Who has a better chance of winning their series: Lakers or Celtics?

[ACF]

Well, what say you?  

[ballin]

We've got Shaq, the ace up our sleeve. If he comes out and gives us 15-20 big minutes that could be series-changing.

Plus, all Miami has done so far is defends its home court.

The Lakers on the other hand just dropped two in a row on their home court, so they're pretty much screwed.

[PosImpos]

Gotta say the Celtics.  The C's are headed home.  The Lakers have to go on the road, and the Mavs are a good home team.

You could say the Mavs have given up a 2-0 lead in the playoffs before, but that was with HCA.  When was the last time a team lost a series after going up 2-0 without HCA?

[KungPoweChicken]

What is amazing is how similar the Lakers and Celtics have looked in the playoffs. Down two games though, I believe in the greatness of Pierce, Garnett, and Allen. I believe in the greatness of Kobe, but Odom and Gasol? Not so much.

[PosImpos]

Courtesy of ATH Toni Reali:

14 teams have come back from 0-2. 224 haven't. (And only two have come back from 0-2 and going on the road.)

[BostonIrishGuy]

What is amazing is how similar the Lakers and Celtics have looked in the playoffs. Down two games though, I believe in the greatness of Pierce, Garnett, and Allen. I believe in the greatness of Kobe, but Odom and Gasol? Not so much.

Gimme a break, look man I hate them Fakers just as bad as you but they are the 2 time defending champs. They have some ball players on their team just like our team does. That being said, KG looks DONE. I do not believe in him at all right now, I hope I'm wrong. So its really Ray and Paul I belive in, KG is a shell of his former self and if you think otherwise you are a delusional homer.

[Atzar]

What is amazing is how similar the Lakers and Celtics have looked in the playoffs. Down two games though, I believe in the greatness of Pierce, Garnett, and Allen. I believe in the greatness of Kobe, but Odom and Gasol? Not so much.

Gimme a break, look man I hate them Fakers just as bad as you but they are the 2 time defending champs. They have some ball players on their team just like our team does. That being said, KG looks DONE. I do not believe in him at all right now, I hope I'm wrong. So its really Ray and Paul I belive in, KG is a shell of his former self and if you think otherwise you are a delusional homer.

Call me a delusional homer, then.  He's not who he was in Minny or in his first year with Boston, but he's far from done.

[cman88]

well, if theres 2 teams in the NBA who have the resolve and talent to overcome an 0-2 deficit its the celtics and lakers IMO

but right now, i feel better if im the celtics...youve got shaq coming back and going back to boston..

the lakers are going to dallas now after having dropped 2 on their home court

[aporel#18]

The Celtics will win in 7
The Lakers will lose in 6

Easy answer.

The Lakers will put a fight, but Dallas is winning either game 3 or 4. At home, and with their depth, they can abuse the Lakers. I'm saying Lakers win a couple of games, lose in game 6. Rick Carslile is a great coach.

The Celtics are winning both home games. I expect a break from the ref pressure, and Shaq is coming back, so Doc will finally stop messing with rotation.

But I wouldn't celebrate the Lakers defeat until they're done. Mavs, you can do it!

[PosImpos]

Update from ATH's Toni Reali:

14 teams have come back from 0-2. 224 haven't. Three have come back from 0-2 going on the road. (69 Lakers, 94 Rockets, 05 Mavs)

[JoT]

What is amazing is how similar the Lakers and Celtics have looked in the playoffs. Down two games though, I believe in the greatness of Pierce, Garnett, and Allen. I believe in the greatness of Kobe, but Odom and Gasol? Not so much.

Gimme a break, look man I hate them Fakers just as bad as you but they are the 2 time defending champs. They have some ball players on their team just like our team does. That being said, KG looks DONE. I do not believe in him at all right now, I hope I'm wrong. So its really Ray and Paul I belive in, KG is a shell of his former self and if you think otherwis
e you are a delusional homer.

So have you not been watching Gasol? Yes he's younger than KG, but Dirk is abusing him and outplaying him and now his own teammates are starting to blame him. Without a productive Gasol and bench they're done. Period point blank and as of now besides Kobe and at times Fisher and Bynum no one is stepping up to the plate. Tonight Gasol was horrible along with Artest, Odom and the bench and they lost AT HOME against a team no one thought would be competition. I wouldn't say they're done as of yet because they can pull of 2 wins in Dallas, but as of now Laker nation are in panic mode and guess who they're blaming. Not Kobe, not Ron, but Gasol and guess who are on their trading block in Laker nation? You guess it Gasol.

[Chelm]

Update from ATH's Toni Reali:

14 teams have come back from 0-2. 224 haven't. Three have come back from 0-2 going on the road. (69 Lakers, 94 Rockets, 05 Mavs)

I don't have the stats in front of me, but I recall hearing that the percent of teams that have come back from 0-2 (lost both at home) is actually higher than have come back from 0-2 (lost on the road).  It's something like 11/180 and 3/40.  I can't find a link verifying this though.

Either way, the Lakers are not likely to be #4.

EDIT:  

Stats in front of me.  

Lost the first 2 on the road:  11/206 (5.3%) have won the series.
Lost the first 2 at home:  3/18 (16.7%) have won the series.

[celticinorlando]

neither..celtics out in 5..lakers out in 6

[angryguy77]

Boston has the better chance. I wouldn't be surprised if LA finds a way to pull this out though.

If Shaq can stay on the floor and as long as we don't get another Joey Crawford type screwing we should be able to pull this out.

Winning four in a row is not out of the question against the Heat. But it hinges on the two factors I mentioned.

[RMO]

Update from ATH's Toni Reali:

14 teams have come back from 0-2. 224 haven't. Three have come back from 0-2 going on the road. (69 Lakers, 94 Rockets, 05 Mavs)

I don't have the stats in front of me, but I recall hearing that the percent of teams that have come back from 0-2 (lost both at home) is actually higher than have come back from 0-2 (lost on the road).  It's something like 11/180 and 3/40.  I can't find a link verifying this though.

Either way, the Lakers are not likely to be #4.

EDIT:  

Stats in front of me.  

Lost the first 2 on the road:  11/206 (5.3%) have won the series.
Lost the first 2 at home:  3/18 (16.7%) have won the series.

Do you know if any of those teams to come back was when the first round was best of five?