We were up 3-2 Last Year too....

[slamtheking]

Considering that what happens in game 1 doesn't seem to tell us much about game 2, I don't see why we should expect last year against Orlando to tell us much about this year against Clev (or even against Orlando).

The important point I got from the thread title is don't get cocky. We are actually in worse shape now because if we think we figured Clev out, we will probably be returning to Clev.

Yep. I'd love it if our guys walked around just a little bit worried the next couple of days.

LBJ is gonna take such a beating the next two days, the first quarter of game six will be crucial. He's gonna come out like a house on fire. If we can render him ineffective or bury his teammates during that stretch, I think they might fold. I have no confidence in their mental toughness at all.

I think Cavs are the ones walking around worried and they should be. Boston got momentum, lead and a game plan, Cavs have LeBron James and that's it.
No one can beat Celtics in a seven games series when healthy.

Boston had the momentum after game 2 and that didn't do them any good.  I'm thrilled with how they're playing in the postseason for the most part (game 3, not so much) but after witnessing the lackadaisical attitude the second half of this season, I'm not ready to consider this series over until the final buzzer goes off and the C's have the better score.

having said that though, this post season is playing out like my dream offseason (masochist that I am): we knock off Miami/Wade who was the toughest team in the 5-8 bracket; we have the chance to knock off Cle/Bron as the team with the best record and annointed best player; if we do that we get the chance to knock off Orlando which was the second best record in the East and the team that knocked us off last year; AND if we get that far, we hopefully play the Lakers to get #18 and ruin Kobe's summer all over again.  The perfect playoff run is sitting right there for us to take.  Every one of those teams is healthy (elbow schmelbow) so there'll be no one that can claim sour grapes and say we didn't beat the best to prove we're the best.

[nickagneta]

Completely different set of circumstances. This group is healthy and deep with quality all the way down to the 10th healthy player on the bench.

Here is a comparison of the two teams

2009-10                     2008-09
Rajon Rondo            Rajon Rondo
Ray Allen                   Ray Allen
Paul Pierce               Paul Pierce
Kendrick Perkins     Kendrick Perkins
Kevin Garnett            Glen Davis

Glen Davis                Brian Scalabrine
Rasheed Wallace    Mikki Moore
Tony Allen                 Stephon Marbury       
Michael Finley           Eddie House 
Nate Robinson         Gabe Pruitt
Marquis Daniels       Billy Walker         


The above are the top 11 players for each game 6 of the second round of the playoffs for the Celtics for each year. I really can't for the life of me see how anyone can think that this team can be in a similar situation as last year given the health, quality and depth of this year's team over last year's at a similar time of the season.

     

[Fafnir]

Yeah, I hope last year's situation still rings in the Celtics' ears although it was a different situation (game 6 on the road, no KG and no inside presence basically, plus the guys were tired of the first round and the series against Orlando).

Anyway I'm still worried they could come out and lay a bigg egg on game 6 but after game 3 lesson and the fact that we have Cleveland on their heels... I don't see that happening. Which doesn't mean this will be an easy game!

That's a good point about fatigue last year.

Instead of a grueling 7 game OT marathon fest in the first round we had about as easy of a series as you can expect in the playoffs against Miami.

Add in the heavy minutes that Pierce/Ray/Rondo had to play just to win 63 games and that Celtics team was gassed at this point.

[nickagneta]

Yeah, I hope last year's situation still rings in the Celtics' ears although it was a different situation (game 6 on the road, no KG and no inside presence basically, plus the guys were tired of the first round and the series against Orlando).

Anyway I'm still worried they could come out and lay a bigg egg on game 6 but after game 3 lesson and the fact that we have Cleveland on their heels... I don't see that happening. Which doesn't mean this will be an easy game!

Excellent point as is faf's above

[Ersatz]

Here is a comparison of the two teams

2009-10                     2008-09
Rajon Rondo            Rajon Rondo
Ray Allen                   Ray Allen
Paul Pierce               Paul Pierce
Kendrick Perkins     Kendrick Perkins
Kevin Garnett            Glen Davis

Glen Davis                Brian Scalabrine
Rasheed Wallace    Mikki Moore
Tony Allen                 Stephon Marbury       
Michael Finley           Eddie House 
Nate Robinson         Gabe Pruitt
Marquis Daniels       Billy Walker       
     

Wow. Thanks for putting those two side by side, because I'd really forgotten how pathetic last year's bench was. Scalabrine was the MVP of the bench.

Last year's team was truly incredible.

[reggie35]

At least we're not playing on a Friday night!

[Birdbrain]

Speaking of last year...

Can anyone HONESTLY post here that they're upset about not bringing Leon Powe back?  I love his passion for basketball, but one has to wonder if he'll ever get back to form.  Dude looks like an 80 year old man running around out there who should probably take a pass this year and get himself ready for 2010-11.

Funny, but I recall the BBD vs. Powe debate, and many here wanted Powe back and allow Glen Davis to walk...

As we often say in church: sometimes the best prayers are the ones we don't get answered...

Yeah very quiet on that front. 

Interestingly I appreciated Doc leaving Perk in the game during the scrub (powe) time to rough him up for making those stupid comments about the C's defense.  I think he forgot how little of importance he really was to the C's.  Know your role. 

[JSD]

@OP

Yup, and that's exactly why I'm not that excited yet. Like KG said Postgame: "Our game 7 is Thursday".

[wdleehi]

I hope the team remembers that right now and plays to end the series in game 6.

[misha]

Cavs fans might also remember the series against Detroit few years back, when after 2:3 down, Lebron played two great games and the Cavs prevailed.

I'm sure this not the case here. We are clearly and undoubtedly the better team. I'm sure, Doc will use all those examples in order to keep the players grounded and in check for game 6.

[twinbree]

That was different because I see us more like Orlando and Cleveland as us in that scenario. 2 of our 3 wins were kinda of flukey and Orlando really could have won the series in less games if they didn't slip up a couple of times.

The thing is all the clinchers we've lost the past 2 seasons have been on the road so hopefully having a Game 6 at home will be an advantage. They just really really need to understand that and play the game that way.

[RAcker]

[Birdbrain]

Kenny Smith calling the C's George Foreman last night was spot on.

[RAcker]

Kenny Smith calling the C's George Foreman last night was spot on.

Actually we're Ali.  Our season was a rope a dope.  The Cavs are the younger, stronger, harder hitting Forman and we've just been waiting for the moment to knock them out.

[celticinorlando]

i think 1. being at home for game 6 is huge 2. we have KG back 3. PP is showing signs of life 4. the cavs are is disarray 4. this team has learned from game 3 5. they are treating it like a 7th game.