10 Second Round Things

[Gant]

1) Cassell

Sam did good last night. In fact Sam did good in the first Cleveland game as well.

Still, on the subject of the point guard rotation that did not stop panic and wild accusations from many corners of the great green nation: "Why isn't Eddie House playing!?" "Rondo should play 43 minutes!" "I tell you there's no reason for Sam Cassell to be playing extended minutes!"

From a little nugget of truth --The-offense-is-sometimes-slower-when-Sam-runs-the-show-- came a tsunami of silliness.

Down 10, Mr. Sam with his close personal associates Leon Powe and James Posey, flat out won that game last night. Rondo uncharacteristically struggled early with two turnovers, two shots blocked, and a few missteps on defense.

Cassell entered and saved the day. No Sam, maybe no win.


2) House

Yes it would be pleasant if somehow Eddie House got some time too. The team does maintain the pace more consistently when House is in there. But there are 12 guys who could play and cold numbers determine that some remain seated. Right now those three are House, Big Baby and Tony Allen. Meanwhile Sam Cassell seems to have passed some critical point of cumulative court time where now he's playing on instinct with his new club instead of thinking. Whatever it is the Celtics are up 2-0 and Sam's a big part of it.

Still, Eddie House may yet play a key role in this championship run.


3) 2-0

As far as being up 2-0, haven't we been here before (like last week)? And didn't Detroit lead Cleveland 2-0 last year in the East finals? In other words, game 3 is obviously BIG. I do like the overall match up though. With only one athletic slasher as opposed to the Hawks' 3 or 4, Cleveland could well remain stymied for two more contests.


4) Bulpett

I love Steve Bulpett. He's my favorite Celtics scribe. He writes very well, is funny and has an easy-going personality. When he was interviewed on the postgame last night, I also noticed he slightly resembles Will Farrell. I think Steve could adequately fill in for Will should the comedian ever need an emergency understudy. Hollywood beckons Steve!


5) Ingrained

Every time West and Wally scored last night, I had a weird sensation. I automatically felt like two points should have gone on the board for Boston. Then reality snapped in. Oh yeah they got traded. Last year's team despite the horrific record was very likable.

But I'm sure everyone agrees: this year's team is just slightly preferable.


6) Posey

Whoa. What defense by this man. Key threes. Infectious energy. Posey's been great. I got a nickname for him: How about King James? It hasn't been used anywhere before has it?


7) Chauncey?

Billups tender hammy will spell doom for Detroit if he can't come back. The Pistons win that series with Billups healthy because he just destroys Jameer Nelson. But no Chauncey- no chancy. Nelson comes alive with Billups out. So...


8) Looking Ahead Before I Should

As much as I love the team-wide match up vs. the Cavs, I do not like the same thing (potentially) against Orlando. The Magic have two very tall mobile forwards who are dead-eye from long range. They also have Big Scary Dwight down low. Turkoglu and Lewis take the Celtics forwards way outside. This allows Howard to work alone against Perkins. The whole thing stretches the Celtics too far apart- kind of like tearing fabric. If the Celtics can put away Cleveland and Billups doesn't recover, a Boston/Orlando series will be difficult.

Imagine the new wave of silly-talk that will be generated if Orlando's hitting from outside. it will make the Sam Cassell thing look like nothing.

Regardless, should the Celtics prevail against the Cavs, either Orlando or Detroit will be very tough.


9) Mike and Tommy

Only one more Mike and Tommy game? And only if this series goes to 6 games? Noooooooooo!


10) Road

Lest we forget the Celtics had the best road record in the NBA this season. They faltered in Atlanta. I'm sure they're more aware of that than any of us.

Take game three fellas. Take game three.

[Dogen]

Yes, take game three.

Another ten gems, Gant. Thanks.

How 'bout 'Emperor James'--- greater than the King?

And I also have concerns about Orlando and would actually rather face Detroit because of the issues you mentioned. But both are tough. One game at a time, one game at a time.... I want a 7 game finals victory against the Lakers!

[RickyDizzle]

Amen Gant. On point as usual.

I especially agree with the love you are giving Posey. His contributions to this team have been immeasurable.

I was trying to decide who's jersey I would buy next and kept going back and forth between Rondo and Posey...after last night i think I HAVE to buy a Posey jersey.

You guys think he'll pick up his option for next year? He seems to like it here and fills a great role.

-Dizzy

[SLCceltic]

king james has been terrific

house should have played more against atlanta, cassell hurt the pace...........but cassell is a late arrival--the more he plays the more comfortable everyone else bcomes w/him (and thers no way we lose the hawk series cassell or house)-------that said, i miss house's kingjposeyesque energy and scoring in bunches off the bench while keeping the pace up

lebron should go nuts at least once (probably saturday)--i cant see the series going past 5

the combo of ilgaouskis and gooden is what caused us trouble with these guys in the past
ilgaouskis has been terrific, but not nearly enough

[Truthiracy]

Good read, except I felt the complete opposite when West or Wally scored, I felt grateful they were no longer poisoning this team with mediocrity.

[CeltsfanSinceBirth]

Good stuff Gant.

Regarding the Orlando-Detroit series, I am also quite worried about a Boston-Orlando series. Boston has had problems where Garnett is forced to guard bigs who can shoot (Utah w/Okur, Orlando w/Lewis, Cleveland when they had Drew Gooden, Washington w/Jamsion, Denver w/Camby).

The ideal situation would be for Detroit to win in a 7 game series, with Chauncey still bothered by that nagging injury. I still feel that Stuckey/Hunter are enough to keep Nelson from exploding in the meantime, with Chauncey returning by Game 5 or 6.

[RickyDizzle]

Well I am in the middle of the two of you.

I thought Wally looked generally terrible and I enjoyed watching his struggle. I didnt really like him when we got him, but forced myself to root for him. Now I no longer have that allegiance so it brings a smile to my face when I see how slow he is on all of his defensive rotations.

D-West played real aggressive, didnt get too many looks of his own, but he looked tough. Did anyone see that defense he played on Cassell on that one posession? Cassell looked so flustered he didnt even know what was going on.

I think D-West is a gritty, hard-nosed player, with a big heart...even if his skill set is a dime a dozen in the NBA. He's a good kid and I would welcome him back to the C's in a reserve role anytime...

-Dizzy

[MyInsatiableOne]

Good as always Gant, although I certainly don't have the attachment to Delonte and Wally some people here do. They were OK players when we had them, but nothing special like Al or Gomes were.

[Gant]

Thanks!

I'm looking forward to game 3. I really think the Celtics have a good shot because they'll have Atlanta on their minds. Plus the D has just been so stifling in the first two games.

[grantlongforpresident]

Gant. I like your style.

[Jammer]

Spot on, except for who's in the doghouse (you list House, Big Baby & Tony).

I think that the only two players who have fared badly in the playoffs are Eddie House and PJ Brown. House may yet get untracked, when a shooter is needed, and Brown is still an extra post defender when length is needed.

I think that Tony's ability to play D and get to the basket may still be crucial in the post season, especially if the Celtics get to face the Lakers. Tony's size could be a major bother to Derek Fisher and Jordan Farmer if the Celtics make it that far.

KG has been spectacular.

Rajon Rondo has been the 2nd best player, overall, in my view; which bodes well for the post season and future.

There have been a number of pleasant surprises in the playoffs, beginning with the steady play in the post season of Sam Cassell. My big hope with Sam is that unlike Game 2 of the Cleveland series when everyone except KG, Rondo and Perk were in a daze, Sam will need to actually distribute the ball for the team to succeed.

Posey has improved mightily this post-season, and Kendrick Perkins has stepped up big.

Paul Pierce is playing well below his expectations, and hopefully wakes up as the games become more significant.

Ray Allen seems to be in a bit of a slump, but by only taking 4 shots in Game 1, is exercising the discretion that others (ie. Cassell) might learn from. Despite Ray's numbers being down, he leads the team in minutes played in the post season, which comes as no surprise.

Powe has been more average against the tougher competition, which is to be expected.

Davis always surprises me, just when I think he's done, his quick hands and mind allow him to make a play out of nothing.

[Fencer reregistered]

.2 x 10 things on a hypothetical Orlando matchup:

1. Put Posey at PF and Garnett and C, and matchups are pretty straightforward. True, Pierce has a lot of trouble defending his guy -- but the entire Orlando perimeter has the same problem at the other end.

2. If the Cs go conventionally big, their offense has to run smoothly, exploiting Orlando's lack of ability to pack the paint even more effectively than Orlando exploits floor-spreading mismatches.

[ParticleMan]

i'm not NEARLY as afraid of orlando as i am of detroit. the magic are basically going to have to be lights out from 3 to beat us. that might happen a couple of games but over a 7 game series it's pretty tough to beat teams with 3's. dwight will get his but we have enough big bodies to throw at him.

detroit is still the far more talented team. not to mention experienced. i'd be delighted if the magic take advantage of the billups injury and come back to beat them. plus it would send panic waves thru detroit, that would be twice in 2 years they go up 2-0 only to lose the series.

[pfm]

.2 x 10 things on a hypothetical Orlando matchup:

1. Put Posey at PF and Garnett and C, and matchups are pretty straightforward. True, Pierce has a lot of trouble defending his guy -- but the entire Orlando perimeter has the same problem at the other end.

2. If the Cs go conventionally big, their offense has to run smoothly, exploiting Orlando's lack of ability to pack the paint even more effectively than Orlando exploits floor-spreading mismatches.

I regards to your first point I think it would be a nice matchup with Posey on either Lewis or Hedo, but I personally dont like the idea of the Howard/KG matchup. Offensively Howard pretty much relies on power and strength and in that regard I think Perk is a nice defensive matchup on Howard because of Perk's overall strength. Howard is definitely stronger then KG and I feel he could potential get KG in some foul trouble because of that fact.

But with these things aside I am still completely focused on Game 3 right now. Take game 3!