The Orlando Magic took another step toward making NBA history on Wednesday night by blowing away the Boston Celtics 113-92 in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals. The Magic are trying to become the first team to come back from a 3-0 series deficit, and with the Series now standing at 3-2, they may have a legitimate chance of pulling it off.

The Magic certainly didn’t play like a team ready to pack it in and head home for the summer. Dwight Howard led the way with 21 points, 10 rebounds, and five blocks, while his teammates connected on 13/25 three-point baskets. Jameer Nelson shot 4/5 from beyond the arc, finishing with 24 points, five assists, and five rebounds. The Magic point guard was also a cool 8/8 at the free-throw line. As a team, Orlando shot a red hot 52 percent from the field.

A 20-8 run helped Orlando build a comfortable double-digit lead midway through the second quarter, and Boston never really challenged them after that. The Magic out-rebounded Boston 43-26, shot 52 percent from the field to the Celtics’ 43 percent, and dominated them in nearly every phase of the game.

Adding Injury to Insult

Not only were the Celtics blown out of Amway Arena on Wednesday night, they lost Glen Davis, Marquis Daniels, and Rasheed Wallace to injuries.

Davis was knocked out of the game in the third quarter with a concussion after being smashed in the face by an inadvertent elbow from Dwight Howard. Both players went up for a rebound and Howard’s elbow came down on Davis’s face leaving him woozy to the extent that he was unable to jog down to the other end of the court without falling over. He nearly fell flat on his face before referee Joey Crawford came to the rescue. Inadvertent or not, Howard’s elbow could cause Davis to miss Game 6 in Boston on Friday.

Marquis Daniels, who has seen very little time in this series, also suffered a concussion, forcing him to leave the game. Daniels sustained the concussion after running face-first into the chest of Magic forward Marcin Gortat.

Rasheed Wallace, who scored 21 points filling in for an ejected Kendrick Perkins (I’ll get to that later), tweaked his back, causing him to head to the locker room after fouling out late in the fourth quarter.

Perkins Ejected and Possibly Suspended

The Celtics are now facing the possibility of playing Game 6 without starting center Kendrick Perkins, who received his seventh technical foul of the playoffs in the second quarter. Players who commit seven technical fouls are hit with a mandatory suspension. Perk’s only hope is that at least one of the two technicals that led to his ejection from Game 5 will be rescinded by the league upon further review.

Perk shared a double-technical foul with Marcin Gortat after the two players got tangled up in the first half, and he was hit with a second technical for arguing with officials.

“I didn’t think he deserved either one. But he got them,” Celtics coach Doc Rivers said.

Time to Panic?

I think Boston fans now have the right to push the panic button with these Celtics, especially after all of the fallout from Game 5.

The team’s Conference Finals Series with the Orlando Magic is starting to look eerily similar to the Boston Bruins Conference Semi-Finals Series with the Philadelphia Flyers. Like the Celtics, the Bruins took a 3-0 lead, then lost Game 4 in overtime, before going on to lose the remaining three games of the series.

The city of Boston is still recovering from the Bruins’ monumental collapse, and it would be awfully cruel if the Celtics suffered the same fate. Oddly enough, the city of Boston has directly experienced two of the four times a team in a North American major pro sports league has won a playoff series after losing the first three games (Flyers over Bruins this year, and the Red Sox over the Yankees in the 2004 ALCS).

Game 6

Now it’s up to Doc Rivers to rally the troops for what will be an all but must-win Game 6 for the Celtics in Boston. But rest assured, both teams will be feeling the heat come Friday.

“I don’t know if you can say you have momentum when you’re down 3-2 going into their place,” Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said. “I still look at it like we’re climbing a huge mountain here. But we are playing better.”

Game 6 tips off at 8:30 PM in Boston on Friday night from the TD Garden. You can catch the game on ESPN with pre game coverage beginning at 8:00 PM.

Game 5 Box Score

© Andrew Kipp for Sports of Boston, 2010. | Permalink | No comment
Filed under: Celtics, Featured, Top Story.

This game was over in the first quarter. This series was over and given a brilliant summation with just under 9 minutes in the first half, with an all-out hustle play by Rajon Rondo that would make Larry Bird proud, to dive and take the ball (and the series) away from Jason Williams and the Orlando Magic. As the Boston Celtics dismantled the Magic and their postseason hopes, 94-71 in Game 3 at TD Garden in Boston to take a 3-0 series lead, this team has gone a long way to prove that they are a far cry from what most thought they were.

And certainly, as well as understandably, most thought they would be the same aging team of veterans that stumbled through a regular season plagued with injuries and apparent disinterest. But these are not your regular season Boston Celtics. The Celts came into the postseason preaching it, and the fans came in hoping for it: that this team could coast into a postseason berth, making certain to allow time to rest the aging bodies and regroup for the postseason. The hope was that this team could turn it on at the right time and fire on all cylinders in the games in May and June that would mean the most. And now they are one win away from their second trip to the NBA Finals in three years. Let the “BEAT L.A.!” chants commence.

As much as this game, a wire-to-wire domination by the home team, was another statement by the Celts that this team has come full circle to full fruition at the perfect time, it is just as much an indictment of Stan Van Gundy and the Magic. This was a team that hadn’t lost a game in what seemed like months; a team that had steamrolled through the postseason up to this Eastern Conference Finals with two sweeps in its first two series (albeit against the two teams they would match up the best against). They fought back admirably in the first two games after the Celtics began to impose their will down in Orlando, but ended up squandering home court advantage as well as the one Dwight Howard offensive showcase they were bound to get (and won’t get again. And still, he only had eight rebounds in that game. Not a complete game). Everyone knew Orlando’s season was on the line, needing to get back into this series with their already solid defensive play, and some semblance of a contribution from Rashard Lewis and the offensive threats they do possess. But, Van Gundy’s crew would come out completely flat and uninspired, apparently unaware of the hole they had already dug themselves in.

The Magic should be embarrassed. Rondo’s dive truly did sum up what the difference has been in this series, whether you view it as cliche’ or not: the Celtics want it more. Williams should be utterly ashamed of the effort he gave on that play, as he had at least two steps on Rondo and a clear path to the ball. This is your chance at another shot at the Finals. This is your entire season already teetering on the brink in the second quarter of Game 3, and you don’t dive face first for that ball as Rondo did? Van Gundy would go on to lament after the game that he didn’t have his team “better ready to play.” How is that possible? How could every hustle play and 50/50 ball go in the Celtics favor when they’ve gained the decided advantage through an already impressive display of will and grit? How do you not come out with the mindset of a rabid dog cornered, with nothing to lose and everything left out on the floor? This Game 3 uncovered the Orlando Magic as a soft, front-running, fraudulent team that’s only engaged when things are going well. And things have not gone well for Orlando. They’ve gone from bad to worse.

As the Celtics took immediate command of the game, scoring their first 21 points on 7-0 and 14-0 runs respectively, the Magic shriveled up into the one-dimensional team that they are offensively when Dwight Howard is rendered ineffective. Their one glimmer of hope came in the form of a small second quarter run, as that one dimension proved somewhat fruitful as Jameer Nelson and Orlando began to hit some of the threes they were hoisting up. But that’s the trouble with playing from behind. The Celtics forced Orlando into attempting threes to try and come back in the game, and defended the three point line pretty well, as the Magic finished just 8-30 from behind the arc. Dwight Howard disappeared on the offensive end (seven points on 3-10 shooting), and Rashard Lewis, who was such a huge factor in Orlando’s seven-game series win over Boston last year, has yet to appear himself, scoring just under his average point total for the series: 4 points.

The Celtics once again dominated the pace and tone of the game, with Rondo’s brilliant postseason continuing despite numbers that don’t completely jump off the page (11 points and 12 assists, but what does that SAY about this kid?!). If last year’s postseason was Rondo’s coming-out party, this year’s postseason has been his solidification and backing up of the talk that he is in the conversation when you talk about the top three point guards in the league. And once again, this postseason has been all about the Celts being buoyed by a strong performance and team-leading scoring by a different player every single game. They have not had back-to-back games in the playoffs where one player on their roster lead them in scoring. Saturday it was Glen Davis. Seventeen points and six rebounds (three on the offensive end, where he seems to live) later, Davis proved that while his role would be knowingly diminished with Rasheed Wallace in the fold, he still has the ability to get up for huge games and help this team when it matters most.

Time is quickly running out on Orlando, and now they do not have almost four full days to soak the series in and try and realize what they’re facing. However you may view it, Monday night’s Game 4 will be a chance for the Boston Celtics to thumb their collective noses at most who did not consider them a factor coming into the regular season or the postseason. Cleveland got Shaq. Orlando got Vince Carter. This past off-season was littered with talk of the moves made by the Cleveland Cavaliers and Orlando Magic to prepare for what seemed like another inevitable showdown between the two teams, as Boston was left out of the conversation. But now?

Bring on the Lakers.

© Mike Martyniak for Sports of Boston, 2010. | Permalink | One comment
Filed under: Celtics, Featured, Top Story.

In case you missed it, check out the video below of the play. I apologize for the quality, but hey, I’m posting this only hours after the game ended.

© KC Downey for Sports of Boston, 2010. | Permalink | One comment
Filed under: Celtics, Now!.

For the second time in three nights, the Boston Celtics won a hotly contested game over the Orlando Magic at Amway Arena. Strong games from Rajon Rondo, who scored 25 points, and Paul Pierce, who finished with 28, allowed the C’s to nip the Magic  95-92, and take a commanding 2-0 Eastern Conference Finals series lead.

It was another gut-wrenching defeat for the Magic, who will now face a daunting task in Boston over the next week. With his team trailing 95-92, Vince Carter, acquired from the New Jersey Nets last offseason, missed two free throws with 31.9 seconds remaining, leaving Magic fans standing in disbelief. Jameer Nelson’s buzzer-beating three point attempt fell just short, and the second episode in what the Magic now hope will be more than a four part mini-series, came to an abrupt end in Orlando.

“I don’t take losses well,” said Carter. “Especially when you’re on a team like this. They bring me in to make plays and deliver in crunch time. For me to step up there and miss two free throws, regardless, this doesn’t sit well with me.”

Dwight Howard’s 30-point Effort Wasted

The Magic really have to be kicking themselves for wasting an impressive 30-point game from superstar center Dwight Howard. Howard surpassed his Game 1 point total in the first half on Tuesday night, and helped jump-start a 13-4 Orlando run midway through the fourth quarter, cutting the Boston lead to 85-83.  Normally a notoriously poor free throw shooter, he made 12/17 from the stripe (70%), and was 9/13 from the field (69%).

However, Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy has to be concerned with Howard’s eight rebounds. That’s alarmingly low for someone who is currently averaging 13.2 boards per game this postseason. If Howard continues struggling to control the paint, Orlando could be swept by Boston in the Eastern Conference Finals, after flying through the first two rounds unscathed.

Celtics Maintain Consistently Dominant Defense

Coming into Game 2, the Celtics held their previous playoff opponents to an average of 91.5 points per game, and they held the Magic to 92 on Tuesday night, after limiting them to 88 points in Game 1. They also held the home team to just 39 percent shooting from the field, after holding them to 41 percent on Sunday.

It’s still shocking to see how well Kendrick Perkins and Rasheed Wallace are able to guard Dwight Howard. By staying tight to Howard, the C’s big men have been able to limit his movement, and force him into his terrible mid-range game. Boston can also put Glen Davis on Howard if Wallace or Perk get into foul trouble. Doc Rivers is perfectly fine with Howard going to the line, as long as he continues missing shots. He hasn’t been horrible from the line, but hasn’t exactly lit it up either. His five missed free throws could have been the difference for the Magic in Game 1, and his five missed free throws could have been the difference in Tuesday night’s game as well.

Magic Still Showing Signs of Rust

Is it possible that Orlando had too much rest coming into their series with Boston? While the Celtics were duking it out with LeBron and the Cleveland Cavaliers in their Eastern Conference Semi-Finals Series, the Magic were sitting at home, waiting to see which team would advance. They didn’t play a game for six days, nearly an entire week, after dispatching the free-falling Atlanta Hawks.

The Celtics, a veteran team getting hot at the right time, has had the luxury of playing a consistent schedule with both of its first two playoff series lasting five and six games respectively. Ironically enough, Orlando’s sweeping of its first two playoff opponents could end up backfiring on them. Now, suddenly down 2-0, they’ll have to find their shooting touch in a must-win Game 3 in Boston on Saturday.

Paul Pierce Not Missing LeBron James One Bit

Rest assured Paul Pierce isn’t missing being defended by LeBron James. Pierce averaged 13.5 points per game versus LeBron and the Cavs in the Conference Semis. He’s currently averaging 25.0 points per game against Orlando. His field goal percentage is up to 58.3 from 34.5, and his three point percentage is up to 50.0 from 30.8. Thus far he’s had his way with both Vince Carter and Matt Barnes through two games of this series.

After a strong performance in Game 1, he lit it up again in Game 2, scoring the Celtics’ first nine points, and 22 points total in the first half. He also collected five rebounds and dished out five assists to go along with his team-high 28 points.

Have The Celtics Come Full Circle?

Certainly the job won’t be finished until an 18th banner is hanging from the rafters of the TD Garden, but the Celtics are looking an awful lot like the team that won a championship in 2008. It makes sense. They’ve got the same nucleus, a few different faces coming off the bench, and they’re healthy again.

“I think we are becoming the team that started the season,” Doc Rivers said. “The team that started the season was pretty good.”

The Eastern Conference Finals continue in Boston with Game 3 on Saturday at 8:30 PM. It will be a must-win game for the reeling defending Conference Champions, but Celtics captain Paul Pierce knows better than anyone not to take any of these games for granted.

“Our fans won’t let us relax,” Pierce said. “We’re going to try and close it out in four games.”

© Andrew Kipp for Sports of Boston, 2010. | Permalink | No comment
Filed under: Celtics, Featured, Top Story.

With just a little over two weeks remaining in the regular season, the race for the NBA playoffs is heating up. Elite teams like the Lakers and Cavaliers look to continue playing winning basketball in order to solidify the top seed in their respective conferences, while the Raptors and Trailblazers will try to fend off the Bulls and Grizzlies for the eighth and final playoff positions.

This week’s rankings look very familiar, with the Cavaliers and Lakers continuing to occupy the top two spots, and the Suns and Thunder rounding out the field.

The Utah Jazz, an impressive 29-8 in Salt Lake City so far this season, traded places with the Denver Nuggets, moving up from No. 6 to No. 5. this week. The previously red-hot Dallas Mavericks, who appeared to be making a push to take the No. 2 position from the Lakers, traded places with the Orlando Magic, falling from No. 3 to No. 4.

The Boston Celtics, 7-3 over their last ten games, moved up from No. 10 to No. 8. Big wins over the Mavericks and Nuggets have the C’s currently occupying the third seed in the Eastern Conference.

Previous Power Rankings: 12/18 | 12/30 | 1/16 | 1/29 | 2/12 | 2/27 | 3/14 | 3/28

© Andrew Kipp for Sports of Boston, 2010. | Permalink | No comment
Filed under: Celtics, Featured, Opinion.

Hello loyal readers, and welcome to the second edition of Sports of Boston’s bi-weekly NBA Power Rankings. We decided to set it up a little different this week. Four of our experts (Andrew Kipp, KC, Teddy Byrne, and John Scullane) ranked who they think are the top 10 teams in the NBA . The teams have been ranked according to a point system. Teams earning a first place vote received ten points, a second place vote earned nine points, a third place vote eight points, and so on. Tiebreakers were given to teams with the better winning percentage.

In our synthesized rankings, the Los Angeles Lakers narrowly edged the Boston Celtics by one point for the number one spot. The Cleveland Cavaliers made some noise coming in at No. 3 in this week’s rankings, receiving just one point fewer than the Celtics.

The Atlanta Hawks and Orlando Magic rounded out the top five, and the Nuggets and Spurs snuck in at nine and ten respectively.

The Houston Rockets received one number ten vote, but remain on the outside looking in this week.

Previous Power Rankings: 12/18 | 12/30 | 1/16 | 1/29 | 2/12

© Andrew Kipp for Sports of Boston, 2009. | Permalink | 2 comments
Filed under: Celtics, Featured, Opinion.

“I think we get a little carried away with ourselves with sports thinking we’re more important than everything else,” Van Gundy said before the game. “But that’s the way it is. There’s nothing more important than the NBA on Christmas Day.”

Van Gundy woke up early, but only managed to spend 15 minutes with his family Christmas morning before heading to the game. While Christmas is meant for relatives to spend time together, Van Gundy should feel grateful. Many people are required to work Christmas Day across the country, as well as our servicemen and women defending our country and freedom overseas.Van Gundy is making more than $1 million per year to do something he supposedly loves: coach the Orlando Magic. Have some respect, crybaby!

Is the NBA punishing successful teams (like the Magic and Celtics) by forcing them to play on holidays? No, they’re cashing in on big games in prime-time slots. Van Gundy later admits he already understands money is a motivating factor in NBA games on Christmas Day.

“The league has been good to all of us in terms of what we get out of all these TV contracts and everything, so it would be a little disingenuous to complain too much,” Van Gundy said. “But if I had my way, we’d take a five-day break at Christmas. I mean it.”

© KC Downey for Sports of Boston, 2009. | Permalink | No comment
Filed under: Celtics.

After the game, here’s what happened:

Dwight Howard waited for nearly an hour in the stunned silence of the losing locker room, thinking long and hard about the timing of calling out Stan Van Gundy’s failed policies.
…
Howard is watching the ball go everywhere but where it ought to: Into the hands of the Magic’s franchise center, its superstar.

Enough, Howard said.

Give me the ball.

“You’ve got a dominant player,” Howard pleaded late Tuesday night. “Let him be dominant.”

Stan, don’t listen to Howard, he’s speaking nonsense…or at least wait until the series is over. I love watching this play-calling!

© Chris for Sports of Boston, 2009. | Permalink | 2 comments
Filed under: Celtics.