Foil in the Oven on Sunday: Game 7

I don't want to be one of those people that acts like they know more about the sport, or could do a better job, than a professional coach. But, it seems to me like the keys for victory in this game are pretty clear.

First Key: What things really kill the Celtics' momentum: 1) Z hitting those mid-range to outside shots and 2) After the Celtics force the Cavs into a missed shot, Z or Ben Wallace are able to slap the rebound back outside for a new shot clock.

For these reasons, I think that the small lineup of Rondo, Allen, Pierce, Posey, and Garnett makes the most sense for the Celtics. Having Z off the floor would be huge. Garnett can still patrol the lane, and Posey can handle LeBron, which should help Pierce expend more energy on the offensive end. I'm sure Perk will start the game, but I'd like to see Doc go with this small lineup early and often during the game.
James knows what it takes


Second Key: The Celtics can't walk the ball up the court, and they can't spend too much time getting themselves set on offense. This is a team that was successful in the second half on Wednesday night because they were aggressive. They need to attack the basket. When they settle for outside jumpers, they suck. LeBron James (15) shot more free throws than the entire Celtics team (13) on Friday night. That stat right there should tell you that A) the officiating sucked (and it has, all series long, but we can't do anything about it) and B) that the Celtics weren't being aggressive. They need to run and they need to attack the basket. This will get them to the line and it will open up good scoring opportunities. I don't mind seeing wide open jumpers after penetration. It's just frustrating when we settle for jumpshots before the ball ever makes its way inside.

Third Key: Blast Cemetery Gates as loud as possible before the game begins.


I'm sure the Garden will be the loudest that it has been all season, and this team really seems to feed off the energy of the crowd.