Special K

I know you are a Celts fan, and I'm a Magic fan, but this is one thing we definitely agree on!

This column from today's local paper backs up my sentiment perfectly: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/bask...,2057789.column

The player on the Magic roster best suited to close out that game was on the sideline in a suit.(Jameer Nelson) The last 5 minutes of the 3rd quarter is where the Magic truly blew the game....with Rondo and Perkins out with foul trouble, the Celts couldn't buy a bucket and the Magic missed shot after shot and blew their chance to extend their lead from 12 points to 20. I just knew that would come back to haunt them. The game would have played out more like Game 1 of the series if they were able to build that bigger lead. The one thing the Magic lack is the same thing that is the Celtics strength....mental toughness & sheer will to not lose.

What a freakin' disaster. You just can't lose that game. I'm speechless......the Magic were answering every push the Celts made for 3 1/2 quarters, but that's just not good enough. This series should have been over today for Boston, but in effect, this series could be all but over for Orlando. Inexcusable to play that well and just give it away. I hope this doesn't cause them to tank Game 6, because anything can happen in a Game 7....I hope the Magic can get it there.

I was....and you are right...it really sucked

Congrats on the win, but IMO, that was a horribly officiated game especially in the 2nd and 3rd quarter. Two of the goaltending calls against Howard were bogus, and one gaoltending play by Rondo vs. Pietrus was missed. 6 points in a one point game hurts. I'm concerned with the Magic's mental status after such a heartbreaking "Bills-like" defeat. As for Lee.....I've been impressed with him all year, and his D vs. House was great....he looks like a steal as a late first round pick. Isn't it crazy that 3 of the Magic's 4 playoff losses have come in the final 2 seconds of the game!! I hope they can put it together in 48 hours, but this really hurts.

I geuss there's no suspension coming for Perkins....oh well. I really feel the winner of this game will win the series. I was at Game 6 of the Philly series, and the arena was rocking for that game, and I can't wait to be in the crowd for this one....I think the excitement will exceed that one for sure!! GO MAGIC!!!!!!!!

I didn't say I hated House, he's a great shooter, but even you have to admit its a little ridiculous how he celebrates every shot like he just hit a game winner. Whenever they show a close up of him running back from a made shot, he is posturing and dropping F-bombs like there is no tomorrow. I think he got a technical in the Bulls series for it. I will say it seemed that he toned it down a little in Game 3. I'm not a huge fan of Alston either, but he was an important pickup after the injury to Jameer Nelson.

That's what I'm talking about, baby! Not only did they build a big lead, but this time the Magic held on to it! I hope Perkins gets suspended for Game 4 for his elbow to the throat of Pietrus. If not, he will get the full fury of the Orlando crowd just like House and Rondo got it tonight. House celebrates after every made shot.....I wanted to slap him across the back of the head........oh wait, Alston took care of that for me......... (But he sure is on fire in this series!) I'll be at Game 4 on Sunday, and Game 6 (if necessary).... just take care of business at home(the defending champs won't go without a fight) and its on to the next round!

Yep, they played like a team that was content with stealing game 1 on the road, instead of showing some killer instict and taking it to them in Game 2. I certainly would have liked to see a better effort in that game, but we shall see how things go in Orlando.

Yes sir!!!! I knew the Celts would make a fourth quarter run, but that's why you build a big lead. I figured game 1 was the one for the Magic to steal as the Celtics were coming off the emotional series with the Bulls. Great Job guys....don't let up......take game 2 and come back to Florida with a 2-0 lead!!!!!!!

And I would feel a lot worse..... I think if Dwight Howard can get Perkins and Big Baby into early foul trouble(as he usually does with Perkins), the Magic should be able to steal one on the road. The local paper says Courtney Lee could be back as early as Game 3, but he will be wearing one of those Rip Hamilton masks if he plays. They are going to miss his defense as he could gaurd either Allen or Rondo when Eddie House comes in the game. Good Luck, and here's to a great series.......

Great job by the Magic.......I think the young Sixers had a bit of a letdown thinking Dwight Howard was out and it was going to be easy. Actually, "The Polish Hammer", Marcin Gortat, has played well when Dwight missed games during the regular season. Congrats to him, I can hear the cash register ringing for him as he is a free agent at the end of the year. I admit I didn't think this would be such an easy win, but it could propel the Magic to bigger and better things. Great job by the Sixers.....you were a tougher opponent than I expected. Get some rest guys.........here's to hoping for a deep run in these playoffs! Go Magic!!!

I can't argue with the suspension......unfortunately he deserves it. Its completely out of Howard's character to do something like that, so I'm assuming this was retaliation, remember Dalembert scratched Howard's eye earlier in the series. As I said earlier in the thread, I was at the game and didn't realize how flagrant the "bow" to the head was until I saw it on TV. My first thought was: Thankfully, he didn't get thrown out of the game for that. I knew a suspension was coming, but it works out for the Magic in that it would have been a lot worse to lose game 5 at home than it will be to lose game 6 on the road. In Game 7, a well-rested Howard is gonna be a beast!!! Go Magic!!

Earlier in this thread I asked what were they going to do for an encore after game 4, and it looks like both teams delivered. I only saw the highlights of the game because I was at Game 5 of the Sixers/Magic series. Finally a game in this series that went to form.....the Sixers couldn't possibly keep shooting lights out forever, and what more can be said about Dwight Howard.....24 pts., 24 rebounds and 3 blocks (plus countless altered shots) and the 3's were finally falling for the Magic. The energy in that building was awesome....that was one of the loudest crowds in quite a while! Let's finish this series off in Philly on Thursday.....Go Magic!!!

As great as Game 1 and Game 2 were, Game 4 was the best game of the series thus far. What are these two teams going to do for an encore?

Turk! Turk! Turk! Let me take this opportunity to officially welcome Hedo Turkoglu to the 2009 NBA Playoffs!! You can't keep the Magic's shooters down forever....I hope this opens the floodgates for him and Rashard! I still can't believe how well the Sixers are shooting the 3.....its crazy.....they were the worst 3 point shooting team in the league, and in this series they can't miss. I hope the Magic can keep the momentum going for game 5 on Tuesday!!!

I'm still here....game 3 was gonna be a tough one to win...the Magic better play with a sense of urgency tomorrow.....it would be a waste of a terrific season to go out like this.

Back on track, baby!!! The Sixers are a scrappy bunch......its not gonna be easy. Big props to the rook (Courtney Lee).....he's played great offensively both games, and the switch to put him on Andre Miller defensively slowed him down after his flaming hot start. Good job Magic, just get the 3 point shooting going and they'll get things going in the right direction!

I HAVE NOT LAUGHED THAT HARD IN A LONG TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! CLASSIC!!!

Congrats on the win.....but this is gonna be a long series, 6 or 7 games for sure. I hope the Magic can right the ship on Wednesday.

Living down here in the Orlando area, I'm a big Magic fan, and despite what happened in the 4th Quarter of today's game,(Magic blew a 17 point lead), I'm confident in a Magic/Cavs Eastern Confrence Finals. Lebron and Kobe were as advertised, but the biggest performance of the weekend has to go to Derrick Rose of the Bulls. The rookie lit it up vs. the Celts....I hope he can keep it up for the entire series......it will make the Magic's lives a little easier provided they don't tank it vs. the 76'ers. Here's hoping for an exciting playoffs!

I'm hoping this was part of the plan....not sure if a former Patsy GM will want to help out the Bills, though.

It might also be easier to sign Fred Jackson to the long term contract he deserves.

Tony Dungy! Bye Bye Dicky J!!