Barnes plays the intimidation card prior to game 6

[Drucci]

Magic's Barnes: Pressure is on Celtics

The Orlando Magic worked out for nearly two hours this morning at TD Garden and are trying to keep the same mentality and approach that has led to wins in the past two games to bring the Magic to within three games to two.

Swingman Matt Barnes, who scored 19 points in the past two games after 10 in the first three, said the onus is on the Celtics to win. The Magic remain the underdog.

"All the pressure's definitely on them," he said. "They had a 3-0 lead. They're facing history. We just need to come out here and play our game. We know we're going to get their best effort of the series and we'll be ready for it. We're fighting for our lives. We want to be playing in the Finals, not watching it."

Barnes said he wants a more physical game.

"I hope so," he said. "I hope they just let us play. Last time they kind of slowed the game down really trying to control it too much. The Eastern Conference finals, it's going to be physical. So hopefully they let us play tonight."

When asked about the Celtics potentially targeting Dwight Howard for his physical play, "If Dwight gets taken out, one of their guys will get taken out. Hopefully it doesn't get to that but it's going to be a physical game."

Source

[celticinorlando]

i read that....i hope he catches one to the face.

[connerhenry43]

he forgot to mention how the refs allowed one team to play physical in game five and how thankful he should be it was them.

[ejk3489]

"I hope so," he said. "I hope they just let us play. Last time they kind of slowed the game down really trying to control it too much. The Eastern Conference finals, it's going to be physical. So hopefully they let us play tonight."

lol ummm...in what fantasy world is he living in did the refs not let the Orlando Magic play? He should be down on his knees thanking the refs right now.  

[Chris]

He said what I would hope anyone on the C's would say in response to those questions.  I didn't take anything from that as him trying to intimidate anyone, I think he was just stating the obvious to respond to the questions.  I mean, did you want him to say "If they take Howard out with a cheapshot...well, we will just roll over, and not respond"?

[get_banners]

to be fair, i don't think the refs were that bad except on the bigs. the 1-3s from both sides got called pretty evenly, maybe even a little too tight. the real issue was the 4s and (especially) the 5s, where orlando got to do anything and we got whistled for nothing.

[ACF]

[Eddie20]

I can't stand that clown

[guava_wrench]

"I hope so," he said. "I hope they just let us play. Last time they kind of slowed the game down really trying to control it too much. The Eastern Conference finals, it's going to be physical. So hopefully they let us play tonight."

lol ummm...in what fantasy world is he living in did the refs not let the Orlando Magic play? He should be down on his knees thanking the refs right now.  

It is funny how each team and many of their fans likes to view themselves as the victims.

[guava_wrench]

to be fair, i don't think the refs were that bad except on the bigs. the 1-3s from both sides got called pretty evenly, maybe even a little too tight. the real issue was the 4s and (especially) the 5s, where orlando got to do anything and we got whistled for nothing.

The biggest problem with the refs was the T's, but I can't say I know what the players were saying throughout the course of the game.

[kevbo]

Although I think I said I wanted Howard McHale'd yesterday, the more I think about it, the best get back is just to send Howard home for the summer. Stay above the fray, play hard, play relatively clean (ie, keep the elbow's down below the shoulders), close out, box out, don't let nelson get comfortable by switching multiple defenders on him and closing the lane, and most essentially, WIN THE GAME.

And if the C's want to make a statement, I'd said Rondo or Pierce right at Howard in an early possession with the intention of dunking on him at all cost. Even if he clocks one of them, it sends the message that we're attacking the rim hard, and without abandon. Plus, another Howard hard foul would fire up the Gahden.

[Chris]

"I hope so," he said. "I hope they just let us play. Last time they kind of slowed the game down really trying to control it too much. The Eastern Conference finals, it's going to be physical. So hopefully they let us play tonight."

lol ummm...in what fantasy world is he living in did the refs not let the Orlando Magic play? He should be down on his knees thanking the refs right now.  

It is funny how each team and many of their fans likes to view themselves as the victims.

I don't think he was considering himself the victim at all.  I thought he was stating a fact that the refs really slowed down the game, and called it very close.  He didn't say anything about which side it affected more, just said that he thinks they should let teams play in the ECF.  And I agree with him.

[connerhenry43]

i bet ray allen is in the locker room right now saying, "gosh, now that he puts it that way, i am nervous! matt barnes is right! this is frightening! 

[ejk3489]

"I hope so," he said. "I hope they just let us play. Last time they kind of slowed the game down really trying to control it too much. The Eastern Conference finals, it's going to be physical. So hopefully they let us play tonight."

lol ummm...in what fantasy world is he living in did the refs not let the Orlando Magic play? He should be down on his knees thanking the refs right now.  

It is funny how each team and many of their fans likes to view themselves as the victims.

No not really? I just think it's pretty obvious which team got to play physical, and which team didn't. I never said that's the reason we lost, or anything like that.

[twinbree]

I can't believe he has the bad taste to publicly talk about deliberately injuring our players when two Celtics left the last game with severe concussions because of his teammates. Are these veiled threats even allowed? The refs better be on the lookout for any hard fouls from him.