ECF Game One - Boston 92-Orlando 88 - Of Course

by AncientMariner on May 16, 2010 7:02 PM CDT

I am not inclined to watch much of the current series between the Celtics and the Magic. With the results of the past two seasons' playoffs for the Cavaliers involving these two clubs, to pretend to have a rooting interest would be like pretending to choose to be dinner for the winner of Wolfman vs. Dracula...whichever one wins, it ain't gonna feel too good for me.

But I do find the result of today's game to be almost sublimely delicious, given the context of what happened to Cleveland three days ago. In some bizarre, and perhaps fan-hopeful way, it almost makes sense of having lost to Boston. And the fact that it was precisely a mirror for Orlando, going from beating an 8-0 playoff team on the road last year to being an 8-0 playoff team this year and losing at home makes me want to shout "Touche', now you know how it felt!"

Of course I then feel a little silly, and there is no post game euphoria like there would be had Cleveland still been playing, but even so...for one evening, all the thoughts I have had about stepping back just a wee bit from firing Mike Brown based on a bizarre playoff run seem almost vindicated.

Just one game, but, given the opponent the Celtics faced today, and given the venue, and given the marvelous job that Boston did in limiting the Magic to 42% shooting, including only 23% on their bread and butter - threes - and all this while having only three players score in double figures, and the marvelous Rajon Rondo held in check...

Let us concede, no matter who we have on the roster next year, and no matter who is the coach, that in 2009-10, the Cleveland Cavaliers came up short in the playoffs, with an injured LeBron James, against, not the junior varsity of a local high school, but a pretty damn good team.

Of course the Celtics won today. That way Cleveland can say "If we would have taken care of business, we would be the team up 1-0". But we didn't take care of business. Maybe the better team did.

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Dan Gilbert should throw as much money as he’s got at Doc Rivers. I’m so impressed by his coaching compared to others.

Art Modell gives me a hard one

by gahnki on May 16, 2010 7:06 PM CDT reply actions

I agree that he’s done great coaching. From what I’ve heard, he’s been brilliant since the end of the regular season, planning everyones minutes according to what best fits their readiness for these games, knowing they had lost homecourt already.

That said, we have no shot at getting Doc Rivers, he has no reason to leave Boston. He also doesn’t seem like the kind of guy who would up and ditch his current team for another.

by Simmsinns on May 17, 2010 4:34 AM CDT up reply actions

I seem to remember Doc being villified as a terrible coach.

Then the team picked up Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen. Added a young Rondo and all of a sudden he is the greatest coach in the world. Not taking anything away from Doc. Just remembering a little history.

"Is it normal to wake up in the morning in a sweat because you can't wait to beat another human's guts out?"
Joe Kapp

by lifelongvike on May 17, 2010 9:06 AM CDT up reply actions

going back further

He won coach of the year in 2000, had 3 good seasons with orlando before they had dwight howard. When doc first came to boston the city was really excited and in his first season boston was 1st in the atlantic division. What followed was 2 bad seasons, which were a result of a deteriorating base of core players and the celtics game became just “the paul pierce show”. The C’s had the 2nd worst record in the nba that year, but ownership still recognized it wasnt because of doc. So hes been pretty highly regarded throughout his relatively young coaching career.

by spinz on May 17, 2010 11:56 AM CDT up reply actions

So how would he do with the Cavs?

Would it be just the LeBron show and poor playoff performance?
Would it be that he would win the NBA Championship with the current players?

If not the latter than its not our coach that is the problem.

"Is it normal to wake up in the morning in a sweat because you can't wait to beat another human's guts out?"
Joe Kapp

by lifelongvike on May 17, 2010 1:42 PM CDT up reply actions

unfortunately

impossible to say. But as far as replacements for mike brown go, that would be one of the better scenarios.

by spinz on May 17, 2010 1:46 PM CDT up reply actions

Wow, an honest unbiased reply.

It really is impossible to say. The owner is just going to have to evaluate and make a decision.

"Is it normal to wake up in the morning in a sweat because you can't wait to beat another human's guts out?"
Joe Kapp

by lifelongvike on May 17, 2010 2:08 PM CDT up reply actions

Your first paragraph is spot-on.

by emily522 on May 17, 2010 11:40 AM CDT reply actions

The biggest improvement for Boston...

is Kevin Garnett. He certainly isn’t dragging that bum knee around now like he was earlier in the year. He looks like the old KG with big rebounds and that smooth low post spin move and jumper. We had no answer for it and Orlando, apparently, does not either. I don’t think anybody saw such a turn-around happening. Very fortunate for the scupper breath Pilgrims.

I'm Polish...what's your excuse?

by Juannieboy on May 17, 2010 1:36 PM CDT reply actions