NBA Playoffs: Boston Celtics vs Orlando Magic Game 3 results may be different
At the end of the regular season, Boston Celtics failed to finish strong. They dropped their last three games and were relegated to fourth place, three games behind the Atlanta Hawks. Everyone thought that it will be the turning point for the domination of the Celtics. Speculations started to surround the team especially since Ray Allen and Doc River will be free agents this season.
Role players, who are not getting any younger, are also major factors in the series. The lone bright spot was the emergence of young point guard Rajon Rondo. But as the playoff began, the Celtics that we knew in the past immediately came back. They disposed of the Miami Heat in the first round in five games, featuring Paul Pierce’s buzzer beater in game three. In the second round, they smothered heavily-favored Cleveland Cavaliers in six games. They blew through the Cavaliers twice at their home court. In the first two games of the Conference finals, they kicked Orlando Magic out of the road. As the series will be shifting to Boston this Friday, the Celtics will be having the Magic’s number.
The Matchup
Rajon Rondo will out-duel his fellow All-Star point guard Jameer Nielsen through his all-around brilliance. The critics saw that Nielsen is a better pick and roll shooter than a pick and roll passer. To his position, the court vision is very vital especially in balancing the offensive attack. Rondo was able to reach double figures in assists in the first two games including 23 points he had in game two. Kendrick Perkins, Rasheed Wallace, Glen Davis and Kevin Garnett defined team concept in preventing Dwight Howard from dominating the series. The All-star center was forced to go to the line most of the time.
Whoever starts strong will control the ball game
In the first two games, the Celtics started on fire. They immediately checked Magic’s weapons and shooters. Magic managed to score only 14 points in the first period of game 1 and they fell behind by 20 in the third quarter. In both games of the series, Magic was always playing catch up basketball and ended up short, especially to Celtics, a team which plays so good at their home court.
Down the Stretch
Thirty seconds left in the fourth quarter in Game 2, Celtics led by three points and Carter missed two crucial shots, which changed the tone of the game. In this scenario, do you think Magic really missed Hedo Torkoglu? Magic will be playing all-out to avoid a deep hole. Watch out for Allen and Pierce who have taken some numerous big shots in their career.
Carter has been playing consistently but the main concern is Rashard Lewis’ poor performance in the series. Meanwhile, Pierce and Allen have their separate big games in the first two on-the-road outings. Even Garnett has made minimal contributions on their offense, manning the paint becomes his priority right now.
X-Factor
In the first two games, J.J Reddick and Mikael Pietrus gave the Magic some much needed energy. The resurgence of Wallace and the energy of Davis were enough for the Celtics to make the Magic’s offense miserable. Magic has an intact lineup and Celtics is loaded with playoffs veterans. Surely, Game 3 will turn out to be an epic. Magic will try to avoid 3-0 deficit and the Celtics will be eager to protect their home court advantage.
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