Anyone just a little concerned?

[fairweatherfan]

I'm not concerned, though I will be if we lose Game 6 - the whole game felt like we were the better team, but we played inconsistently due to foul trouble, injuries, and unfamiliar lineups.  I said to my girlfriend late in the 3rd, "The Lakers may win this game, but they'll have to scrap and struggle to do it, and we don't - we can beat them in a variety of ways."  I still think that's true. 

The most important thing I took away from Game 5 was that we felt a little undermanned throughout, especially with KG in foul trouble.  If Perk can give us just 15-20 good minutes in Game 6, and Rondo plays a bit more as well, I think that problem goes away and we close them out with little trouble.  If not, I still think we're the favorites but it becomes significantly more difficult.

[dlpin]

I am not concerned... unless Ray's family issues take him out of a game.
3-2, going home, losing 2 close games... if either rondo or kg play just "ok" tomorrow, the game is ours.
People need to keep it in perspective. Just because the media had us crowned champions and thought we would win it all yesterday does not mean we should get caught up in that hype. Most of us figured we'd win in 6, and we are still on pace for that, playing at home.

[vinnie]

I am a worrier, so here are my concerns:

1. 2 straight horrendous first quarters that have required this team to expend a TON of energy in the last 2 games.  If they get off to a bad start tomorrow night, all bets are off.

2. Garnett has been pretty much invisible on offense and he was completely outplayed by the poodle last night.

3. Without Perkins in the middle, our defense is suspect.

4. Allen's family situation is definitely going to be on his mind.

5. This is the worst that Rajon Rondo has played all year.

6. Kobe could become Kobe again.

7. How quickly can Paul recover from a full 48?  Allen went 4-13 last night after his 48-minute stint.

I think the Celtics will win tomorrow, but it will be extremely difficult.

[wdleehi]

I am concern that Perk might not play. 




But I have little doubt the Celtics will win this. 


It will take three straight loses. 


it will take two straight loses at home. 



I just don't see it happening. 

[vinnie]

I am concern that Perk might not play. 




But I have little doubt the Celtics will win this. 


It will take three straight loses. 


it will take two straight loses at home. 



I just don't see it happening. 

As I said, I think the C's will win.  However, you cannot ignore the injuries nor the personal family matters this team is facing right now.  Not having Perkins could take away much of the home court advantage.

[radiodavidm]

the main thing i hope we wont do at home is spot the lakers 20 points.

that lost us game 5, not anything later in the game. that was the second game in a row we came out flat defensivly, let them score a ton of points, and then somewhere a light went on like "oh, were much better defensivly then them, we should get some stops"

i'd liek that to be the mentality for 48 minutes. if it is, we win, if its not, and they get a huge quarter, then they can hang. simple as that.

that's exactly why we can't start Rondo and Powe on tuesday. We have to go with House and Posey and spread the floor and be up 10-12 early rather than down 20

Rondo has been one of the keys to moving our offense up the floor quickly, and he has played some great defense in the playoffs.  He's also had some +10 assist nights as well.  Putting House and Posey out there was the magic bullet in Game 4, but Jackson is likely to make adjustments to that strategy.  We need to remember what has gotten us this far - great ball movement, unselfish play, speed, defense.  When we start to rely on too many jump shots, we take ourselves out of the strongest part of our game. 

I think there are two things going on with Rondo:
1. His ankle has not been 100% and it is diminishing his ability to cut.
2. He has been flattened by so many hard fouls in the latter part of the season (his monster dunk over Maxiell in the regular season, a knockdown in the first round by the Hawks, and others), that he has actually become a little tentative.  With his penetration in traffic, and especially with his layups on the open fast break, he looks like a guy who is (understandably) wary of getting clocked again.  Rattling his cage this way was critical to the Hawks' ability to get back in the series.  Though Rondo has had some great games since then, I trace his tentativeness in the lane back to about this point. 
 

[TruthSerum]

The Celtics are more banged up than the Lakers for sure, but, like The Truth says, it comes down to mental toughness, and that means keeping focused and making free throws, among other things. Staying focused in a game like professional basketball requires superhuman concentration -- that's why they get paid well for it. The Celtics have demanded that the Lakers bring the game up to their level, and the Lakers have complied. The most important objective of the road trip was to MAINTAIN THE LEAD, and the Celtics succeeded. I have no doubt we can win with great bench players like Powe, Posey, and yes, Big Baby too, as long as everyone strives to be as mentally tough as The Truth and can maintain their focus on playing all-out. The Lakers didn't want to lose Game 5 more than the Celtics wanted to win it in LA. "Not in our house," they proclaimed before the game. That's a concession of the championship right there: sure we'll lose, just not at home.

[celticsmaniac]

a LITTLE concerned?? Try EXTREMELY! how can you not be?

It may be because I am a total pessimist when it comes down to it, but I still believe in my heart that the Lakers are going to win this series

[cmoney]

I'm concerned yet optimistic. 

[crownsy]

a LITTLE concerned?? Try EXTREMELY! how can you not be?

It may be because I am a total pessimist when it comes down to it, but I still believe in my heart that the Lakers are going to win this series

yea your a total pessimsit.

i don't see how you can think the lakers are goign to win this series, they barley scraped by last night in a game we hadned to them, same in game 3, and they had an epic collapse in game 4.

what exactly am i supposed to take away from those preformances that makes me think the lakers are going to win 2 in boston?

i mean, i think as some have said, you guys who are extremly concerned are missing the boat because you thought we'd walk through them last night. We stole one in LA and now have 2 to finsh, its the best we were hoping for before game 4.

I honestly don't see how you can be extremly concerned.

[cdif911]

I am concern that Perk might not play. 




But I have little doubt the Celtics will win this. 


It will take three straight loses. 


it will take two straight loses at home. 



I just don't see it happening. 

As I said, I think the C's will win.  However, you cannot ignore the injuries nor the personal family matters this team is facing right now.  Not having Perkins could take away much of the home court advantage.

Keep holding on...don't revert back to the darkside, you can do it vinnie...you've come so far (and nothing can take away the HC advantage, its ours for the next 2 games!)

[CelticBalla32]

We're up 3-2 in the Finals with the next game on our home floor. I'm not concerned unless this thing goes 7.

[Yakmanev]

The Celtics are more banged up than the Lakers for sure, but, like The Truth says, it comes down to mental toughness, and that means keeping focused and making free throws, among other things. Staying focused in a game like professional basketball requires superhuman concentration -- that's why they get paid well for it. The Celtics have demanded that the Lakers bring the game up to their level, and the Lakers have complied. The most important objective of the road trip was to MAINTAIN THE LEAD, and the Celtics succeeded. I have no doubt we can win with great bench players like Powe, Posey, and yes, Big Baby too, as long as everyone strives to be as mentally tough as The Truth and can maintain their focus on playing all-out. The Lakers didn't want to lose Game 5 more than the Celtics wanted to win it in LA. "Not in our house," they proclaimed before the game. That's a concession of the championship right there: sure we'll lose, just not at home.

I agree with this. In fact at the end of the game when they were waiving to the fans almost seemed like some sort of strange way of saying, "Sorry we botched this series at least you got one last win."

[Who]

No I'm not concerned. If the Celtics lose Game Six I'll be concerned but not before then. The C's are the better team and only have to win one of two on their homecourt.
#
The L's still haven't pieced together a good game and aren't a threat to win this series without playing better than they have.

[Yakmanev]

To me anyway, Phil Jackson looked like he had no interest in returning to Boston. Which may explain that lineup he put on the court in the second quarter that allowed us to come back from another big lead once again.