At the beginning of the NBA Playoffs, not many people would have told you that the Celtics and Magic would be meeting the Eastern Conference Finals for a chance to play for the Larry O'Brien Trophy. Orlando has had the route that everyone believed the Fightin' LeBrons would have done.
Orlando has kicked ass and taken names so far this playoffs by winning all eight games they have played. People might argue that the Atlanta Hawks quit on their coach leading to the significant blowouts but still that doesn't excuse the way the Magic have been playing in the past month. The biggest reason is they are deeper than the Atlantic Ocean.
They have 10 guys that play and do with hustle. My buddy Mach likes Orlando because of this, he really buys into the effort guys they have like Mickael Pietrus, Brandon Bass, Rashard Lewis and JJ Redick. He is a big time fan of the grit they all show and to me, the biggest reason they have been so successful. They buy into Stan Van Gundy's system, everyone is unselfish, and people know their role as if the Rock told them, even the classic example of a "me first" player in Vince Carter. But now looms the big bad Celtics
Face it, people want to see the Celtics win this series because a.) it will be a bigger draw if it's Boston-LA/PHX and b.) seeing the Celts in the Finals is the standard. Does this mean they will get calls their way? Who knows really but I do know that Rajon Rondo is the star of their team. He controls the game in way I have only seen from Steve Nash and Chris Paul, he has a similar style but it's much more quick. He knifes the lane like Allen Iverson use to and has that fearless gene that Ivo showed off so many times. Jameer Nelson will be a huge test for him because Nelson is as physical as you are going to get and he will force Rondo to make some outside shots.
6-0. The Celtics record in series that Kevin Garnett play in and he looks like he is five years younger. He really seems to be moving well, running the floor, and hitting the mid-range jumpers with ease. If there is one thing that I could see being a difference is Garnett. He will get Dwight Howard in foul trouble, and push him out of the lane with that lethal mid-range shot. I would be amazed if Van Gundy put Howard on Kendrick Perkins. The Cavs forced his hand in Game 6 to shoot that shot and buried five of them in the first half.
I am taking the Celtics in six because I think they are a very good road team and could steal a game or two in Orlando. The Magic haven't be tested like the C's have in the playoffs and if Howard gets into foul trouble like he did in Charlotte in will be a bigger deal than it was three weeks ago. The Celtics will out physical the Magic in a brutal series where I expect one fight... Rasheed vs. Vince make it happen.
-Charlie.
No comments:
Post a Comment