Does Orlando scare you?

[ManUp]

If Boston can beat Cleveland, they can beat anyone. There's no a team in this tournament that is scary good and if you can beat the Cavs, the team I think is the best left, the rest should be beatable as well.

My thoughts exactly.

[PosImpos]

I'm just thinking ahead to Game 3.  Nothing that comes after that matters right now, especially not the next series.  I will be extremely surprised and happy if the Celtics win this series.  Right now I'm just hoping they can make this series go to 6 or 7 games so they can say they put up a good fight. 

In other words, let's not get ahead of ourselves.  One thing at a time.

[Andy Jick]

Years ago I was watching This Week In Baseball, and Ken Griffey, Jr. offered the following insight (back when he had skills):

Interviewer: "What is the most important pitch in a count?"

Griffey: "Simple...  The 1-1 count.  You get ahead 2-1 and it puts you as a batter in control.  Get behind 1-2 and the pitcher has all the leverage."

The point?  I've always believed the most important game in a 7 game series is game 3.  We're in a 1-1 count right now, and all Cleveland has to do is snag game 3 and the series completely changes.  It puts us back in a position where we MUST win another one on the road.  Come home, however, and win this game sending a huge message to Cleveland...not only do you win the game, but you've taken a mental blow to them as well...

[Bahku]

Yeah ... Game 3 will be very pivotal, and could very well decide the series. Right now we've got the advantage, lose this one, and we hand it back to the Cavs. That said, my highschool coach always said: "The most important game is the next one."

[PosImpos]

I agree game 3 is hugely important, but we've said that about every game.

When you're playing an extremely talented team, every game is a must win because if you give them the momentum that can be what decides the series.

[slamtheking]

The only team that scares me is the Celtics, when they don't focussed basketball.

having said that, let's get by Cle before we start thinking about Orlando.

[Greenbean]

Orlando played the best basketball consistently throughout the season and seemed to get stronger. They are a great defensive team. We could beat them but they will be tougher than the Cavs if we can even beat the Cavs. Right now though a super motivated Lebron coming off of an embarassing loss at home scares me more.

[rav123]

If we beat Cleveland, then people will be scared of us 

[BballTim]

  When everyone was so worried that we'd finish behind Atlanta and have to face the Cavs in round 2 I was pointing out that the Cavs might be the easier opponent of the two.

  Bur we can clearly beat the Magic. Just like we could still lose to the Cavs. All three teams are title contenders, a has been the case all year.

[Bahku]

[BballTim]

  So we can mark you down as a Maybe?

[EJPLAYA]

The only team that scares me is the Hawks. They have our number and we don't have the youth or athleticism to match up with them well. I am rooting for the Magic because I think we can beat them if we somehow  get past Cleveland. I think we lose to the Hawks.

[Bahku]

  So we can mark you down as a Maybe?

Nope ... they don't scare me or the Celtics ... they only scare children.

[Drucci]

Orlando is playing really well and they will probably reach the ECF rested and relaxed since the Hawks series won't take them more than 5 games (and I'm being optimistic for Atlanta)...

On the other hand we've seen last year with the Cavs how tricky it could be to reach the ECF after having an easy way through the first two rounds.

So I would say we matchup pretty well with Orlando and we have Perk to counter Howard, but they are kind of scary when they play so well, because they have shooters all over the floor, a Celtic Killer (Pietrus) and a good coach.

But let's focus on Cleveland first.

[Kwhit10]

Of all the teams in the Playoffs Atlanta and Orlando are the teams I want to play the least.