Celtics (1-1) at Magic (1-1) Game 3 5/8

[celticinorlando]

he seems he has no lift on his jumper and can't get to the rim....

[kozlodoev]

Why did Rondo decide that in this series the teardrop would become his shot of choice? Pierce 3-8, Allen 2-8. Unless they wake up, they will not have a chance tonight.

Well, it might be because the refs refuse to call contact on Howard, but as game 2 shows, you gotta keep trying.

[Kiorrik]

Eddie's looking good. Hopefully shooting averages will take care of how Pierce, Rondo and Allen have been shooting in the first half.

I just woke up to watch the game btw. It's 2:30 here, at night. I'll go to bed at 4:30, and will get up at 8:30 to go to a basketball tourney here @ Holland.

We'd better win this ballgame though, I need some energy tomorrow and a loss won't do Go Celtics, [dang]it!

[vinnie]

I think it's a miracle they're only down 12, it should be at least twice that.  If Pierce stops being so useless and Scal and BBD stay out of foul trouble, the C's win by 20.  At this point, I think it's obvious that Orlando is good, but too flawed to get past Round 2.

If the C's win this game by 20, I will be absolutely shocked. They may win, but given that Scal has 4 fouls and Davis 3, they are going to have a tough time playing defense in the second half.

[Kuberski33]

We'll find out relatively quickly if the Celtics are going to make a game of this.  No defensive intensity - no chance in this one.  On the other hand if they come out and play like they actually want to win the game and get after these guys...then they have a chance. 

[BASS_THUMPER]

paul is not hurt

he gotta find his stroke

ray last year went through the same thing

paul will find it

[Thruthelookingglass]

denver is def ballin

not gonna be easy for la....

I'm going with the Nuggets, and not just b/c I hate the Fakers.

[kozlodoev]

paul pierce is playing hurt...it is becoming more obvious game by game....

You think that is 6-inch vertical leap might be a hint that he is hurt? Seriously though, I tend to agree with you. He has been almost invisible in this series.

He has to find a way to contribute. We don't need him to score 30 each game. Given our personnel, we might be better off if he's giving us 8 rebounds and 6 assists game in and game out.

Whatever happened with, "I give the game whatever it needs"?!

[vinnie]

paul is not hurt

he gotta find his stroke

ray last year went through the same thing

paul will find it

Unfortunately Ray is also not hitting outside, but at least he is getting to the rim and making things happen. From my view point, Pierce has lost that first quick step, which is why he is not getting to the rim and not getting to the line.

[celticinorlando]

i laughed at the hipcheck howard threw on rondo...bounced him right out of bounds....i 1 thing hate about the nba because is the fact that the refs have way too much control over a game..boston got on a run...the refs called several fouls giving orlando FTs...went from 7 points to 12...

[RebusRankin]

The Celtics have never lost a game that wasn't the fault of the refs. Seriously. You can look it up. The fact that most of the Celtics did not come to play in the first half and the fact that Anthony (13 years as a bench player) Johnson has lit up Rondo has nothing to do with the Magic being up 12.  

Its always the refs. I'm sure they caused all the traffic lights to go red on me this morning on my way to work. I'm also pretty sure they caused that ticket I got too.  

[Thruthelookingglass]

We'll find out relatively quickly if the Celtics are going to make a game of this.  No defensive intensity - no chance in this one.  On the other hand if they come out and play like they actually want to win the game and get after these guys...then they have a chance. 

I think we've got to make our killler run to get back in by about halfway through the third. 

[greg683x]

Random thought Dwight Howard really isn't that good, he's just really tall and strong.

agree...overhyped IMO

I think he's overhyped on the offensive end.  His offensive game isn't that developed.  Defensively though, he's completely legit.  Keep in mind, he hasn't played well against Boston since the start of last year.  We're just one of those teams that is able to play him alot better than other teams.

TP I completely agree.  Whats funny is, every time the analysts say the Magic need to go down low to Howard more often to take advantage of his size, I pray that theyll do it.  Id take that ugly hook shot from 5 feet away over a Hedo or Lewis open 3.

[celticinorlando]

first 5 minutes will tell me all i need to know about the C's chances...

[houseonfire09]

I think it's a miracle they're only down 12, it should be at least twice that.  If Pierce stops being so useless and Scal and BBD stay out of foul trouble, the C's win by 20.  At this point, I think it's obvious that Orlando is good, but too flawed to get past Round 2.

If the C's win this game by 20, I will be absolutely shocked. They may win, but given that Scal has 4 fouls and Davis 3, they are going to have a tough time playing defense in the second half.

I only say that because Orlando has not given me any proof that they can maintain a big lead and come back from large deficits.  They just look very beatable to me.