Boston is in serious trouble, unless
By Doug Upstone
No way, come on, its impossible, not a chance in you know where, but yet
The Boston Celtics have gone into some weird time warp machine, going from looking old and downtrodden, to younger and hotter than Justin Bieber and back again.
The Celtics by the end of Game 5's 113-92 beat down looked like they had just rode on nearby Space Mountain at Disney World backwards, without seat belts.
For those that love the city of Boston and their sports teams, this series is taking on a theme a little too familiar, with the Bruins coughing up a 3-0 series lead to Philadelphia earlier this month.
The Celtics are 23-11 ATS when playing with double revenge and might need Lance Burton to put an end to Orlandos magic. The single greatest denominator in this series is confidence. Boston stole it in Game 1 and Orlando has taken it back with two victories.
How else can you explain Boston being flawless on both ends of the floor, finding the open shooter to make baskets and closing out on Orlando shooters at just the right instant to make them miss.
Yet, in the space of less than two playoff games, Doc Rivers team cant find an open makeable shot and looks hesitant and half step slow on offense and is running towards Magic shooters, instead of having them guarded.
And what about Stan Van Gundys squad? For three games Orlando couldnt hit the water with a shot at Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park and Jameer Nelson vs. Rajon Rondo looked like the biggest mismatch since Floyd Mayweather Jr. hammered Arturo Gatti.
However, a great coaching adjustment by Van Gundy has Nelson finding freedom off screens and the Boston big men are uncertain of Jameers next move and hes put them in a full Nelson, whether hes decided to drive, shoot or dish. The Magic might have unleashed another weapon as Rashard Lewis stopped thinking and has started just playing basketball.
Orlando is 11-3 ATS in road games off a home win by 10 points or more this season and their increased intensity and execution has Rivers team reeling.
Glen Davis is a maybe after suffering concussion, leaving a frustrated Kendrick Perkins and Rasheed Wallace to do battle with Dwight Howard in the paint, who is invoking performances from yesteryear. (From Elias Sports - Dwight Howard registered 21 points, 10 rebounds and five blocked shots to help Orlando avoid playoff elimination in Game Five on Wednesday night. Howard had 32 points, 16 rebounds and four blocked shots to help Orlando avoid a series sweep in Game Four. Only one other player has recorded 20-or-more points, 10-or-more rebounds and at least four blocked shots in consecutive games with his team facing elimination in both games: Elvin Hayes in 1979.)
Boston is a three-point favorite according to Betonline.com, with total of 189. Can a battered and bruised white-clad club muster Celtic pride and close out this series? Yes they can, but they have to make adjustments.
Orlando has raised the ante on physical play and the Celtics have been retaliating with foolish fouls instead of matching grit for grit. Bang with the Magic just enough to not be whistled for fouls and dont get out-muscled and out-worked on the glass, otherwise they fall to 13-30 ATS at home after being outrebounded by opponent by 15 or more. Passive wont work and neither will overly aggressive, take the fight to them.
On the high screens Nelson is running off of, attack him with big man, with arms spread to reduce Jameers line of sight. Nelson has never been accused of being a Steve Nash-type passer. Force him make immediate decisions with ball, not his strength under duress.
Boston players also have to stay with their own man. In the first three contests the Magic converted 20 three-pointers, in the last two wins; Orlando long distance shooters have ripped the nets for 23 from downtown.
Superman and friends are 24-13 ATS as an underdog over the last two years and they know as well as Boston, for all intents and purposes this is an elimination game for both teams. Though 93 teams have tried and failed in the NBA playoffs being down 3-0, if Boston were to lose, most would bet against history.
ESPN has Game 6 at 8:30 Eastern and one can only imagine what people from Bean-Town are thinking.