The ESPN experts still don't believe...

[fairweatherfan]

Yeah it's hard for me to say that an analyst who's trying to be objective should peg us as the favorites when we're behind in the series and don't have HCA.  I think the 1 is a little silly but 3 or 4 is pretty reasonable. 

[StartOrien]

Question for Brian Robb:

Define "Hostile"

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

And following to a T all the items on the checklist the team gave to fans earlier in the season listing what they need from them.

It's hilarious enough to repost.

Hostile = Getting the price of soda reduced for showing up on time.

Is is soda, or grape Kool-Aid?  'Cause they really do look like a cult.

Meh, cults are notoriously punctual.

[meanandgreen]

I would have to agree with a majority of the analysts. As of now, its not looking to bright for us. We will need exceptional play and thanks to the news of Rondo participating this morning, I think its possible.

I think we can all agree that we have to take this game to keep momentum and have any chance at this series.

[Army_of_One_Nation]

I was watching Sportscenter this morning and Ric Bucher said that the Heat need the bench to contribute more because the C's bench did more in game 3. He must be really stupid because: The Heat bench scored more 35-19, and rebounded more 16-6. The C's won due to the fact that they outplayed the Heat starters.

[Drucci]

I don't understand that line : ". 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."

How can be 1-9 in these situations if we have only played three games 7 from 2009 to 2011 and furthermore won one out of three?

[dtrader]

I don't understand that line : ". 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."

How can be 1-9 in these situations if we have only played three games 7 from 2009 to 2011 and furthermore won one out of three?

Well, it wouldnt need to be agame 7, for it to be a "road closeout game".

[17wasEZ]

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.

We need to win 4 out of 5 games against a very good team including at least one on their home floor.

Hey my man, the C's only need to win 3 out of 4.  The first three games are history! Win two at home (36-8 at the Garden) and split on the road. That's it.

Sure Miami is a very good team and can win this thing in 5, but winning one game at a time can have this series tied in about 4 hours.

[Roy H.]

Yep... this reminds me of a Celtics basketball version of an ol Rocky movie. We are beat to a pulp , bleeding and hearing the count.

Can the Celtics get up off the floor one more time and win this ?

Like a Rocky movie, the good guys will win.

(Well, except for Rocky I, the first fight in Rocky III, and Rocky Balboa.)

[Drucci]

I don't understand that line : ". 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."

How can be 1-9 in these situations if we have only played three games 7 from 2009 to 2011 and furthermore won one out of three?

Well, it wouldnt need to be agame 7, for it to be a "road closeout game".

Ah, didn't realize he was talken about "road closeout game" I thought he mentioned games 7 only so now it makes sense... TP for the explanation.

[kozlodoev]

Wait, we won 1 game and suddenly were supposed to transform into some sort of series favorites?! The Cs were beaten pretty soundly in Miami -- twice -- so until further notice, our chance to win the series is definitely below 50%, so I am not surprised at all to see stuff vary from 1 to 3 on a 10 scale.

[17wasEZ]

Wait, we won 1 game and suddenly were supposed to transform into some sort of series favorites?! The Cs were beaten pretty soundly in Miami -- twice -- so until further notice, our chance to win the series is definitely below 50%, so I am not surprised at all to see stuff vary from 1 to 3 on a 10 scale.

Agreed.  If Wade or Lebron had dislocated their elbow, then I would say it would be 50-50. With a healthy Rondo, I would put it at about 3 or 4.

[Roy H.]

All I have to say is, "Oh ye of little faith".

[kozlodoev]

All I have to say is, "Oh ye of little faith".

Having faith doesn't mean not acknowledging we're playing against all odds

[Moranis]

It would seethe experts were right.

[PosImpos]

It would seethe experts were right.

"seethe."  I appreciated that little Freudian slip.