2363 replies to this topic

[RedOctober3829]

I've already thrown Game 6 away and you should as well. It comes down to one game for the 18th World Championship for the Boston Celtics. Nobody thought they would be here after the 27-27 finish to the regular season. Nobody thought they would beat LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. They did. Nobody thought they would beat Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic. They did. Nobody(and I mean NOBODY) thinks they can beat Kobe Bryant and the Lakers on their home floor in a Game 7 most likely without Kendrick Perkins. I guarantee you that. This game will come down to sheer effort and determination. How bad do you want to play defense and rebound? Are you going to play mentally tough on the offensive end and execute your sets? It's going to take EVERYBODY playing their best to beat Kobe and Co.

Think back on how we all felt around the trading deadline. Did anyone else think we would be sitting here getting ready to play a winner-take-all game for the World Championship? I'm not going to sit around and feel sorry for them getting their doors blown in. Momma said there would be days like this so get yourself off the mat and bring all you have because you can rest in July.

I've got confidence in this team bouncing back because they have done so all playoffs. Be aggressive and make this happen early in the ballgame. Get to the rim and the line. Play the kind of defense you did in Games 4 and 5 that stifled everybody not named Kobe Bryant. Not having Perk is going to hurt there is no way around it but great performances are born out of great opportunity. It's time to earn that money Sheed. This is why you were brought here is for times like this. Big Baby needs to play much better as well.

This is the last game of the year folks. Every member of this team must lay it all out on the line and leave everything on the floor. I have confidence that we will bring this game to the last 3 minutes of the 4th quarter with a chance to win. After that, it's who wants it more. Do we?

[PeaceSignMoose]

Let's think of all the times in the last couple years that we've left the Celtics for dead in the New Big Three™ era. We left them for dead after two grueling 7 game series against visibly inferior opponents two years ago in Atlanta and Cleveland. We left them for dead after KG went down last year and we went into the stretch run and the playoffs with Glen Davis, an undersized manchild, and Mikki Moore as our starting PF and first big off the bench. We left them for dead during the regular season when we were losing in embarrassing fashion to New Jersey, Washington, the LA Clippers et al. We left them for dead after Game 4 against the Heat. Game 3 against the Cavs. Game 5 against the Magic.

This team has always rebounded and thrilled us when we least expected it. This is no exception. With or without Perk, we have the manpower to win it in 7.

This may be the final act for this starting 5. We've got an aging cast, against a seemingly superior opponent on the road. The comparisons to the 1969 Boston Celtics have been made all year. Complete the cycle. We'll win on Thursday with balloons and confetti in the rafters.

[SemperFidelisSox]

I'll trade another 22 year title drought for a win on Thursday.

[dolomite133]

The Celtics will have to play aggressive, confident and without abandon. They will have play smart, play tough and sacrifice their bodies for the good of the team. They will have to hit the deck and leap into the stands. Whatever it takes. Without Perk ... well, it's going to be more than tough ...but I'm confident that we'll play them closer Thursday.

I'm predicting lots of fouls. Lots of emotion. Lots of yelling at the TV. It will come down to our three point shooting and a few key possessions.

[Soxy Brown]

It's more like win and go home, not win or go home. They're going home either way. So they might as well win.

[The_Powa_of_Seiji_Ozawa]

Remember this guy?



he knows what the fuck he is talking about.



win this fucking series and let's go home and celebrate.

[Jed Zeppelin]

The Celtics are at their best when we think they fucking suck. Bad news for the Lakers.

[bosockboy]

I'll trade another 22 year title drought for a win on Thursday.

Seconded; and without blinking.

[Scriblerus]

The Lakers are high on life right now. Everything went their way in Game 6, from shots falling, the bench playing lights out, Perk getting knocked out in the first, and the C's looking like the JV squad out there. They are a notoriously egotistical bunch of twats and last night will only heighten that attitude. To win, the C's need to come out and punch them in the mouth. Maybe literally punch them in the mouth, but at the least physically and with some intensity. Boston needs to play its game and last night, they were forced out of it by bad luck, bad shooting and a lack of desire.

I get the feeling that KG is shut up in a darkened room somewhere visualizing game seven, talking to himself, and making promises to Red Auerbach. I also have the feeling that KG is not one to make such promises lightly.

[DukeSox]

win or go home!

[Jungleland]

This team hasn't lost a do or die game yet this series, or really even this playoffs. Every time they've needed to step it up to avoid disaster, they have. They can do it one more time. This Lakers team, as we have seen, is beatable. No Perk is going to hurt, obviously, but if the right guys step up it isn't going to kill this team.

-Ray is gonna start hitting three's.
-Pierce is going to step up for the moment Game 7 Cleveland '08 style.
-Garnett won't leave a single thing on the table. Even if it means completely fucking himself for the rest of his career, I can't see him not going above and beyond. Whether that's enough, we'll see. But I'll be shocked if we don't see the most balls-to-the-wall KG performance of the entire playoff run.
-Rasheed can earn the entirety of his contract with this one game. If he has a great game and this team wins, all is forgiven. And anything he does in the future is forgiven.

None of the things that this team needs to do to win Game 7 on the road is impossible. Last night we saw literally everything go wrong - short of a Sheed T - that possibly could have. No way they let that happen again. Win.

[jsinger121]

Please have a repeat of this

[cornwalls@6]

If they had to lose game 6, getting their asses handed to them was probably a blessing. Starters got some rest in the second half, and they should be a pissed-off team come thurs. night. With or without Perk, they will play with a desperate hunger, and the "balloons" stay in the rafters at the staples center. Believe

[mikeford]

Losing this game would be worse than the Bruins Game 7 loss, IMO.

Let's not go down that road.

[fairlee76]

Losing this game would be five times worse than the Bruins Game 7 loss, IMO.

Let's not go down that road.

If the Celtics lose this game against the Lakers, in the Finals, after being in relative control of the series on Sunday night it is worse than the Bruins collapse. The Bruins collapsed in the semis. And they are the Bruins.

[Mueller's Twin Grannies]

Losing this game would be worse than the Bruins Game 7 loss, IMO.

Let's not go down that road.

The one where they choked away a 3-0 lead? Disagree - that was worse because it should have never happened.

This was a possibility from the get-go. And while I'll be rooting hard for them tomorrow night, one stat scares the hell out of me:

13/16 - home teams who've won Game 7

The Celtics can do it, but they will have to climb mountains to pull it off, between the suddenly-confident Lakers, the loss of Perkins, the continued dick-measuring contest between Pierce and Rondo that somehow overrules their need to play cohesive team basketball with each other at all times, the refs (I think they call Game 7 more in favor of the home team, but I hope they let them play), a lame duck assistant coach, a guy with a 47-0 record after winning Game 1 still on the other bench, and Shelden Williams/Rasheed Wallace logging extra time on the court.

This will either be the perfect shitstorm of suck that will result in a not-close loss or an amazing combination of awesome that will result in a huge win. If there was a game this year where this team had to check itself and all its collective egos at the door, this is it. If they can do that, I like their chances of being the 4th road team ever to win Game 7 in the NBA Finals.

But I can't shake the feeling that when they lost Game 3 it was the real killer. Whatever...

Beat LA! Go Celtics!

Banner 18 will be all the sweeter this way!

[ifmanis5]

If Perk was healthy I would laugh off Game 6 as just one of those flat nights and feel pretty good about Game 7.

Sadly, I don't have much confidence with Perk out. Can Sheed play more than 20 minutes? I don't see how. Mailing in the regular season has its consequences. Line is Lakers -5.5 and I expect it to go up.

[jsinger121]

Going over the ref rotation so far

Game 1
Joe Crawford, Joe DeRosa, Derrick Stafford

Game 2
Monty McCutchen, Mike Callahan, Ken Mauer

Game 3
Dan Crawford, Bill Kennedy, Bennett Salvatore

Game 4
Scott Foster, Eddie Rush, Greg Willard

Game 5
Joe Crawford, Mike Callahan, Derrick Stafford

Game 6
Monty McCutchen, Joe DeRosa, Ken Mauer


If I had to guess in Game 7 I think we will see the Game 3 crew with at least Salvatore and Kennedy. I wouldn't be shocked to see Eddie Rush doing this game.

[mikeford]

Salvatore Kennedy and Rush.

Book it.

[Jed Zeppelin]

I'd be shocked if the refs don't let them play, whatever the crew is. There are no more games to be played, nothing for the refs to gain by refusing to let the players leave everything on the court. I don't know how much contact Stern's office has with the refs of a given game, but if they get a memo before tomorrow night the only thing I'd expect it to say is "Allow the better team to win." Then again, the better team has won each game in this series so that's what will happen anyways, regardless of what the refs do.

[NYCSox]

Someone does indeed owe us for the following:

1) Tyree's catch
2) KG's injury last year
3) B's blowing a 3-0 series lead
4) MFYs buying at least one title

Please just give us Game 7. That's all we're asking for. One stinking game.

[RedOctober3829]

What refs we have is irrelevant. What they can control is the energy, intensity, and passion they play with and which they did not bring last night. The refs won't win or lose the game for them. Execution and effort will.

[NYCSox]

And Spain goes down. You're next Gasol. You are next.

[CaptainLaddie]

Any idea why the game thread I started before this one was deleted? Not mad, just sort of confused.

[God's Cop]

Fuck you, Jack.

[Shelterdog]

Someone does indeed owe us for the following:

1) Tyree's catch
2) KG's injury last year
3) B's blowing a 3-0 series lead
4) MFYs buying at least one title

Please just give us Game 7. That's all we're asking for. One stinking game.

Yeah but the aughts gave Boston six championships and a 6-1 records in championship games/series so I wouldn't bitch too much about karma.

Anyhow, here's hoping they kick the shit out of those LA douchebags.

Edited by Shelterdog, 16 June 2010 - 11:48 AM.

[kfoss99]

I'm sick and tired of hearing about how great a basketball team the LA Lakers are. Skrew 'em! This is OUR time!

Go Green!

[Gene Conleys Plane Ticket]

They need to make shots. Period. Missing layups and open jumpers is no longer acceptable.

For example, at the start of the third quarter last night, they missed three layups. They make those, and all should have been made, they're on an 8-0 run and the whole structure of the game changes.

A 47 percent shooting percentage last night nets them 22 extra points and ties the game. If even one of those shots is a three, they win. As Doc has said, it's a make-or-miss league.

Unfortunately, there's no strategy and nothing Doc or anyone can do to make them stop missing makable shots. They just have to do it.

[fairlee76]

My memories of watching the 1984 clincher are hazy. Need the Celtics to win tomorrow to remind me how I felt as an 8 year-old kid with grand dreams of one day playing basketball in the pros.

[radsoxfan]

Salvatore Kennedy and Rush.

Book it.

This would be all kinds of bad.

Hopefully the refs (whoever they are) don't get in the way and the best team wins.

[PeaceSignMoose]

LETS FUCKING DO THIS

[smastroyin]

It has been said so many times this postseason.

I have literally no clue what to expect out of this team tomorrow night. No clue at all.

I am vacillating between the "getting their asses whooped is good to fuel them" and "holy crap am I miserable at how badly they played"

There is only one thing I know. If I could somehow get Pau Gasol's head to explode like an extra in Scanners I would take advantage of the opportunity.

[mikeford]

The Globe reports that Kendrick Perkins is OUT for Game 7 with torn ACL and PCL

[Mystic Merlin]

It has been said so many times this postseason.

I have literally no clue what to expect out of this team tomorrow night. No clue at all.

I am vacillating between the "getting their asses whooped is good to fuel them" and "holy crap am I miserable at how badly they played"

There is only one thing I know. If I could somehow get Pau Gasol's head to explode like an extra in Scanners I would take advantage of the opportunity.

This is where I am at as well.

[NYCSox]

The Globe reports that Kendrick Perkins is OUT for Game 7 with torn ACL and PCL

Which means OUT for most, if not all, of next season.

They have to win this game.

[Mystic Merlin]

Which means OUT for most, if not all, of next season.

They have to win this game.

Well, it's his MCL not ACL.

He'll miss like 6 months.

[BigSoxFan]

Which means OUT for most, if not all, of next season.

They have to win this game.

If he trains with Welker, he'll be running by next week. I can't wait to see Perkins' speed/elevation post ACL surgery. Have to win this game. Just have to.

[NYCSox]

Well, it's his MCL not ACL.

He'll miss like 6 months.

I missed that - though it said ACL.

[Mystic Merlin]

I missed that - though it said ACL.

Yeah, Spears fucked up from the looks of it.

[mikeford]

Leon Powe blew out his ACL during the middle of the playoffs last year and came back, what... 60 games into the year?

[dylanmarsh]

Pretty good analysis about what Rondo the Celtics need to avoid in Game 7:

http://nbaplaybook.c...he-can-counter/

[JakeRae]

The Lakers have won the first game of every home stand this series. The Celtics have won every other game. Methinks the Celtics don't like flying across the country, don't have to before this game, and will actually show up to play basketball.

WIN.

[TheoShmeo]

Perhaps I'm grasping at straws but maybe, just maybe, Perk's injury causes the Celts to be a little looser and develop something of a "we've got nothing to lose" attitude on Thursday night. And maybe it lulls the Fakers into a false sense of security.

I'm reaching, I know.

I've viewed every game until this one with almost no idea who would win. I could have made very good arguments both ways for each contest. With Perk out, the taste of last night's ass whipping still reasonably fresh and Bynum looking more nimble in game 6 than I expected, it's much harder to view game 7 as a toss-up. And maybe that helps.

[Mystic Merlin]

Bynum looked like total shit last night.

The stat line also happens to reflect that: 2 points, 4 rebounds, and a block in 16 minutes.

[estreetfan]

Ok, Celts, there are millions of kids at every age group playing hoops across the world dreaming of what you can accomplish in game seven. What kid doesn't dream of winning it all? You have to want it. Do everything you can to get to every loose ball, rebound and hustle on D. You worked so hard all off season/season to get to this point. If you were asked on opening night what is the ultimate goal? This would be it. You have a chance to be Celtic legends. You can shut all the nay-sayers up. You can lift the spirits of generations of Celtic fans tomorrow night! Let the die-hards celebrate in the streets of Boston. You can and will be champions. Just do it! We are all pulling for you!
BEAT LA!!!

[JakeRae]

Bynum looked like total shit last night.

The stat line also happens to reflect that: 2 points, 4 rebounds, and a block in 16 minutes.

Not to mention that he looked like he could barely walk after those 16 minutes.

If Bynum gives the Lakers 25-30 strong minutes, the Celtics will lose, barring a miracle. But, Bynum hasn't been close to effective since Game 3 where he at least rebounded well. 10 rebounds, 9 points, on 3-9 shooting and 1 block in 29 minutes.

He followed that up with 12 minutes, 2 points and 3 rebounds. 32 minutes with 6 points and 1 rebound. And the performance quoted above of 16 minutes with 2 points, 4 rebounds, a block, and a steal.

[TheoShmeo]

Bynum looked like total shit last night.

The stat line also happens to reflect that: 2 points, 4 rebounds, and a block in 16 minutes.

I disagree. Bynum came out early because the game was well in hand and there was no reason for Jackson to push it with him. But Bynum was on the floor early when the Lakers went way up on the Cs. Blocks isn't the only indicator of defensive presence and impact, of course.

In any event, until he went out, he seemed to be moving better than he was in game 5.

Edited by TheoShmeo, 16 June 2010 - 04:51 PM.

[Jed Zeppelin]

He did the same thing in Game 5. To start the game he was fine, moving well, dunking and grabbing boards. After sitting down and coming back he didn't do shit and was visibly worse as the game went on. Add to that tweaking his knee again and I don't see any way he repeats his early series performance tomorrow night.

[Mr Weebles]

Do you guYS hear that?

That's ... that's ... that's BRIAN SCALABRINE'S MUSIC!!!

FUCK THE LAKERS, THE GINGER NINJA IS HERE TO KICK SOME ASS!!

[Jed Zeppelin]

Make this man a two time champion: