Can the Celtics win on the road?

[Drucci]

It was the big question last year in the playoffs and we thought it wouldn't be a question this year after the game 3 blowout win in Chicago but now... what do you think?

Since game 3 against the Bulls, the Celtics have lost game 4 (after 2OT), game 6 (3OT after they led by 8 points with 2 minutes to play in the 4th) and now they've lost game 3 in Orlando by double digits. The problem is that homecourt isn't really a factor since they have lost one game in Boston in each series. In both series, the Celtics got only one road win in 4 road games.

So, do you think the Celtics are struggling on the road? Playing better at home than in an hostile environment? I think it's obvious that it affects Rondo's game (he still struggles, like last year, on the road) but I'm not sure for the rest of the team, so I'm wondering what you guys are thinking about it, especially since the team seems to be inconsistent at home too.

Needless to say game 4 will probably tell us the answer since it's a must win game... on the road.

[celticinorlando]

i think they are struggling everywhere...home and road.....they are dead tired mentally which is why they are coming out flat so much....i expect game four will be a better effort but without perk they will come up short...they will go home to boston and prolly win game five...setting up a one game season at orlando in game six...that would be the scenrio without perk IMO....no if perk plays sunday...i think they can win that one....

[QuinielaBox]

Yes, Yes the Celtics can win on the road. Last night, they played very poorly in all phases of the game. Rebounding, ball handling, offense, defense, turnovers, poor transition defense. Playing too small, too slow, too stupid.

Of course, I'm waiting for news on Kendrick Perkins on whether he can play tomorrow or not.

[PosImpos]

You know, maybe it'd be good for us in a way if Perkins were suspended.

The Magic proved again last night that they come out playing tough and hard when they have a perceived disadvantage (we had momentum and Alston was suspended).  Now they have the upper hand and would definitely feel they had it even more if Perk were suspended.

So if Perk gets suspended, that could help us out a lot, make the Magic come out flat footed. Question would be could we capitalize on it, of course.

[dark_lord]

yes we can win on the road, and i anticipate they will win tomorrow night.

[get_banners]

well, if perk is suspended, it'd be hard to win game 4. who starts at center? BBD? scal? mikki moore? that's literally everyone on our team that plays the 4/5. and if they call the game tight on us (which they absolutely did in game 3 - we weren't winning, anyway, but that didn't help), i don't know that we'll have enough bodies to finish the game.

[Drucci]

You know, maybe it'd be good for us in a way if Perkins were suspended.

The Magic proved again last night that they come out playing tough and hard when they have a perceived disadvantage (we had momentum and Alston was suspended).  Now they have the upper hand and would definitely feel they had it even more if Perk were suspended.

So if Perk gets suspended, that could help us out a lot, make the Magic come out flat footed. Question would be could we capitalize on it, of course.

I agree that Perk's suspension would make the Celtics play with extra energy and toughness but obviously, contrary to the Magic in game 6 against Philly, we'd be running out of bodies right before the 4th quarter if the refs call fouls like they did in game 3. Basically, other than Perkins, we have Scal, Big Baby and Moore as big men and that's it. If Perk is suspended BBD and Scal are likely to start which means that Moore would be our only big man of the bench...

Unfortunately I think that extra motivation and energy won't last long with such a limited rotation of big men. But who knows, maybe the refs wouldn't call many fouls on Moore and he could be huge for us...

Nah, just dreaming.