The ESPN experts still don't believe...

[Roy H.]

Okay, "experts" may be pushing it, but still:

5. On a 1-to-10 scale, how likely is it Boston will win the series?

Brian Robb, Celtics Hub: 3. Barring an unlikely four-game winning streak, the Celtics best chance of winning the series involve winning a Game 7 in hostile territory. The Celtics' core is 1-9 in these potential road closeout games over the past three postseasons. A victory this year in such a scenario is still certainly possible, but far from probable.

Rob Peterson, Hardwood Paroxysm: With Rondo and West limited by injuries and the Heat having home-court advantage, I'd say a 3. I'd never count out a healthy Celtics team, but this team is holding walkthroughs in the trainer's room. The Heat, though, need to smell blood and get that killer instinct. Don't let the Celtics think they have one more playoff life to live.

Rashad Mobley, Truth About It: 1. Kobe is gone from the playoffs, which means the unofficial king-of-the-NBA title is up for grabs between Wade (going for title No. 2) and LeBron (has everything but a title). There's no way either player squanders that opportunity by letting the Heat fall.

Chris Forsberg, ESPN Boston: 4. Let's be honest, the percentages still heavily favor the Heat right now. But, if Boston wins Game 4, the scale tips back in favor of the Green and this number jumps to a 6 or 7. A loss in Game 4 essentially means this series is over, but you have to like the Celtics' chances going back to Miami tied at 2-2 and with all the confidence and momentum in their travel bags.

Kevin Arnovitz, Heat Index: 3.5. The series now hangs on a few big questions: Do the Heat double Garnett? Will the Heat attempt only a quarter of their shots at the rim? If LeBron actually chooses to attack, can the Celtics do anything about that? So long as the Heat can answer some of these questions in their favor, they should squeak by.

Link.

(I respect you, Brian Robb, but how could you?  Same with you, Forsberg.  Screw objectivity.)

[StartOrien]

Question for Brian Robb:

Define "Hostile"

[Marcus13]

Id say a 4 is a pretty fair rating.

Were down by one and even if we win Game 4 we still don't have home court advantage...and Rondo is going to be effected by his injury.  No way were the FAVORITES at this point (which would mean over a 5)

KG led us to victory in Game 4...I just dont know that he has it in him at this stage in his career to bring that performance again

[barefacedmonk]

Question for Brian Robb:

Define "Hostile"

Everyone in the arena wearing white shirts/t-shirts?

[Rondo2287]

I think 4 is about right though.  we are still down 2-1 and have some injury concerns.  What is the percentage of teams that come back from 2-0 holes?  15% or something?  

[angryguy77]

Thats ok, let them keep doubting. We win tonight and we will win this series.

I see no reason why we can't pull off a 4 game win streak. The key is keeping Davis far far away for the 5 and playing with energy.

[Greenbean]

Rashad Mobley, Truth About It: 1. Kobe is gone from the playoffs, which means the unofficial king-of-the-NBA title is up for grabs between Wade (going for title No. 2) and LeBron (has everything but a title). There's no way either player squanders that opportunity by letting the Heat fall.

Hahahah....like Wade and Lebron have track records that include not letting their teams down. How can this guy be so sure?

Lebron could have seized the king of the NBA throne in any of the years that the Cavs were winning 60 plus games.

DWade won his title with Shaq playing near MVP ball. Since then? Zero playoff success.

This guys talks like these guys have a winners pedigree.

[footey]

I don't think we need a healthy Rondo to beat the Heat, just serviceable, especially on D.  We were already outplaying the Heat when Rondo was out.  If KG plays with the same intensity as game 3, I am confident that we will win the series in 6 or 7.  He was the best player on the court in game 3, and pierce was the second best.

[StartOrien]

I think 4 is about right though.  we are still down 2-1 and have some injury concerns.  What is the percentage of teams that come back from 2-0 holes?  15% or something?  

Circumstances are different here. On one side you've got a team whose main cast has won a championship, and every single rotational player has been here before. On the other you've got a team whose third best player admitted that he was shook by the noise of a game 3.

I'd guess that a predominant portion of us believe the Celtics are going to win tonight. If you're operating under that assumption you have to question if the Heat have it in them mentally to fight back w/ the series tied back up.

 Admittedly, I'm as biased and unobjective as it gets, but I don't think the Heat have it in them.

[EJPLAYA]

Why would anyone other than the fan base believe honestly?! We need to win 4 out of 5 games against a very good team including at least one on their home floor. That’s not really a likely scenario. We won one of them. If we had won 3 already then you may have something there, but fact of the matter is that they are probably right. We need 3 of the next 4 games against the Heat. I’m more hopeful after the way we played Saturday, but with Rondo hurt, Shaq not close to being healthy, West hurting, etc we are more likely to lose this series than win. If we pound them tonight though you will see a changing of opinions though.

[Eddie20]

Question for Brian Robb:

Define "Hostile"

Everyone in the arena wearing white shirts/t-shirts?

Yeah, and for 3 quarters at best!

[Roy H.]

Why would anyone other than the fan base believe honestly?! We need to win 4 out of 5 games against a very good team including at least one on their home floor. That’s not really a likely scenario. We won one of them. If we had won 3 already then you may have something there, but fact of the matter is that they are probably right. We need 3 of the next 4 games against the Heat. I’m more hopeful after the way we played Saturday, but with Rondo hurt, Shaq not close to being healthy, West hurting, etc we are more likely to lose this series than win. If we pound them tonight though you will see a changing of opinions though.

Logic is for suckers.  We're winning tonight, and the Heat are going to wilt.

[vinnie]

I also think 4 is a fair number on a 1-10 scale. And Forsberg is right -- if the Celts win tonight, the scale may tip in their favor. Nothing wrong with that.

[EJPLAYA]

Why would anyone other than the fan base believe honestly?! We need to win 4 out of 5 games against a very good team including at least one on their home floor. That’s not really a likely scenario. We won one of them. If we had won 3 already then you may have something there, but fact of the matter is that they are probably right. We need 3 of the next 4 games against the Heat. I’m more hopeful after the way we played Saturday, but with Rondo hurt, Shaq not close to being healthy, West hurting, etc we are more likely to lose this series than win. If we pound them tonight though you will see a changing of opinions though.

Logic is for suckers.  We're winning tonight, and the Heat are going to wilt.

As a fan I sure hope that this is the way it goes down. There is no question that there are cracks in the Heat’s game that we can exploit. I think the C’s are the team that CAN do it if it is possible. The Lakers showed yesterday that they weren’t tough like that. If we barely win tonight I think we still go down. If we blow them out I think they fold like the babies that they are. (I think I just offended all babies across the US right there…  … and Glen Davis)

[wdleehi]

They don't like the Celtic's chances,


and that's the way we like it.