Game 4 was the turning point of the finals

[JAM]

The Celtics got their mojo back last night, and remembered how to beat the Lakers.  All series long it felt that the Celtics were just hanging around until they started playing well as a team.  Last night they did in the fourth quarter.  Yes, it was the bench that sparked the team victory, but that is why the Celtics are better than the Lakers.  The Celtics are deeper, and trust each other. 

The longer the Finals go the bigger emotional and physical toll it takes on the teams.  The Lakers are banged up, the Celtics are older, but we have a bench to rely on and the Lakers can't even trust some of their starters.  That is why Phil was livid after the game, because he knows the deeper it goes the worse his squads chances become.  It took a almost 4 games, but the tipping point was reached last night, and it went in the Celtics favor.

We're going through these playoffs Godfather style: first Wade, then LeBron, followed by Dwight, now it is Kobe's turn.  Two more wins until Banner 18.

[RMO]

My hope for game 5 is that their being on the road for so long will start to take it's toll on the lakers and we win.  My concern is the quick turn around for game 6.  Lakers go home and sleep in their homes while the Celtics are out on the road.  Traveling cross country (east to west) with only two days between games could take a toll on our older guys.

[wiley]

Only if the bench reminded the starters how to play together...

[CelticsWhat35]

My hope for game 5 is that their being on the road for so long will start to take it's toll on the lakers and we win.  My concern is the quick turn around for game 6.  Lakers go home and sleep in their homes while the Celtics are out on the road.  Traveling cross country (east to west) with only two games between games could take a toll on our older guys.

And that's what makes game 5 so important.  The Celtics played well last Sunday after two days rest, so hopefully it will play out the same way this time.  But you're right, traveling cross country with only one day of rest will be tough on the older team.  Although I would also expect it to be tough on Bynum as well.

[slamtheking]

My hope for game 5 is that their being on the road for so long will start to take it's toll on the lakers and we win.  My concern is the quick turn around for game 6.  Lakers go home and sleep in their homes while the Celtics are out on the road.  Traveling cross country (east to west) with only two games between games could take a toll on our older guys.

not to be unsympathetic to them but that was one of the incentives to get the job done in game 3 instead of that mess they put on the court.

[slamtheking]

The Celtics got their mojo back last night, and remembered how to beat the Lakers.  All series long it felt that the Celtics were just hanging around until they started playing well as a team.  Last night they did in the fourth quarter.  Yes, it was the bench that sparked the team victory, but that is why the Celtics are better than the Lakers.  The Celtics are deeper, and trust each other. 

The longer the Finals go the bigger emotional and physical toll it takes on the teams.  The Lakers are banged up, the Celtics are older, but we have a bench to rely on and the Lakers can't even trust some of their starters.  That is why Phil was livid after the game, because he knows the deeper it goes the worse his squads chances become.  It took a almost 4 games, but the tipping point was reached last night, and it went in the Celtics favor.

We're going through these playoffs Godfather style: first Wade, then LeBron, followed by Dwight, now it is Kobe's turn.  Two more wins until Banner 18.

not to throw cold water on the party but the C's didn't get their mojo back.  I'll believe that when I see the whole team making layups and hitting open jumpers.

[PosImpos]

The Celtics got their mojo back last night, and remembered how to beat the Lakers.  All series long it felt that the Celtics were just hanging around until they started playing well as a team.  Last night they did in the fourth quarter.  Yes, it was the bench that sparked the team victory, but that is why the Celtics are better than the Lakers.  The Celtics are deeper, and trust each other. 

The longer the Finals go the bigger emotional and physical toll it takes on the teams.  The Lakers are banged up, the Celtics are older, but we have a bench to rely on and the Lakers can't even trust some of their starters.  That is why Phil was livid after the game, because he knows the deeper it goes the worse his squads chances become.  It took a almost 4 games, but the tipping point was reached last night, and it went in the Celtics favor.

We're going through these playoffs Godfather style: first Wade, then LeBron, followed by Dwight, now it is Kobe's turn.  Two more wins until Banner 18.

not to throw cold water on the party but the C's didn't get their mojo back.  I'll believe that when I see the whole team making layups and hitting open jumpers.

Yeah, the Celtics still looked like the worse team through the first three quarters.

We've yet to see a game where the majority of the Celtic's top players make a big contribution, and that's troubling.  It means the Celtics have managed to tie the series without ever playing a really good all around game, but it also means they haven't been able to truly play Celtics basketball against the Lakers yet.

Whether or not they can manage to do that will probably determine the outcome of the series.

[CelticsWhat35]

The Celtics got their mojo back last night, and remembered how to beat the Lakers.  All series long it felt that the Celtics were just hanging around until they started playing well as a team.  Last night they did in the fourth quarter.  Yes, it was the bench that sparked the team victory, but that is why the Celtics are better than the Lakers.  The Celtics are deeper, and trust each other.  

The longer the Finals go the bigger emotional and physical toll it takes on the teams.  The Lakers are banged up, the Celtics are older, but we have a bench to rely on and the Lakers can't even trust some of their starters.  That is why Phil was livid after the game, because he knows the deeper it goes the worse his squads chances become.  It took a almost 4 games, but the tipping point was reached last night, and it went in the Celtics favor.

We're going through these playoffs Godfather style: first Wade, then LeBron, followed by Dwight, now it is Kobe's turn.  Two more wins until Banner 18.

not to throw cold water on the party but the C's didn't get their mojo back.  I'll believe that when I see the whole team making layups and hitting open jumpers.

Yeah, the Celtics still looked like the worse team through the first three quarters.

We've yet to see a game where the majority of the Celtic's top players make a big contribution, and that's troubling.  It means the Celtics have managed to tie the series without ever playing a really good all around game, but it also means they haven't been able to truly play Celtics basketball against the Lakers yet.

Whether or not they can manage to do that will probably determine the outcome of the series.

I don't agree that the Lakers looked like the better team through the first three quarters.  I think the Celtics were playing very good defense, and offensively, they were getting what they wanted.  They just missed a bunch of easy shots.

I do agree that the Celtics haven't played a great game wire to wire yet, and that can be both troubling and encouraging.  Troubling because we've already played 4 games, and you wonder if the grind of the playoffs are starting to wear on the team, but encouraging because they've managed to keep the series tied through 4 games w/o playing great basketball, and you feel like Rondo is due for a big game, and Pierce is starting to find his rhythm.

[Hoops]

My hope for game 5 is that their being on the road for so long will start to take it's toll on the lakers and we win.  My concern is the quick turn around for game 6.  Lakers go home and sleep in their homes while the Celtics are out on the road.  Traveling cross country (east to west) with only two games between games could take a toll on our older guys.

And that's what makes game 5 so important.  The Celtics played well last Sunday after two days rest, so hopefully it will play out the same way this time.  But you're right, traveling cross country with only one day of rest will be tough on the older team.  Although I would also expect it to be tough on Bynum as well.

Too much is made of traveling across the country and its toll on our "older" guys. These are professional athletes we're talking about here. Traveling definitely has an effect (on everyone, not just the "old" guys) during the regular season when one team is on a long road trip and the home team has been relaxing at home for a week or two. But in the playoffs, both teams are taking the same cross country flight. Sure, the Lakers will go home to sleep in their own beds, but it's not like the Celtics are going to be sleeping in a Motel 6 with no air conditioning in LA.

[guava_wrench]

I wouldn't make a big deal of any one game. What happens in one game hasn't carried over to other games this playoffs.

The only turning point is the twisting of Bynum's knee. Baby can't repeat his performance with Bynum on the court in reasonable condition.