games no matter the sequence. My preference thinking the Celts are the better team will win in 6. Same old media hype bout the land of Fruits and Nuts.

[fan33]

Nah, just like any other World Championship Finals win or loss for us, to be taken one at a time... OTOH, for the Lake Show I think a Celtics win going up 2-0 against the out of town heavily favored team and its MVP makes game 3-5 all but MUST wins for for Kobe . Knowing that, I suspect he takes the challenge upon himself which will cause a Laker self destruction show, yet again as in '04 and the 4th qtr of game 1

I just don't think The Lakers have the right attitude to come back from bein down 2-0 as a team or in The Kobes mental makeup to remain disciplined to a game plan.

Enjoy your series run and may the better defensive and disciplined team win. 

Oh BTW, I expect us to go inside more often now with Odem & The Poodle playing even softer, understanding they must stay out of foul trouble because your bench MOB rotation doesn't play well when broken up off the bench early then leading to Kobe going Kobe mode, like we like it

[GLS]

They will play with their absolute best basketball Game 2, I know this team and I know they are unbeatable twice in a row. 

Didn't Utah take two in a row from the vaunted Lakers in the second round?

[nickagneta]

Even in the 2-3-2 format, I've always been a believer that unless the first three games are swept, the series doesn't start until game 5. Game 5 is always the biggest in my book.

[wdleehi]

They will play with their absolute best basketball Game 2, I know this team and I know they are unbeatable twice in a row. 

Didn't Utah take two in a row from the vaunted Lakers in the second round?

Great point.  Worth a couple of TPs.

[Barnabas]

With two teams that are evenly matched like these two, each and every game is important.  Game 2 is important for both teams, but then again, so was Game 1.  I won't even try to predict who will win tomorrow.  So, I feel it's a toss up.  But I agree with wdleehi.  If Boston wins game 2, then they're in the driver's seat and will have held their home court advantage.  However, if the Lakers win one here, then Boston loses home court.  I don't think it's too far-fetched to think they can win two in a row at home.  It's also not far-fetched to assume the Lakers can win two at home, and it doesn't even have to be consecutive.  

Game 2 is more important to the Celtics than it is to the Lakers.  If we lose game 2, and then win one in LA, it's not inconceivable that we could lose.  We'll come home behind 2-3.  It's within the Lakers' capabilities to take one of the two remaining games.  Game 2 is very important for the Celtics.  

[paintitgreen]

Game 2 is no more important for either team. Each game of this series is critical for both teams. Neither of these teams will sleep on a game, not with KG and Kobe setting the tone.

[2short]

If the C's win game 2 I think you could see a sweep since the Lakers best player has attitude issues.  He might go out for himself and forget his teammates.  Still don't think he's mvp material but I didn't think Nash was either. (why doesn't the nba ask me?)