It's Boston: Orlando Magic to Face World-Champion Celtics in 2nd Round

Well well well....

its boston again…LETS GET IT STARTED
magic in six

Evan Almighty does not call his home runs because he thinks that's so 20th century.He simply uses technology and tells the GPS where to take the ball.

by AverageAlmighty on May 2, 2009 11:20 PM EDT reply actions

magic in seven.

i predict an incredibly physical series, even by playoff standards.
think rafer could take rondo?

by kerem on May 2, 2009 11:22 PM EDT reply actions

Rafer can hang with Rondo.

It’s the more physical point guards (Andre Miller, for example) that Alston has trouble guarding.

I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.

I comment WAY too much.

Die for my family and live for the moment/And that's the main difference between me and my opponent - Phonte of Little Brother

by erivera7 on May 3, 2009 3:50 AM EDT up reply actions

Magic in 6

Celtics are old and beat up

by atlantaray on May 2, 2009 11:23 PM EDT reply actions

Evan Almighty does not call his home runs because he thinks that's so 20th century.He simply uses technology and tells the GPS where to take the ball.
turkey-glue= Mr.4th quarter
Winslow, Ward, Leftwich, Freeman, Crowell, Stroughter, and Miller???? VERY NICE!

by AverageAlmighty on May 2, 2009 11:24 PM EDT up reply actions

I wish Jameer was healthy

watching Nelson v. Rondo would be worth the price of admission by itself.

by atlantaray on May 2, 2009 11:26 PM EDT up reply actions

True but

Remember when Alston was with Houston he and Rondo got into a “scuffle”
Its on youtube its pretty funny

Evan Almighty does not call his home runs because he thinks that's so 20th century.He simply uses technology and tells the GPS where to take the ball.
turkey-glue= Mr.4th quarter
Winslow, Ward, Leftwich, Freeman, Crowell, Stroughter, and Miller???? VERY NICE!

by AverageAlmighty on May 2, 2009 11:27 PM EDT up reply actions

You mean this one...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LA6ynIJHRk

Yea lol, Skip to My Lou won’t back down from Rondo. I hope someone drop-kicks him in the neck by the end of the series.

by atlantaray on May 2, 2009 11:32 PM EDT up reply actions

yes rondo looks like

lil bow wow haha

Evan Almighty does not call his home runs because he thinks that's so 20th century.He simply uses technology and tells the GPS where to take the ball.
turkey-glue= Mr.4th quarter
Winslow, Ward, Leftwich, Freeman, Crowell, Stroughter, and Miller???? VERY NICE!

by AverageAlmighty on May 2, 2009 11:38 PM EDT up reply actions

Skip's gonna shut him down!

The Surfdog

by Surfdog on May 3, 2009 1:58 AM EDT up reply actions

.. maybe.

I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.

I comment WAY too much.

Die for my family and live for the moment/And that's the main difference between me and my opponent - Phonte of Little Brother

by erivera7 on May 3, 2009 4:10 AM EDT up reply actions

Boston isn't that old.

The team’s effective age is 28.6, which is pretty much in the middle of the pack in the NBA. Obviously Allen (33) and Pierce (31) are up there in age, but everyone else that plays is young or relatively young.

I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.

I comment WAY too much.

Die for my family and live for the moment/And that's the main difference between me and my opponent - Phonte of Little Brother

by erivera7 on May 3, 2009 4:13 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

One of those media stereotypes

That must be true because they say it a lot on ESPN.

Facts? What are they?

by eltharion_doa on May 3, 2009 6:30 AM EDT up reply actions

It's just a blind statement that the public accepts without doing the research.

I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.

I comment WAY too much.

Die for my family and live for the moment/And that's the main difference between me and my opponent - Phonte of Little Brother

by erivera7 on May 3, 2009 1:28 PM EDT up reply actions

There's lots of tread on those tires

Pierce has played 883 games in his career and Ray Allen has played 1012. They just played a long, tough, physical series against a young team. Rest of the team is young yes, but not incredibly deep. They shouldn’t have had as much trouble with Chicago as they did. I think Boston will be drained personally, if they beat Orlando I will be incredibly impressed. That would be like Muhammad Ali beating Foreman a week after the Thrilla in Manila.

by atlantaray on May 3, 2009 10:09 PM EDT up reply actions

I wouldn't disagree that fatigue will play a factor for the Celtics.

I’m just saying that Boston isn’t as old as people think they are.

I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.

I comment WAY too much.

Die for my family and live for the moment/And that's the main difference between me and my opponent - Phonte of Little Brother

by erivera7 on May 3, 2009 10:12 PM EDT up reply actions

Celtics younger than most think

Old? 3 of the 5 Celtics starters are 24 or under. Davis is 22, Rondo is 23, and Perkins is 24. Ray Allen is pushing 34 but has the body of a 27 year old, and Pierce is still in his prime at 31.

by burnin' on May 3, 2009 1:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Let's get it on!!!!

by pjlawrence81 on May 2, 2009 11:25 PM EDT reply actions

Beat the for us..

Derrick Rose: Point GOD

by Juan dela Cruz on May 2, 2009 11:27 PM EDT reply actions

No problemo

Evan Almighty does not call his home runs because he thinks that's so 20th century.He simply uses technology and tells the GPS where to take the ball.
turkey-glue= Mr.4th quarter
Winslow, Ward, Leftwich, Freeman, Crowell, Stroughter, and Miller???? VERY NICE!

by AverageAlmighty on May 2, 2009 11:27 PM EDT up reply actions

It'll be a challenge but I know the Orlando Magic will be up to the task.

I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.

I comment WAY too much.

Die for my family and live for the moment/And that's the main difference between me and my opponent - Phonte of Little Brother

by erivera7 on May 3, 2009 4:14 AM EDT up reply actions

can you Magic fans

handle the patented Perkins mad face? It’s hideous. I imagine you’ll see it a lot, given that Dwight should posterize him on about half of your possessions.

"Stay thirsty my friends" - the most interesting man in the world, giving the bulls a pregame peptalk

by Othella on May 3, 2009 12:25 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

I could care less about Kendrick Perkins.

.. I’m more concerned about the Orlando Magic.

I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.

I comment WAY too much.

Die for my family and live for the moment/And that's the main difference between me and my opponent - Phonte of Little Brother

by erivera7 on May 3, 2009 3:52 AM EDT up reply actions

Celtics in 6.

Celtics are warmed up after that epic fight against the Bulls and they are ready to take down Orlando Magic. Magic are known to blow large leads and don’t even look at how the Celtics-Magic has done during the season because those games had most of the Celtics players injured.

This is an official fight and whoever wins this series will prove who is better between both teams.

No injury excuses (KG out, Nelson out).

Let’s do this!

Good luck, Magic. You’ll need it. ;)

by AlexC on May 3, 2009 12:30 AM EDT reply actions

Blah...

I just re-read what I typed above and the first couple sentences made no sense. xD

It’s midnight so I’m going to bed. >_<

by AlexC on May 3, 2009 12:31 AM EDT up reply actions

Warmed up???

More like banged up. Then again Rondo is flopping lil female dog who WILL sprain his ankle for real this series.

by AB's triple double on May 3, 2009 1:59 AM EDT up reply actions

Well, Boston is depleted. That's just a fact and something to look out for in the series.

Whether or not Orlando can take advantage of that remains to be seen.

Don’t be surprised if SVG makes a concerted effort to run at every opportunity.

I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.

I comment WAY too much.

Die for my family and live for the moment/And that's the main difference between me and my opponent - Phonte of Little Brother

by erivera7 on May 3, 2009 4:01 AM EDT up reply actions

Yep. Need to jump on them early.

The Surfdog

by Surfdog on May 3, 2009 4:26 PM EDT up reply actions

If so......Magic in 6.

The Surfdog

by Surfdog on May 3, 2009 4:30 PM EDT up reply actions

"This is an official fight and whoever wins this series will prove who is better between both teams."

Obviously.

Lol jk man. Can’t wait for this one

by bandrewg08 on May 3, 2009 2:02 AM EDT up reply actions

Should be fun.

I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.

I comment WAY too much.

Die for my family and live for the moment/And that's the main difference between me and my opponent - Phonte of Little Brother

by erivera7 on May 3, 2009 4:02 AM EDT up reply actions

.. the same could have been said for the Magic.

I don’t care for taking the “injury excuse” route but the only game in which both teams were healthy was on January 20th, in which the Celtics won. The other three games both teams had to deal with injuries.

With that said, the series can go either way. I believe the odds are 50/50 for either squad. On paper, Orlando is the better team but clearly Boston neutralizes that fact a bit by having home-court. Not having C. Lee to start the series will be interesting for the Magic since Ray Allen could have a field day if Pietrus is unable to contain him. Pierce will have the advantage on Turkoglu, so that’s another matchup to look for. I think having Lee back at some point will help Orlando because it’ll allow Pietrus to concentrate more on Pierce, when necessary, and Courtney can do his best to neutralize Ray. Without Lee, there’s going to be a mismatch on the court no matter what (either Allen or Pierce). Something to look out for.

I can go on but I’ll save it.

In any case, good luck to the C’s.

I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.

I comment WAY too much.

Die for my family and live for the moment/And that's the main difference between me and my opponent - Phonte of Little Brother

by erivera7 on May 3, 2009 4:00 AM EDT up reply actions

Better team on paper?

Rafer Alston <<<<<<<<< Rajon Rondo
Courtney Lee <<<<<<<< Ray Allen
Hedo Turkoglu <<<<<<<< Paul Pierce
Rashard Lewis <<<<< Glen Davis
Dwight Howard > Kendrick Perkins

by endverse on May 3, 2009 11:58 AM EDT up reply actions

That's the dumbest thing I've read today

by AB's triple double on May 3, 2009 12:15 PM EDT up reply actions

I think we can contain Allen better than the Bulls did

I think you could put either Pietrus or Hedo on him (assuming we don’t get Lee back at all) and I think their length can really bother him. Allen had a guy about his height guarding him against the Bulls where we can throw somebody on him that has four to five inches on him and contest a lot more shots.

As far as endverse’s comment….I think the starting five’s are about even on paper but Orlando has the superior bench. Other than Eddie House there is really nobody on Boston that is a legitimate scoring threat…and even he was pretty quiet until game 7.

by Lee for three on May 3, 2009 12:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Well, the Magic will contain Allen better than the Bulls did ..

.. because Ben Gordon is an average defender, at best.

Has to be Pietrus because Hedo is going to be preoccupied with Pierce. Plus, Allen is way, way, way too quick for Turkoglu. There’s no way Turk is going to run around screens, chasing Allen on a bum ankle. That’s not happening.

Boston has been able to maintain it’s scoring output with KG out, but the key has been the dropoff defensively. Obviously we’ve seen that against Chicago in the previous series.

I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.

I comment WAY too much.

Die for my family and live for the moment/And that's the main difference between me and my opponent - Phonte of Little Brother

by erivera7 on May 3, 2009 1:36 PM EDT up reply actions

wow you're dumb.

Let’s go to the bench then we can talk too.

Basketball team has about 8 or 9 role players, not just the starting 5.

Scalabrine? NO.

by fwedo on May 3, 2009 1:30 PM EDT up reply actions

No.

I’d give the edge to Rondo, Allen, and Pierce in their respective matchups .. but Lewis and Howard have the advantage in their respective matchups. What tips the scale in the Magic’s favor is the bench, which is better and deeper against the current iteration of the Celtics bench.

I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.

I comment WAY too much.

Die for my family and live for the moment/And that's the main difference between me and my opponent - Phonte of Little Brother

by erivera7 on May 3, 2009 1:31 PM EDT up reply actions

Magic in 6 seems to be the prevailing prediction

And I’ll go with it too. Boston is way too thin up front…Howard is going to have a field day. Perkins will pick up 2 fouls in 4-5 mins a la Dalembert and then it will either be Mikki Moore or Brian Scalabrine (hahaha) trying to guard D12.

Not only do I give you a prediction of Magic in 6…but I saw Howard averages 27 pts and 18 rebs for the series.

by Lee for three on May 3, 2009 12:47 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Depends on how Stan utilizes Dwight.

.. if Howard is used in pick & rolls constantly, then yeah, he should have a field day. Van Gundy finally realized that speed (in the last game of the regular season vs. the Celtics) is an advantage that Dwight needs to use against Kendrick. Can’t simply post up down low because Perkins has the lower-body strength to put a body on Howard. That’s why Dwight struggled in the past ..

.. as for Boston’s front line, yeah, it’s thin. If Howard gets Perkins in foul trouble, forget it.

I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.

I comment WAY too much.

Die for my family and live for the moment/And that's the main difference between me and my opponent - Phonte of Little Brother

by erivera7 on May 3, 2009 4:04 AM EDT up reply actions

exactly.

dwight is our biggest advantage over boston,and svg has to use him in the best possible way.
on the small positions,well,c lee is probably not going to play in this series,except maybe final game(s),
and even if he does,won’t the injury,too much rest,and the protective mask have effect on him?
celtics are survivors,and a dangerous one too. i think they are more dangerous now,then they would be if first series ended 4-0 for boston.
i’m not afraid of them,cause if we aren’t up to this task,how about the cavs?
so,it’s good to have boston,anyway. they are much bigger threat,and hopefully a much better preparation for cleveland. if we win,that is. chances are EXACTLY 50-50. no magic in 6 predictions,nor in 7,(somebody said 4? lol)no nothing. just give your heart and hope for the best.
homecourt? well,(un)fortunately we proved how easy it is to lose that advantage. and to regain it. let’s do it again vs boston.
game 1 of this series seems maybe most important to me. tension is in the air.
gooooooo magic!!!
and yes….
this one goes to dwight&the rest of the team:
CRUSH RIVERS FOR ME,GUYS. you owe me that one.
THANKS IN ADVANCE.

by Dzogi on May 3, 2009 7:24 AM EDT up reply actions

please knock some sense

into the celtics. you guys are a better team. even if garnett shows his almost unbelievably unattractive mug, you guys are STILL the better team. don’t be intimidated. don’t let low class thugs like rajon rondo and eddie house intimidate you. be the better, classier team you know you are and advance to play a great series against the cavs.

by amory blaine on May 3, 2009 12:50 AM EDT reply actions

Thank you sir

let’s just do this.

by fwedo on May 3, 2009 3:33 AM EDT up reply actions

Thanks for the well wishes.

We’ll see how it goes ..

I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.

I comment WAY too much.

Die for my family and live for the moment/And that's the main difference between me and my opponent - Phonte of Little Brother

by erivera7 on May 3, 2009 4:05 AM EDT up reply actions

Lets be like Celtics Blog

And hopefully ban any trolls that come on here. It would be nice if we could get a group of rational Boston fans on here to chat with.

Shaq sucks.

by Paul Finger on May 3, 2009 3:11 AM EDT reply actions

There's plenty of rationale Celtics fans out there.

I think a worthy discussion can take place with ’em.

As for everyone here, obviously I can’t control everyone’s actions but it’d be best if everyone just kept it low key and not try to “make your presence known” at another team’s blog. I know Paul Finger had a problem already and I rather everyone just avoid the issue altogether. I know how most of you are and I know that peeps here have the best of intentions, but for my sake and yours .. keep it chill.

I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.

I comment WAY too much.

Die for my family and live for the moment/And that's the main difference between me and my opponent - Phonte of Little Brother

by erivera7 on May 3, 2009 4:10 AM EDT up reply actions

I'm not going to give an official prediction yet but Orlando should beat Boston.

Key word, should.

It’s going to be tough. The Celtics have a lot of pride, they’re the defending champs, and they shouldn’t be underestimated, but the numbers favor the Magic. My only concern is no C. Lee to start the series, but if he can make it back by Game 3 or so, I think the team will be okay. I’ll give a prediction in a day or two.

I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.

I comment WAY too much.

Die for my family and live for the moment/And that's the main difference between me and my opponent - Phonte of Little Brother

by erivera7 on May 3, 2009 4:18 AM EDT reply actions

It will be an outstanding series to watch

I expect a lot of close, hard-fought games in this series with the defending World Champions.

I am confident the Magic can win the series, but it will have to be in six games or less because it would be darn near impossible to win a Game 7 in Boston.

by Mike from Illinois on May 3, 2009 4:42 AM EDT reply actions

I wholeheartedly agree with your last statement.

If the Magic beat the Celtics, it has to be in 6 games or less. Has to.

I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.

I comment WAY too much.

Die for my family and live for the moment/And that's the main difference between me and my opponent - Phonte of Little Brother

by erivera7 on May 3, 2009 1:38 PM EDT up reply actions

The Celtics have been too tough for too long for me to feel very optimistic about this. Hopeful, yes, but I’ll be watchng every game with a sense of impending doom.

by eltharion_doa on May 3, 2009 6:33 AM EDT reply actions

Hey guys

I’m a Celtics fan from France, and I’ve been reading TQC for a long time this season. I just signed up because I wanted to share some thoughts on the upcoming series :

First, I’m just so glad than my team won against the Bulls. It was a hell of a series and my heart almost stopped after each game and all these overtimes. I couldn’t stand Joakim Noah, Ben Gordon and Brad Miller anymore so I’m glad that the Celtics prevailed on their homecourt.

The difference against Orlando, as far as I’m concerned, is that I like the Magic. Of course I’ll cheer for Boston and I want to see the Celtics win but I think that there will be a lot of respect in this series, between the players but also between the fans. The only Magic guy that I can’t stand is Van Gundy but him put apart, I’m glad to know that we are about to watch a great basketball series between two good teams.

Anyway, I’ll pick Boston in 6.

It’ll be an interesting series, I can’t wait to see it begin and I wish good luck to the Magic! May the better team prevail.

by Drucci on May 3, 2009 8:57 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Welcome.

That’s great you read the site; thanks for the kind words. It’ll definitely be a compelling and interesting series. GL to the C’s. Thanks for stopping by and providing your thoughts!

I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.

I comment WAY too much.

Die for my family and live for the moment/And that's the main difference between me and my opponent - Phonte of Little Brother

by erivera7 on May 3, 2009 1:41 PM EDT up reply actions

The better team is Orlando!!

Right now Orlando has the confidence that they are good , even without Superman. That last win came as a reminder,that we are a TEAM and not a one player team!! We will conquer on 5 games. Boston just got over a dismal quality team like the Bulls in 7 games and even loss in there home court too. Dont think the Celtics has it anymore!! And Orlando JUST got IT from the last game.
Celtics will try all there tricks inthere firts game and gona loss,after that is just Orlando all the way with one lose becuase of Celtics pride.
Bring it on!!

I will see the Dolphins win a SUPER BOWL before i die(22 years and counting)

by Aleta on May 3, 2009 12:39 PM EDT reply actions

5 games seems a bit .. much.

.. but hey, anything is possible.

I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.

I comment WAY too much.

Die for my family and live for the moment/And that's the main difference between me and my opponent - Phonte of Little Brother

by erivera7 on May 3, 2009 1:42 PM EDT up reply actions

lol, that's low man, just low

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dk7Il3EqI0

I am no longer able to participate in this discussion due to a moderators request...
by TrentEdwardsHoF2018

by Screen Name on May 4, 2009 6:00 AM EDT up reply actions

Rondo better not...

pull the nonsense that he did in the first round. if so, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him on the wrong side of Dwight’s elbow

by GuapoDCole on May 3, 2009 12:56 PM EDT reply actions

Right

Even though last year the Celtics went to 7 against Atlanta…they completely dominated the Hawks in Boston. Of the Celtics’ 4 wins this year, only game 3 was a blowout and Chicago even stole a game on the road. This team is a lot more vulnerable and even though Lee’s injury will hurt…SG is the one position where we have plenty of depth.

by Lee for three on May 3, 2009 12:58 PM EDT reply actions

j.j. on ray allen scares me.

that is my only serious point of concern

by coque429 on May 3, 2009 1:40 PM EDT reply actions

Well, Pietrus will help too .. won't be just Redick.

I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.

I comment WAY too much.

Die for my family and live for the moment/And that's the main difference between me and my opponent - Phonte of Little Brother

by erivera7 on May 3, 2009 1:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Uh Oh....

The Surfdog

by Surfdog on May 3, 2009 4:22 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, that's a matchup of concern with Courtney Lee out.

I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.

I comment WAY too much.

Die for my family and live for the moment/And that's the main difference between me and my opponent - Phonte of Little Brother

by erivera7 on May 3, 2009 4:25 PM EDT up reply actions

Ugh

Atlanta is up by 14 in the second…I really want to see Lebron and Wade in the next round but that’s not looking very likely.

And for all the hype that Celtics-Bulls got for being one of the best series of all time, can we all agree this is the WORST series to go seven games of all time. There has not been one game that has been competitive. The closest game was 10 points. Three games have been by 20+ points and the Heat scored 64 in game 1.

by Lee for three on May 3, 2009 2:01 PM EDT reply actions