Not Feelin Good About Game 4

[celticinorlando]

looks like bynum might not play tomorrow...hurt his knee:

http://sports.espn.go.com/boston/nba/news/story?id=5266929

[Tai]

He was supposedly "questionable" before this series started, too.

I think he'll be fine.

[celticinorlando]

my guess for officials tomorrow?? bevetta, rush and zach zorba

[misha]

my guess for officials tomorrow?? bevetta, rush and zach zorba

My guess for officials tomorrow:

[Chris]

my guess for officials tomorrow?? bevetta, rush and zach zorba

I expect Bavetta to be there (not Rush), and I expect him to call it very much in favor of the C's. 

I feel very confident about game 4.  My worry is game 5.  So far, the Lakers have won all of the important "swing" games of the series.  If the C's can take care of business tomorrow, Sunday is going to be a real battle.

[SalmonAndMashedPotatoes]

Yeah, I'm not feeling good about Game 4 either...I'm feeling great!  There's no such thing as game-to-game momentum unless you get a team to quit believing in itself.  We haven't reached that point.  In fact, there's usually more momentum for the losing team, because they get motivated by the last loss.  I expect us to come out and come at the Lakers hard.  I expect Paul and Ray to have better games and KG to continue his renaissance. 

my guess for officials tomorrow?? bevetta, rush and zach zorba

I expect Bavetta to be there (not Rush), and I expect him to call it very much in favor of the C's. 

I feel very confident about game 4.  My worry is game 5.  So far, the Lakers have won all of the important "swing" games of the series.  If the C's can take care of business tomorrow, Sunday is going to be a real battle.

Bavetta is currently out of the playoff rotation--he didn't officiate one conference championship game and unless there's an injury to some official he's probably not going to do any Finals games either.

Eddie F. Rush, Bob Delaney, Scott Foster are all available and I'd expect 2 of those 3 to get the call in Game 4. 

But yes, Chris, I'm more worried about Game 5 too.  It will be pivotal.

[Mike-Dub]

looks like bynum might not play tomorrow...hurt his knee:

http://sports.espn.go.com/boston/nba/news/story?id=5266929

Dang I definitely want Bynum to play and to beat them at full strength. 

[chelsearules]

looks like bynum might not play tomorrow...hurt his knee:

http://sports.espn.go.com/boston/nba/news/story?id=5266929

not buying it... byknee = elbron... dude is playing more minutes and better than he did before

[Chris]

looks like bynum might not play tomorrow...hurt his knee:

http://sports.espn.go.com/boston/nba/news/story?id=5266929

not buying it... byknee = elbron... dude is playing more minutes and better than he did before

Bynum clearly had a problem in the second half last night.  I think he is legitimately hurt.  Not to mention, Bynum has never been known for his toughness, playing through injuries.

[Redz]

my guess for officials tomorrow?? bevetta, rush and zach zorba

I expect Bavetta to be there (not Rush), and I expect him to call it very much in favor of the C's. 

I feel very confident about game 4.  My worry is game 5.  So far, the Lakers have won all of the important "swing" games of the series.  If the C's can take care of business tomorrow, Sunday is going to be a real battle.

I'm going to go ahead and assume a Celtics win in Game 4, and say that Game 5 will determine the series winner.

[PosImpos]

I hate to say it, but the Lakers just look like a cut above the Celtics.  They have one of the top 3 big men in the league and one of the top 2 guards in the league (they both might be the best).  Their supporting cast is solid if not great.  They can play up-tempo, they can play grind it out.  They can score inside and they can score outside.

Through three games, we've seen two games where the Celtics just couldn't quite keep up, and one game where some ridiculously hot outside shooting kept them in it and they got some timely stops.  I'm sitting here thinking that Games 1 and 3 are probably closer to the norm. 

Unlike the Lakers, the Celtics can't win unless the outside shots are falling and / or the refs are letting them play super physical on both ends of the floor.  Even if they're able to do that, they still have to hope two of their four best players have really amazing games because all four of them aren't going to show up.  They were able to succeed that way against the Cavs and the Magic - two very good teams - but it won't work against the Lakers, who look like a great team.

Looks like Lakers in 6 to me.  Unless the Celtics effect a stunning turnaround and suddenly start playing better than they did even in Game 2, they'll probably manage to pull out another win at home and that's it.

   I hope I'm wrong.

[Witch-King]

Celtics obviously need to win their next two games in order to have a legitimate shot at winning this series...boo hoo/who?

[scottwedman]

I'm not waiving the white flag.  It would seem like we ought to be able to make the right adjustments - tougher on the glass, create more looks in the paint, knock down open shots.

But we must bring the intensity.  If we LOSE Game 4 - it's over.  We need to leave everything on the floor.

[WeMadeIt17]

Huge game coming up. I think the Celtics win it. I never say we lose because of the officals but last night was pretty bad. The foul on Ray when fisher was grabbing him the whole time and Ray put his arms up and thats a foul. Or the one on Sheed with his hands up and hit ball. I mean there were some big calls. And we still had a shot. The main reason we lost is because of Ray and Paul. Pierce hit some 3's but he needs to be attacking the rim at will. He cant be settle for step back jumpers to start the game. Go inside out. I think we need to do the same thing we started out with in game 3. Go to KG early and often and let him try and draw fould on Gasol. It seems to me like the Lakers are being allowed to play playoff basektball foul wise and we are not. Like the play where KG stepped through and went into Gasol's body for a reverse layup that would have been a foul on KG.. I just don't get it. Very frustrating. Celtics better win the next two! Come on Celtics! I Believe!!!

[Yakmanev]

I have bad feelings, too. I'm generally very optimistic. As a kid I thought Dino Radja could win us a championship. But there is just something that doesn't feel right about this.

On the other hand 2010 just seems like it looks more realistic on one of our banners than theirs. And 18-15 seems like a more realistic title count too.

I don't know. I'd much prefer to have the 2-1 lead right now.