Celtics Magic - Last 7 games

[Carhole]

I am squarely in the camp that believes  healthy C's team takes out the Magic in 6 with or without home court. But wednesdays game and all of the Orlando fans comments (I have no idea why I put myself through the torture of reading what they have to say - I am addicted to the "comments from the other side" link) I decided to do a quick stat break down from our last 7 games b/c as the magic fans so like to point out - they took 2 out of three from us last year (by a combined 3 pts)

Score   Reb   Off   Def   Assts   Stls   TO   Blks   Fouls Commit   FTA Celtics   93.71   41.57   10.14   31.43   15.43   6.43   14.86   2.71   24.14   22.29 Magic    89.86   36.86   10.43   26.43   15.86   6.71   14.71   5.57   20.29   26.71

As anyone who has read hollinger knows, pt differential is a far more accurate gauge for probability then record or "gut" (if he had taken his own advice last year he could have saved himself the embarassment of picking the LakeShow in the finals)

Even with less wins the ave score of games with the Magic is approx 94 to 90 and that is with the Celtics having played 4 of 7 on the road.

We rebound better pulling in 53% of the available boards (though gross # of off rebs is about equal we actually get a higher percentage of OffRebs 27.7 to 24.9 and a higher percentage of defensive rebounds 75.1% to 72.2) assists, steals and to's are a wash. Orlando blocks many more shots per game then us.

And finally even though according to the magic fans the Refs give Boston ever call and Orlando is playing 8 on 5 (sounds familiar) they attempt 4 more fould shots (or 20% more) per game then the C's and the Celts are called for more fouls per game (again about 20% more)

The C's beat Orlando in six or less. I would expect us to lose two games where their 3 point shooting is at or above 40%. But I believe the foul situation will even out in the playoffs and that over a relatively sound sample size (7 games) we know that we score more and rebound better on a regular basis.

I also still do not buy Orlando's defense when it comes to a 7 game series, it is all predicated on Dwight cheating and basically being out of position. Give the C's a healthy KG to pass on the interior and a more aggressive Paul going to the rim + rondos constant probbing in the lane and I like their chances of getting easier shots consistently against the Magics D, then the Magic can get against the Celtics.

I also really hope for Leon to be back, he knows how to dive to the hoop and take advantage of overly aggresive big men for easy buckets and offensive boards...I think he would be huge off the bench against orland in a series