Celtics Look To Stay Hot: Game 2 Preview
The time is 3:30pm., Sunday, May 16th. Doc Rivers has the Celtics ready for Game 1. Stan Van Gundy's Magic believe they are ready. They are not. The Celtics thrash the Magic for the majority of the first three quarters and despite crawling to victory take Game 1 92-88.
You better believe that tonight when Game 2 tips off at 8:30, the Magic will be ready.
After winning 14 straight games, including two playoff sweeps over Milwaukee and Atlanta, the Magic didn't take kindly to losing Game 1. Boston had a better game plan and executed to near perfection, for the first three quarters at least. The Celtic defense was the key, especially in holding Dwight Howard to just 13 points on 3 of 10 shooting and feeding the two time Defensive Player of the Year some of his own medicine, forcing him to commit 7 turnovers.
Boston will have to continue to keep Howard in check throughout the series, and they have the bodies to do so. Kendrick Perkins has established himself as one of the best defensive centers in the NBA, and paired with All-Star Kevin Garnett forms a tough match for Howard in the post. Rasheed Wallace did a good job getting in Howard's head in Game 1 by committing hard fouls and giving nothing up easy. Glen "Uno Uno" Davis also got his licks in, and should be nominated for an Academy Award for his phantom foul that instant replay shows rather clearly as non-existant.
Vince Carter and Jameer Nelson were the stars for Orlando in Game 1, going off for 23 and 20, respectively. The backcourt duo has to continue to have good scoring performances to keep pace with the stellar backcourt play of Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce.
Look for more out of Rashard Lewis in Game 2. The Magic forward had been averaging around 16 points per game this postseason but finished with just six in Game 1. He'll have to win a few battles with Kevin Garnett for the Magic to contend in the series.
The Celtics gave up a 74-58 lead entering the 4th quarter of Game 1, with the Magic comeback mostly contributed to by its backcourt. Pierce, Allen, and Rondo averaged 42 minutes in the game and may have lost their edge in the final 12 minutes. Boston head coach Doc Rivers should look to the bench early tonight to assure his stars don't get tired late in the game. Tony Allen, who played 17 minutes in Game 1 and finished with 6 points, should be looking at around 25 minutes tonight. Marquis Daniels and Michael Finley should also be rotated in, even if just briefly, to give Allen and Pierce a chance to sit.
The key for Boston tonight is to come out and execute the game plan early as they did in Game 1, but to maintain momentum throughout the second half. The Celtics did a good job in Game 1 of killing Magic momentum on key possessions and keeping an Amway Arena crowd that was ready to explode in their seats. This is crucial to road success, and the Celtics have found the ingredients, winning four road games in these Playoffs.
The ping pong balls are set to bounce in the NBA Draft Lottery before Game 2 begins, at 8pm. I'm sure neither the Celtics nor the Magic will be concerned with how they fall.
They have a championship to worry about.
