Anyone think this is a must-win game tonight?

[mahonedog88]

I'm getting convinced more and more that it is.  If we lose this game, the series is now 2-2 and even more confidence gets put into the lakers no matter how they win.

If we lose tonight, I honestly don't think we can win game 5, just a gut feeling.  So lets get this tonight please.

[Who]

It's not a must win. I think the team is capable of winning Game Five, and also very capable of winning their two home games. They'd still be in a very strong position even if they did lose so it's not a must-win.

It's a big swing game tonight. Lakers can get back into the series with this game.

[crownsy]

its the NBA finals, every game is a must win until you get 4.

[ScoobyDoo]

I don't think it's a must win game. Must wins games to me are when you go fishing if you lose.

I agree with Who's analysis that it is a swing game though.

To me, it's a "should win" game. We are the better team and PGA and the gang should know they need to impose their will and take the air out of the lakers hopes. Go up 3-1, close in game five or crush in game six.

[FallGuy]

It's not a must win. I think the team is capable of winning Game Five, and also very capable of winning their two home games. They'd still be in a very strong position even if they did lose so it's not a must-win.

It's a big swing game tonight. Lakers can get back into the series with this game.

It's a MUST game for KG, if you ask me. He has to come out and show he can push his team to a road victory. He better be living in the low post tonight. No more of this dribble in from 3-point land and shoot a jumper. That ain't getting it done.

I'm not worried at all about PP. I expect a big game.

As to the outcome....

We COULD steal Sunday's game if we lose tonight. But in the 2-3-2, game four is more crucial than usual. And an LA win changes the complexion of their team I think. Guys like Odom and Gasol are still not playing the way they could. The last thing we need to do is give them back their swagger.

We can effectively end the series tonight if we follow Tommy's advice and step on their throats.

FG/.

[Eja117]

I think every game a person plays in no matter what is a must win, so yes I think it is must win. I think it's a slippery slope between not needing to win, not caring about winning, and not wanting to win

[Discoflux]

Its absolutely a must win.  For the Lakers. 

you guys have plenty of time even if you lose games 4 and 5.

[acieEarl]

I wouldn't say its a must win but in my mind it's almost a must win. A win tonight would be huge for us. Put us in the drivers seat and takes off the pressure off for game 5. I've said this from the start that we need to get one in LA. We lose tonight then the pressure is back on us to take game 5. If we end up losing both 4, and 5, we be at home but the momentum would be in LAs favor.

[wdleehi]

Is it a must win for the Celtics to win the series?  Definitely not.  The Celtics have been 2-2 in every series. 


Do I want to see it go to 2-2?  Most definitely not. 

[BballTim]

It's not a must win. I think the team is capable of winning Game Five, and also very capable of winning their two home games. They'd still be in a very strong position even if they did lose so it's not a must-win.

It's a big swing game tonight. Lakers can get back into the series with this game.

It's a MUST game for KG, if you ask me. He has to come out and show he can push his team to a road victory. He better be living in the low post tonight. No more of this dribble in from 3-point land and shoot a jumper. That ain't getting it done.

  Doesn't game 3 in Detroit count? Didn't his way of playing that "ain't getting it done" get us this far?

[hpantazo]

every game is a must win, and each player has to play that way. You can say that it's not a must win unless you are on the verge of elimination, but you have to lose 2 to get to the third loss, so each one is of equal importance.

[Bankshot]

It's not a must win. I think the team is capable of winning Game Five, and also very capable of winning their two home games. They'd still be in a very strong position even if they did lose so it's not a must-win.

It's a big swing game tonight. Lakers can get back into the series with this game.

It's a MUST game for KG, if you ask me. He has to come out and show he can push his team to a road victory. He better be living in the low post tonight. No more of this dribble in from 3-point land and shoot a jumper. That ain't getting it done.

I'm not worried at all about PP. I expect a big game.

As to the outcome....

We COULD steal Sunday's game if we lose tonight. But in the 2-3-2, game four is more crucial than usual. And an LA win changes the complexion of their team I think. Guys like Odom and Gasol are still not playing the way they could. The last thing we need to do is give them back their swagger.

We can effectively end the series tonight if we follow Tommy's advice and step on their throats.

FG/.

I disagree that it is a must for KG.  I do think he needs to step up and give the Celtics an inside presence though.

It's not really a must win because they don't lose the series if they lose tonight, but a win tonight would be HUGE, because I think the Lakers will be deflated if they lose tonight, Gasol and Odom will probably give up and the Celtics can easily win game 5 as well and wrap this thing up in LA.  With the injuries mounting, it would be great if they can take the next two and get this series over with.  Could be dangerous to extend this series and someone else gets hurt or re-injured.

[kenmaine]

Relax OP. No way is this a must game. Even if they lose this game and the next, they should still win the series.
That doesn't mean I think they'll lose both. IMO the C's are simply better and should win at least one of these next two.
If Rondo and PP are both ok, the C's really should win one or both, but it's not a "must".

[Hoops]

Sure, in the Finals every game is something of a must win. But I don't think there's anything that makes this game more important for the Celtics than the Lakers. If the Celts were weak-minded and ran the risk of having their confidence roll downhill like a snowball getting bigger and bigger then yeah, I'd be worried. But this team should have put all doubts about weak-mindedness to rest after the Atlanta, Cleveland, and Detroit series. They know they're the better team. I don't think it'll come to this, but I think the Celts are strong enough mentally to come back even if the Lakers were to take a 3-2 series lead. But again, I don't think that will happen.

On the other hand, this is the exact reason why game 3 and game 4 are so important for the Lakers. I think they can be a really good team when they have confidence, but if you put them into a 3-1 hole, I think they'll go belly up and this thing will be over in 5. That's why I'm a big advocate of kicking them while they're down.

[ManUp]

 Not a must win, but If we win today I think we can end it in game 5. If we don't It might go the full 7. First we almost let them come back from being 24 down, then they win in L.A., and they win again? I don't feel very comfortable letting L.A. build any type of momentum.

 I don't want the Laker's to get any type of streak going. I want them to feel like they are outmatched.If we can take this game the Laker's would be in a 3-1 hole. A pretty steep hole especially when you've only got 1 home game left.