Is there a precedence?

[droopdog7]

I cannot remember a time that a team lost at home with an opportunity to sweep.  When is the last time that happened, if ever?

[Roy Hobbs]

I cannot remember a time that a team lost at home with an opportunity to sweep.  When is the last time that happened, if ever?

No idea, but the number of road teams that have gone up 2-0 is very small, so I'm sure the number of blown sweep opportunities is very small, as well.

[Beat LA]

I just want to know where the killer instinct is.  I'm assuming that all of our veterans were, at one time, students of the game, watching Bird, Magic, Jordan, and Isiah routinely put the proverbial sword in the heart of the opposition at every opportunity.  Did our guys not pick up on this or something?  The said players knew all too well about the lack of margin for error in any series, let alone when it comes to beating a team without the homecourt advantage.  Winning one game on an opponent's home court was hard enough, let alone three, like the Celtics are facing right now.  Game 4 was a must win.  It was not going to be easy, and they should have expected that.  The Magic weren't just going to mail it in being one defeat away from elimination - they played out of desperation, the manner in which we should have approached this game.  As we all know, the momentum can shift in a nanosecond - just ask the Yankees from 2004 or the Bruins (although I'm not a hockey fan). 

Now, I realize that I'm overreacting (which is my nature, being a pessimist and all), but remember, Orlando became the first team in NBA history last year, despite the loss of KG, to defeat the Celtics in a series in which Boston led 3-2, so I don't think that it's out of the realm of possibility for them to think that they can come back (now that they have won a playoff game in Boston this year). 

In the end, it always comes down to this: when you've got an opponent down, stomp on his heart and deliver the knockout punch (especially on your home court), don't give him a chance to get back into the game or series.  As Bird said, "Push yourself again and again. Don't give an inch until the final buzzer sounds."

[adam8]

  Game 4 was a must win.

A must win is really only an elimination game but it also can be a game in which if you lose you have no chance of winning the series. I don't get how this was a must win at all. This game was in no way a must win, it could be no further from a must win. You lose games in the playoffs no team has ever gone undefeated in the playoffs.

[angryguy77]

I just want to know where the killer instinct is.  I'm assuming that all of our veterans were, at one time, students of the game, watching Bird, Magic, Jordan, and Isiah routinely put the proverbial sword in the heart of the opposition at every opportunity.  Did our guys not pick up on this or something?  The said players knew all too well about the lack of margin for error in any series, let alone when it comes to beating a team without the homecourt advantage.  Winning one game on an opponent's home court was hard enough, let alone three, like the Celtics are facing right now.  Game 4 was a must win.  It was not going to be easy, and they should have expected that.  The Magic weren't just going to mail it in being one defeat away from elimination - they played out of desperation, the manner in which we should have approached this game.  As we all know, the momentum can shift in a nanosecond - just ask the Yankees from 2004 or the Bruins (although I'm not a hockey fan). 

Now, I realize that I'm overreacting (which is my nature, being a pessimist and all), but remember, Orlando became the first team in NBA history last year, despite the loss of KG, to defeat the Celtics in a series in which Boston led 3-2, so I don't think that it's out of the realm of possibility for them to think that they can come back (now that they have won a playoff game in Boston this year). 

In the end, it always comes down to this: when you've got an opponent down, stomp on his heart and deliver the knockout punch (especially on your home court), don't give him a chance to get back into the game or series.  As Bird said, "Push yourself again and again. Don't give an inch until the final buzzer sounds."

I wouldn't get too worked up over 1 game. We're up 3-1 because of talent, not luck. We didn't get a commanding lead in this series for no other reason than we are the better team and will be done with these clowns in 5 or 6.

[BostonIrishGuy]

I am definitely a pessimist, so I think last night was a big missed opportunity for the Celts. Now they have to go back to Florida and play the Magic on their home court with Orlando having gained some confidence. Not good. I have a bad feeling this thing will come back to Boston for game 6. I hope I'm wrong. 

[angryguy77]

I am definitely a pessimist, so I think last night was a big missed opportunity for the Celts. Now they have to go back to Florida and play the Magic on their home court with Orlando having gained some confidence. Not good. I have a bad feeling this thing will come back to Boston for game 6. I hope I'm wrong. 

So what if they do come back to Boston. It's not like Orlando figured us out and we are doomed. As I stated before, we are up 3-1 becasue we are better. There are no magic adjustments that SVG can make that will enable them to pull this out. He made some good ones last night, but that's all they have and it won't sustain them for 3 more games. We will counter and get game 5 or 6.

The only really bad thing is having to listen to all the moron reporters try to make a story here.

[Rida]

Probably will come back for a game 6.

On the plus side, we can't play any worse.

Some of the defensive rotations in the first qtr were abysmal. Reddick anf Lewis got open 3's and that got the Magic rolling.

Also refereeing down the stretch was horrible, T on KG nothing on Howard, they should have gone to the monitor for that one, why have the technology if your not going to use it. Foul on BBD when he put in a clean block on Reddick horrendous too

The T on sheed unnecessary.

Doc said it and I will say it again, the most surprising was how badly we executed and still had a chance to win.

Inexcusable for Doc not to call a time out.

Hey lets get it all in perspective, these are the Eastern Conference Champs, we have a commanding lead, we didn't play well in game 4, so many things went against us and yet we still had a chance to win with the final shot.

That says alot.