The Cavaliers give up with two minutes left.

[madinmaryland]

:wtf:

[hughee99]

1. Exactly.

don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled to see the Celtics win, but WTF was up with the Cavs laying down for the last few minutes?

[madinmaryland]

3. Down by seven with 1:15 left and the Cav's showed NO interest

in trying to win. It was the most bizarre fucking thing I ever saw.

[hughee99]

6. It's one thing to give a half-assed effort on the boards (which they did)

but they weren't even fouling to kill the clock. It was like they all had dinner plans and didn't want to be late.

[hughee99]

7. "They fought to the end".

Mike Brown in his opening statement in the press conference. He just said it again. I think Mike Brown wasn't paying attention at the end, either. If it were me (Cavs coach), I'd be on a Dennis Green "They were who we thought they were" rant right now. Brown can either be pissed, or he can be responsible, or he will be gone.

[givemebackmycountry]

2. LBJ did not look very happy when he just stormed off the court...

Granted, he did all the hugs and handshakes after the game ended but when that was over?
He made a point of taking his jersey off on camera, walked into the locker room and tossed it on the floor.
He's gone.

Now, the Magic are going to roll.
I have them in 5.

[wilt the stilt]

8. play the matchups out

who covers garnett? If Howard covers him and he shoots the 18 footer and Howard comes out to defend what is left of the Magic defense?
Can Jameer guard Rajon? I don't think so.
If Lewis guards Garnett Garnett goes wild. Lewis is just not strong enough to guard Garnett.
Allen -Carter great match up.
Give me your scenario?

[Kurska]

9. Lewis did a fine job on Garnett in the regular season.

Jameer can guard Rondo, atleast better then Mo williams did. Jameer is a vastly underrated defender, sure he is short and stocky, but he has ncredible upperbody strength, something Mo Williams lacked. Howard isn't going to guard Garnett, that doesn't make any sense for the Magic, Lewis will.

About Lewis on Garnett, how exactly does Garnett "Go wild" you can't go "wild" shooting over Rashard Lewis, who is 6 foot 10 and long enough to effect Garnett's shooting. Even if Garnett is stronger, where does that give him a advantage? If he tries to post up Lewis he'll just get doubled by Lewis AND Howard, Perkins isn't a big enough offensive threat to punish the magic for doubling on Garnett in the post. You can't use your strength to bully guys from the midrange.

With the way the Magic space the floor the Celtic's age will be a factor, older veterans don't have the same quickness and the magic's offense is all about putting wide spaces between between shooters and drawing double teams. The slow Celtics aren't in a good position to stop that.

Not to mention the Celtics were a below average rebounding team and the Magic is one of the NBA's best, thats a huge problem for them.

Rondo's playmaking and Howard's performance against Perkins are the X-factors IMHO, but there is a reason the Magic are 3-1 against the celtics, even if those games were close.

We will see.

[wilt the stilt]

11. reasonable arguments

the same argument that you make for upper body strength for Nelson would then apply to Garnett. I argue that upper body strength counts more in posting up than in guarding someone on the perimeter. The double teams will matter only if Nelson can penetrate. If rondo can take away the penetration and bother him on his outside shot then the magic are in a heap of trouble. The Magic work off of Nelson not Howard on offense. Can Perkins push Howard 8 feet from the basket?

If Rondo penetrates then Howard has to pick up the penetration and Perkins or Garnett is open.

My only point to you is by calling the Magic in 5 you are saying it is a blowout and I don't think it is and I don't even like the Celtics and especially Boston who never really liked the Celtics until Bird.

The Magic are not playing the Hornets or the Hawks. The Hawks are especially pathetic. The Celtics won in 2008 and they are filled with people who have always been through their entire career.

[Kurska]

15. I don't think it is a blowout, I think it'll go 6 or 7

But the Magic have a innate matchup advantage, because The magic's system creates more efficient shots then the midrange shooting C's and all the numbers say they are a better defensive team then even the defense focused C's.

[wilt the stilt]

18. this is an interesting article

Individually, more to consider: Dwight Howard shot just 46.9% against Boston (3rd-worst against any opponent) and scored 12.3 points per game (4th-worst); Andrew Melnick has more on that angle here. Vince Carter needed 83 shooting possessions to score 79 points, and converted only 7 of his 17 shots at the rim (41.2%). Jameer Nelson shot 41.9% from the field and 12.5% from three-point range. But if you're looking for a bright spot, it's Rashard Lewis, and not just because he blew by Kevin Garnett for the game-winning layup on January 28th. Against Boston, he averaged 18 points per game (6th-best) and shot 47.4% from beyond the arc (7th). He needs to maintain that stellar play. And Nelson, who's been on a tear in these playoffs, needs to skew closer to that than to his regular-season against Boston.

http://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/2010/5/14/1471728/orlando-magic-boston-celtics?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

[Kurska]

19. Should be a good series.

Lots of individual matchups, but very much a contrast of styles. Orlando is a strong rebounding team that makes it's money from behind the arc, Boston is a poor rebounding team that makes up for that by shooting a very high percentage.

[wilt the stilt]

20. Here is where I see the Magic problem

Magic starting 5
Howard- Celtics can cover him- push him out- always has been a so-so offensive player and can't be counted on.
Barnes- journeyman-6 teams- 6 point average over his career- can't be counted on offensively
2 possible holes on offense
Carter- once a great guard- still good
Nelson- I say he is 5'10 and usually a good shooter-Rondo is taller and faster and that wreaks havoc on him and that is why his shooting against Boston is 41%
Lewis- excellent shooter- really plays more like a small forward but not strong

Celtics starting 5

Garnett- finally playing like the stud he has always been- dribbles well and has both inside game and outside game. guarding him is a nightmare
Rondo- playing the best ball of his career. lightning fast and just dirty enough to take you out of your game
Pierce- always has been a star and still going ok- better scorer than shooter. kind of guy who drive you nuts if you were guarding him( as a defender you are saying to yourself- he's not that fast or quick but dammit he just keeps scoring
Perkins- strong an d thick - can't score but takes up space and Howard can't run him over like he does the smaller guys(Al Horford)
Allen- now here is a great shooter and you know why he is scoring.


Wallace- can be great and drives Howard nuts- drags Hoard out from planting in the paint.

I think the series will come down to Rondo vs. Nelson

Magic has two holes on offense and Barnes has played for 6 teams in 8 years. That is no accident. He is in the long run subpar talent compared to everyone else.
magic have youth Celtic has more "stars" who have been big players over their entire career going back to high school.

I am not a Celtic fan and actually the city of Boston makes me puke.

[wilt the stilt]

21. It will at least go 6 -7

if the Magic hope to have a chance.
It is just the opposite. The Celtics have the matchup advantage. Once they man up the magic lose their outside shooting.
Barnes is an inferior player compared to the other starters. Howard is guarding Garnett and drawing him away from his best defensive position thus no blocks and 8 rebounds. Magic are in a heap of trouble.

[Auggie]

4. So what do we call THIS epic fail?

"The Quit?"

"The Choke?"

"The Goodbye?"

"The 'I don't give a damn'?"

[madinmaryland]

5. the quit.

[Carnage251]

10. In the games I watched

they had way too many turnovers and they let Boston own the boards.

[Forkboy]

12. I was watching and couldn't believe it.

I don't think I've ever seen a team quit like that at the end of game while it was still feasible to win. Sure, it was a long shot, but that's why you foul. Rondo wasn't hitting the free throws and they had chances to foul him and just stood there.

I wouldn't want to play for a team like that. A sad display all around.

[Onceuponalife]

13. That was pathetic

I don't even like BB that much anymore but I thought I'd throw it over and get to watch a thrilling finish. LeBron made two 3's and they were within 4 points and then they just quit. LeBron started throwing the rock right to Celtics players...WTF? Another guy just threw the ball out of bounds for no apparent reason. And then just to not foul at the end and let the clock run out?? They disgraced themselves.

[Forkboy]

14. "They disgraced themselves."

+1

[Liberal_Dog]

16. Truly Bizarre

A 7 point deficit in the NBA is nothing. Even with only a couple of minutes left.

To simply mail it in like the Cavs did is inexcusable.

[madinmaryland]

17. Absolutely. Just remember Reggie Miller scoring seven points in 18 seconds.

LeBron is no Reggie Miller!