Game 7 is a good thing!

[Al-Haqq]

What are thoughts on this perspective that going to 7 games is a good thing?

Our young guys will get a different taste of playoff basketball at a much earlier stage, which - if the Celtics get into the next round - might help them make better decisions should the Celtics find themselves in another 7-game series later on in the NBA playoffs.

Maybe it might give the Celtics a new focus on what's possible in the NBA playoffs and how hard they need to play to earn it.

Gain confidence that they can go to 7 games and win, which might have a greater impact on the younger players.

Just an optimistic perspective on what rightly so, should be a pessimistic view on the series and the Celtics thus far.

[BigHands]

I have though about this also.

Leaving behind the issue of why did the series go this far in the first place the experience of a 7th game will clearly be educational.

If they win, they will also soon realize that Cleveland is rested and has had more time to prepare to the 2nd round and thus even the home court advantage that currently looks so critical is at risk.

[campybatman]

I don't believe it's a good thing for a higher seeded team to go seven games. The sooner you can win your series. The better you're off and rest is always a welcome. Especially, to a veteran team. No, I prefer to be the team that can win their series quicker and prepare for the next round opponent. You never want to give your initial opponent confidence that they can eliminate you the longer the series goes nor is it advantageous for the team with the home court advantage to go seven games. It's leaving too much to chance that something could go wrong: An injury to a important player, ejections or a just not one of our days type of a game. I hope this series serves as a wake up call to the Celtics. The next round, if the Celtics should advance, won't come easy. Boston won't be given the benefit of the doubt. Because Cleveland could steal one at Boston.

[Joebiscuit]

No way in hell this is a good thing. How can it help you confidence by going 7 games with a 37 win team?

There has to be a happy medium. I suppose it is a good thing to lose 1 game in this series but the celtics cannot be happy at all that they have to play a game 7 today.

Plus the cavs have been resting since Friday. If the celtics win mu guess is the the series starts on Tuesday giving them only 2 days rest.

[BehindTheBushes]

No matter what happens the celtics look bad since it took 7 games... I hope you guys don't go bashing atlanta or anything if you win.. that would be sad..

[kampalot]

Going seven game is good for ownerships. I mean selling tickets and stuff like that. I like the seventh game as long as we win it, and it can show how tough we are mentally. Don't worry guys Celtics Pride will not let us lose to Atlanta.

[LongTimeFan]

I think this is a great thing. The best record thing really did not mean we were the best team. We are still inexperienced. And we can still get better.

Perk and Rondo are very young. As is Powe.

Pierce is really a bit childish sometimes. He's the captain and those fouls were basically uncalled for.

Garnet and Allen have looked a little old out there.

Finally we do not match up well against and atheletic team.

We should win and it should make us incrementally better to have had the struggle. It is only going to get tougher.

[Tricky Ricky]

If we lose will it be a good thing?

[MalReyn]

No matter what happens the celtics look bad since it took 7 games... I hope you guys don't go bashing atlanta or anything if you win.. that would be sad..

Haha, bashing Atlanta?

We don't have anything to brag about if we win this series in 7 games. Nothing at all.

I don't think you'll see any Celtics fans on the Atlanta board mocking the Hawks if we win. Rather, you'll see a bunch of very relieved Celtics fans, who if they visit the Hawks board will do so to congratulate them on a good series and wish them luck in the future.

[cloverleaf]

Rondo's a quick learner and I think an extended series like this early on could help him if they're still playing in another month.

Doc may not be quite such a quick learner and it may take him another playoff round or two to get his rotations together for the latter series.

No way they'll take the Cavs easy now, but if they could win two games in Cleveland they'd have the road monkey off their back in time for Detroit. This could all be over in 4 hours, or it could end up helping them in coming weeks.

[ermocrate]

No matter what happens the celtics look bad since it took 7 games... I hope you guys don't go bashing atlanta or anything if you win.. that would be sad..

I hope that if you win the series you'll give a big thanks to the refrees, that will be honest.

[JN]

Maybe the title should be changed to " winning game 7 is a good thing"

[MalReyn]

Maybe the title should be changed to " winning game 7 is a good thing"

I don't think anyone would argue with that. Better than the alternative.

[leper-con]

Sometimes championships are won in the first round

[UGA Hayes]

I wouldn't go as far as to say its a good thing, but there are definitely potential benefits.
Firstly I'm sort of glad we didn't go over a month without playing a tough gam-as I think we definitely lost a bit of our sharpness in end of game situation

Secondly it gives our young guys experience.

Perhaps most importantly I think it gives Doc some time to work out some of the mistakes he was making. I'd rather him learn now how he is going to happen certain things that happened in this series that likely will happen again.

[Al-Haqq]

I'm not saying it was a good thing, but I was just wondering what people's perspective was on the thought that it "could" be a good thing.

Anyway, Ray Allen seems to think it was a good thing:

"That was the first time that we've really been tested and who we were and what we meant and what we stood for as a team," said Allen, sporting a nasty gash on his left shoulder. "Honestly, for myself, I like those moments.

"For us it's opened up the lines of communication. I've been on teams in the past that when you lose, you splinter apart. This team has always come together, and I think that's the sign of a true team."