How crucial is a securing Game 3 victory?

[HYPE.]

A few points:

• This is a make-or-break game for Orlando. If they win this game, they have enough motivation and momentum to go into Game 4 strong. On the other hand, if we win, it'll be a sort of "spirit killer", and WE will have the upper hand going into Game 4, which will be for the taking if Orlando is unmotivated enough.

• We need to take the reigns of this series and show not only the Orlando Magic, but the remaining teams that we're a force to be reckoned with and we're not to be taken lightly should that team meet us in the Finals.

• We're up 2-0. Nothing crushes the dreams of hungry Orlando fans and players more than being down zip to 3, eh?

• Should we make it to the NBA Finals, we need as much motivation and momentum as possible.

Other than that, I'm pretty confident in winning this. Hopefully, we're motivated enough to take this game. Paul Pierce sounded pretty darn confident after the game and during that interview at the practice facility concerning Game 3.

The Magic will be giving us all they've got in this game, and I firmly believe that we have enough defense to handle it. The question is: Will the Magic have enough motivation to play hard defense on us? If they do, this game will be tough, but like I said earlier, we got this. We just have to stop them from making an offensive run, prevent them from getting hot, and continue putting pressure on Dwight and the three-point shooters. The refs also have to allow both teams to get physical and/or give even calls. If these things fall into place come tomorrow, we've got this game in the bag.


Your thoughts?

[Who]

Not a must win game. The C's could lose game three and would still be the overwhelming favourite to win the series.

[Stu]

I do think this is an important game for the Celtics.  A Celtic loss here really opens the door for Orlando to climb back into this series.  Suddenly, it would be 2-1, and all the pressure would be on the Celtics to win game 4, not the Magic.  If we crumbled under that pressure and lost game 4, the entire advantage we gained by winning two in Orlando would be gone.  I guess my point is that it's a very slippery slope to losing our edge in the series if we lose game 3.

Go Celts!

[Andy Jick]

Well, kind of a silly thread, IMO.  Afterall, every game in the playoffs is an important one.  I think we all know that Orlando realizes the importance of this game - down 3-0 would be certain death.  But should we lose this game, it won't be the end of the world.  We pulled off a "double-steal" in Orlando, so a home loss still doesn't take away the now home court advantage we own...

But I'd rather put them away and bury them in game 3, allowing myself 4 chances to win 1...  I like those odds.

And you know a certain team out West will be watching this closely too.

[Roy Hobbs]

It's more important for Orlando, but it's still important.  This is a "back breaker" / "spirit crusher" game (unless we turn into the Bruins in Games 4 - 7  ).

[twinbree]

Not crucial to winning the series but I think it's just so much easier for us if we do.  Keeps all the pressure on them to win Game 4 rather than on us. It doesn't give them any confidence or momentum going forward. And it gives us the first chance to clinch at home and hopefully finish the series sooner rather than later to give everyone especially Perk time to rest up for the finals.

[kw10]

I think this game is pretty important to us, sure we have 5 games to win 2 more. But we can't think like that. Orlando is an elite team and I do not want them to find out the way that they can win, and have a glimpse of hope. If we win this game, it'd be huge for us.

[Celtics17]

I will argue that game 3 is the most important one and here's why. First, we've already won games one and two, just a little joke there. Seriously though, although everyone is talking like we can't be beaten now we really barely won the last game and Orlando came back a long way and looked at least somewhat threatening in game one at the end.

Musashi said something to the effect of, when you see your opponent as weak then you should crush him before he gets a chance to come back at you. If Orlando wins game 3 then it just fuels their fire and you never know what they do in game 4. Yes, I say game 3 is the most imortant game for us.

[LB3533]

If you're in the playoffs, you should be winning all your games at home, period.

Any home loss in the NBA Playoffs is a crucial loss.

[Bahku]

If you're in the playoffs, you should be winning all your games at home, period.

Any home loss in the NBA Playoffs is a crucial loss.

Yup ... I agree. Home court, especially in the playoffs, is sacred, and we can't give this Orlando team, (that can put up huge numbers in short periods of time), any momentum, or any further chances to gain a foothold, or even a spark that they might have a chance.

If we lose this one, it will not be the end of the world, the odds will still be in our favor, but it will be a completely different atmosphere, and one not filled with quite as much optimism or "killer" instinct. We need to finish them at home, and without going back to Orlando.

[Donoghus]

If the Celtics win Game 3, this series is over.  O-V-E-R.

The Magic won't come back.

[ScoobyDoo]

I'll just say this. The Cletics should come out with the level of intensity that suggests this is game seven of the finals and the entire game is the last quarter.

Why?

Because as Celtics17 very astutely said, you need to crush your opponent when they are down. You never want to give them any hope.

The ideal scenario would be to crush them by about 20 today and walk off the court with zero expression. Give Orlando no fuel, let them wallow in their own thoughts. Then, after today's game, have everyone say to the media that they are very concerned about being able to win four straight against the Magic because they are such a talented team. Game four will be brutal, etc...

THAT id the kind of team you don't want to play. Because you knwo they are looking at you like a steak dinner.

THAT 

[Tai]

I'll just say this. The Cletics should come out with the level of intensity that suggests this is game seven of the finals and the entire game is the last quarter.

Why?

Because as Celtics17 very astutely said, you need to crush your opponent when they are down. You never want to give them any hope.

The ideal scenario would be to crush them by about 20 today and walk off the court with zero expression. Give Orlando no fuel, let them wallow in their own thoughts. Then, after today's game, have everyone say to the media that they are very concerned about being able to win four straight against the Magic because they are such a talented team. Game four will be brutal, etc...

THAT id the kind of team you don't want to play. Because you knwo they are looking at you like a steak dinner.

THAT 

I like. TP for you. 

[celticinorlando]

win tonight and it is over. no doubt about that. lose and to me game four puts all the pressure on boston. if boston goes back to orlando 2-2 then that is not good. boston needs at the least to win one in boston and IF that one is tonight...you can put them in the finals. tonight is the series. they need to play like it is game 7 at home

[Jon]

Not a must win game. The C's could lose game three and would still be the overwhelming favourite to win the series.

This is exactly correct.  Let's not make this more than it is.  We lost Game 1 to Cleveland and got spanked in Game 3, and we still won in 6 games.  To pretend that it's crucial to win tonight is just simply being overly dramatic. 

Though I obviously don't want to see a loss occur, not sweeping Orlando might keep them hungry for L.A.  A sweep might make them complacent and overly confident.