Game 3: The New Way

The Orlando Magic have made it clear to everybody that they are fairly content to have simply advanced to round 2 of the playoffs. Going further would be nice, but they're not going to beat themselves up over a secound round exit. They didn't seem overly determined to hold off a late game 1 Celtics charge, and they certainly could not have cared less about salvaging any of their dignity as the Celtics wiped the floor with them in game 2. I can't accept losing to a team like this. A loss to the Bulls, who played balls to the wall every minute of the postseason, I would have been able to accept given the absence of KG and Leon. But a loss to this Magic team who, like their city, seem to lack any substance or grit would just be crushing.

Despite their lack of a killer instinct (see Rajon Rondo throwing down on Dwight Howard and Rashard Lewis below), they are very talented, and that's why tonight is a must-win game for the Celtics. With Rafer Alston out, the Magic will be extremely vulnerable tonight. In a way, I think this is a bigger blow than when they had to play game 6 of last series without Dwight Howard. Without Howard, they were faster and forced Philly to totally rethink their entire strategy (I'm certainly not suggesting that they'd be better without him long term, but it seemed to actually help in a one game situation). Without Alston, the game plan doesn't change, it just gets more difficult to execute. The Celtics SHOULD be able to win this one easily. And, if they do, the Magic will roll over and die in this series. At least, everything I've seen about them tells me they would. They don't have what it takes to come back from two straight losses.

It sounds simple, and it may seem foolish for me to suggest that a game 3 against a team missing a key player is a must win. But, for as great as the Celtics have been over the past two seasons, there has been one constant frustration. They let teams hang around in the postseason. They don't put series away quickly when they have the chance. This trend, more than anything, makes me worried about tonight. If they're going to have any shot of beating Cleveland, they're going to need to end this thing quick and get as much rest as possible.

So, to be clear, tonight is not a must-win in the sense that a loss would inevitably lead to a series loss. Tonight is a must win in the sense that a win would prevent this from becoming the 7 game barn burner that many expect. Keeping this series short and clean is the only way we can hope to not be Cleveland's sacrificial lamb in round 3.




Simmons on Manny. Frickin amazing article.

When will I watch baseball again? Difficult to say. Not any time soon.