Must win tonight for the Celtics

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

and even if we win tonight game 4 is a must win also or the series is for all intents and purposes over. which is why we needed the split against the cheat in miami.

Will we do it? I am a big optimist at times but I can be realistic and objective. The last game was demoralizing for me. It bothered me more than game 7 of the 2010 finals for some strange odd reason. I hope the team does not feel like me.

 Nope, not quitting but just do not feel that there is much more we can do that we did not do last game and still got hosed as far as effort and points are concerned. Somebody help me out here and tell me how and why we win tonight. Home crowd? Thanks. 

[LarBrd33]

yup.  Definitely a must win for any hope of the series going our way.  No chance winning 4 in a row.

I really think Game 2 was our one game to win in this series, though.  IT was really a best case scenario and our best offensive display in the playoffs.  Rondo had the greatest shooting of his entire life... Pierce was as effective as he can be with a sprained MCL.. KG was solid once again... and Ray had his best game of the playoffs.  The team shot 50%.  We were even on rebounds.  We held LeBron to 35% shooting.

If we can't win under those conditions... I think this is a clean sweep.

[pork3]

If we can't win under those conditions... I think this is a clean sweep.

Exactly.
Being a pessimist and realizing that Miami is superior in both athleticism and talent, and that the Celtics are likely fatigued from Wendesday's outing, the outcome of this game will not be to our liking.

Hopefully they prove me wrong.

-Jamman

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

 Rondo had the greatest shooting of his entire life... Pierce was as effective as he can be with a sprained MCL.. KG was solid once again... and Ray had his best game of the playoffs.  The team shot 50%.  We were even on rebounds.  We held LeBron to 35% shooting.

If we can't win under those conditions... I think this is a clean sweep.

I agree with this 100%. Allen finally showed up and we still lost even after rondo had a career best. 

[guava_wrench]

If we can't win all our home games, I don't see how we can win 4. So, in that respect, I agree that this is a must win.

I am fine with our 2 losses since if we hold serve at home, the series will be tied.

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

If we can't win all our home games, I don't see how we can win 4. So, in that respect, I agree that this is a must win.

I am fine with our 2 losses since if we hold serve at home, the series will be tied.

It is asking alot. We have seen it time and time again. A team gets down 2-0 and then game 3 is a must win and they pull it out at home only to falter in game 4 due to fatigue, and other issues at home and then that costs them the series. IF and it is a GARGANTUAN IF, we can get this thing tied 2-2, even if we lost game 5 it would give me more confidence we could win game 6 and push this baby to 7 games. AND, after we showed we can play well on the road against the miami cheat(see game 2) we would have a prayer at least.

[guava_wrench]

If we can't win all our home games, I don't see how we can win 4. So, in that respect, I agree that this is a must win.

I am fine with our 2 losses since if we hold serve at home, the series will be tied.

It is asking alot. We have seen it time and time again. A team gets down 2-0 and then game 3 is a must win and they pull it out at home only to falter in game 4 due to fatigue, and other issues at home and then that costs them the series. IF and it is a GARGANTUAN IF, we can get this thing tied 2-2, even if we lost game 5 it would give me more confidence we could win game 6 and push this baby to 7 games. AND, after we showed we can play well on the road against the miami cheat(see game 2) we would have a prayer at least.

We also see time and time again that teams lose the first two and then win the second two.

I think you credit fatigue too much. Typically in the playoffs, one team is considerably better than another. That is the reason for the lose 2, win 1, lose 1 pattern. The other team is just better. That is why they have home court. they had a better record.

[Celtics18]

And here we have the "don't believe" thread.

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

And here we have the "don't believe" thread.

nope. just being realistic. I am not drinking kool-aid blindly. I've done it in the past. No more.

[celts55]

And here we have the "don't believe" thread.

I don't think it's a don't believe thread, it's just that if they don't win tonight it would next to impossible to believe they will win the next 4 in a row. Especially with the refs they throw out there and only one day between games.

I think considering the injuries and age of this team they have done a fantastic job, but I have to believe that even Doc knew the importance of winning game 2. I don't think he would have played Rondo 53 minutes, KG 40 something, etc if he didn't know they needed one down there. Than tonight wouldn't matter near as much. So you can call me a non-believer if you like, but I'm hard pressed to think the Celts have a shot if they lose tonight.

That being said, if they do lose tonight, I plan on getting some tickets for Sundays game so I can give this team, that probably won't be together next year a proper standing O for not only exceeding my expitations for this year, but 5 great years together.

[snowball]

Don't worry - both the ref lineup and the vegas odds
confirm that Boston gets the calls tonight.

[Carhole]

Did anyone really need to be told this?

Correct me if I am wrong but a team has never come back down 0-3 in an NBA playoff series.

[mctyson]

If we can't win under those conditions... I think this is a clean sweep.

Exactly.
Being a pessimist and realizing that Miami is superior in both athleticism and talent, and that the Celtics are likely fatigued from Wendesday's outing, the outcome of this game will not be to our liking.

Hopefully they prove me wrong.

-Jamman

So easy being a pessimistic fan, claim you are a realist, so if they lose you can take some sort of fake pride in being right, but if they win you can shrug off being completely wrong because...well, they won and you are happy.

[eugen]

Starting from tonite, very game has to be "a must win"

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

Starting from tonite, very game has to be "a must win"

yep. good point in all actuality. Boston probably needs to win 4 straight(that is asking alot).....I doubt in a game 7 we get any help in Miami for obvious reasons. Now that means we have to win at miami in a game 5(IF we win 3 & 4 in boston) to close out in Boston in game 6. Miracles do happen and can happen, I'll say that much.