Why i wont give up hope just yet...

[cman88]

When the bruins dropped 2 at home to the Habs, heading back to montreal in an 0-2 hole I thought the bruins were done...after all the good they had done in the season i thought they were about to get swept by the canadians...the bruins then went on to win the next 2 and win the series in 7...something only 9 other teams in the NHL have done

While its improbably that the Celtics can come back and win this, its not impossible. a 2-0 defecit is more mental than anything. if the Celtics win the next game, were down 2-1 something we were in last year against the Cavs team that looked unstoppable after lebron delivered us our worst beatdown in the garden...after that, we as a team regrouped and switched to another level, winning the following 3 games to defeat the cavs 4-2..

I refuse to lose hope in this team from what they have done in the past. this is a tough group of veterans whom have been through alot, and took the lakers to 7games last season. If we really are mentally tougher than the Heat, then we will dig in deep and win these next 2 games....if theres any 2 teams in the NBA that can regroup and come back from a 0-2 deficit, i would say its the Celtics and the Lakers...if we can go back to miami with the series tied at 2-2 I like our chances..

it all starts with game 3 though...Our guys need to remain mentally tough and not wither under the pressure..they need to relish in the pressure and use it as a motivation to win...its time to get this show on the road..and do something only 14 other nba teams have done. we certainly have the talent, experience and mental toughness to do so...but can we? that is the question..

[Q_FBE]

Well, I think you summed it up quite nicely. Our 2011 Campaign and in fact quite a few Celtics careers are on the line Saturday when Game 3 is to be played. This is a must win for the Celtics to keep the debate going.

[ACF]

I was pretty down last night, thinking that we were through. But this can't be it. This team's got too much pride to go out like this. We'll take the next two, Miami will start to shake in their pants and we will move in for the kill. Go Celts.

[hpantazo]

When the bruins dropped 2 at home to the Habs, heading back to montreal in an 0-2 hole I thought the bruins were done...after all the good they had done in the season i thought they were about to get swept by the canadians...the bruins then went on to win the next 2 and win the series in 7...something only 9 other teams in the NHL have done

While its improbably that the Celtics can come back and win this, its not impossible. a 2-0 defecit is more mental than anything. if the Celtics win the next game, were down 2-1 something we were in last year against the Cavs team that looked unstoppable after lebron delivered us our worst beatdown in the garden...after that, we as a team regrouped and switched to another level, winning the following 3 games to defeat the cavs 4-2..

I refuse to lose hope in this team from what they have done in the past. this is a tough group of veterans whom have been through alot, and took the lakers to 7games last season. If we really are mentally tougher than the Heat, then we will dig in deep and win these next 2 games....if theres any 2 teams in the NBA that can regroup and come back from a 0-2 deficit, i would say its the Celtics and the Lakers...if we can go back to miami with the series tied at 2-2 I like our chances..

it all starts with game 3 though...Our guys need to remain mentally tough and not wither under the pressure..they need to relish in the pressure and use it as a motivation to win...its time to get this show on the road..and do something only 14 other nba teams have done. we certainly have the talent, experience and mental toughness to do so...but can we? that is the question..

It all depends on Rondo's health. If Rondo's back is ok and he can go all out, we are fine. If it flairs up again, we are screwed. Having a healthy Pierce and Shaq would help too, but the key is Rondo.

[barefacedmonk]

I was pretty down last night

I'm still bummed out...this team is staring at very difficult odds...winning 4 out of the remaining 5 games is going to require a herculean effort. Are we capable of that? Yes. Are we capable of doing it right now..in this series? Probably not. I hope I'm wrong though.

[footey]

1967-68 Celtics were down 3-1 to Philly and won Eastern Finals, and were down 2-0 to Lakers and won NBA championship in 6 games.  That team was on the old side too.  Let's not give up, guys.  It will only be sweeter when we come back and win the next 4 games. 

[hpantazo]

1967-68 Celtics were down 3-1 to Philly and won Eastern Finals, and were down 2-0 to Lakers and won NBA championship in 6 games.  That team was on the old side too.  Let's not give up, guys.  It will only be sweeter when we come back and win the next 4 games. 

true, but the 67-68 celtics didn't have Stern as commish

[droopdog7]

I'm with you man.  Let's put some tape on Shaq and go out and get it done.  There is no reason why we can't win Game 3.  And once we do that, no reason we can't win Game 4 either.

One at a time and see where it takes us.  What I do know is that this team won't give up.  They will go out fighting.

[17wasEZ]

1967-68 Celtics were down 3-1 to Philly and won Eastern Finals, and were down 2-0 to Lakers and won NBA championship in 6 games.  That team was on the old side too.  Let's not give up, guys.  It will only be sweeter when we come back and win the next 4 games. 

The "See you Sunday" 1980-1981 Celtics were also down to Philly 3-1 and came back to win the series.  I believe it was the same scenario the next season and the Celtics forced (and lost) game 7 at home.  

I know they were a younger bunch, but these guys just might have it in them.  My biggest concern about this year's team isn't so much about themselves as it is their opponent.  Wade, LBJ and Bosh are playing some serious "D" to go along with their scoring and rebounding. Almost every shot seems to be contested which probably makes it easier for the officials to swallow their whistles more often than not.

[cman88]

ca and lebron and wade put up those MVP scores every night though? they didnt against a 76ers team without a go to option...it seemed like they couldnt miss these past 2 games...plus, we need production out of more than 1 of our starters each night..game 1 it was ray alen, game 2 it was rondo...

a 2-0 or 3-1 hole is more mental than anything....most teams get discouraged and give up..its the mentally tough teams that are able to look past that fact and fight for every game..the bruins this year have been mentally tough...instead of folding in montreal after dropping 2 games on their home ice, they went and grabbed the next 2...I just find it hard to believe that the team who took the lakers to 7 games will fold and lay over.

I think having shaq back even if for 10-15minutes changes the dynamic greatly. the guy offers a 5th option on offense, and if he gets doubled? that leaves someone open on the perimiter.

[Fred Roberts]

HEY, at least the pressure is off Boston. Everyone thinks we've lost so let's play like we've got nothing to lose!

[mc34]

These are obviously not the greatest of examples, considering these were against the Celtics and both teams ended up losing in 7 games, BUT, hear me out:

2008 Atlanta Hawks and 2008 Cleveland Cavaliers. If I recall correctly, we absolutely slaughtered both teams in the first two games on our homecourt, everyone says they're done, etc. Both teams tie the series up at home, push it to 7, and eventually fall to us and the rest is history. The talent disparity between those Atlanta and Cleveland teams vs our 2008 championship Celtics was enormous.

The point is that an 0-2 deficit is hardly a death sentence, especially when we the losses have been on the road and about us not executing. And pay no attention to the end results of those 2008 teams, because the Celtics and Heat of this year are much, much more evenly matched than those teams.

Edit: One more piece of history. The Spurs came back from an 0-2 deficit in 2008 against a very good Hornets team, led by Chris Paul, who many people feel should have won the MVP that year. Dropped the first 2 on the road and won in 7.

We're hardly out of this. Go C's.

[Jon]

Well, I think they can win 1-2 games, even without radically improving their current play.  LeBron and Wade are probably playing even better than they usually do, which means there should probably be a game or two they play below par. 

However, for us to win, I think we need either the Big Three plus Rondo to either all start playing out of their minds (meaning, 60% shooting, etc.) or Shaq to come back and look like the player he was the first 1/3 of the year.  Miami has no answer for him and Wade and LeBron would not be able to roam at all with him on the court. 

[JoT]

I have this feeling deep down in my heart that they will win game 3 and I know good and well KG, Paul and Rondo are in need of great playoff performances. Yes Miami have played excellent, but the Celtics in my gut have that extra oomph to beat them and I hope Shaq shows up because that can mean an extra boost in their confidence. If Shaq shows up and he stays healthy through the remainder of the playoffs, they can still win banner 18. I personally feel KG miss Shaq being next to him though and with Shaq there he can help the rest of the team.

[Celticsfan336]

Why would any Celtic fan give up hope? A true 7 game series between 2 evenly matched team is supposed have teams that defend their homecourt...that's the beauty of the NBA playoffs...it truly is one game at a time.