In the back of your mind, you have to wonder if the Celtics are going to revert back to the team that went 27-27 during the last 54 games of the regular season or will continue showing the impressive determination that they've displayed since the opening tip of round 1.
I think we'll get our answer tonight. If the Celtics come out firing on both sides of the ball again and go up 2-0, we'll obviously know this team has truly reached back to 2008 and is a legitimate threat to the Lakers in the Finals. If they drop a stink-bomb a la game 3 of the Cavs series, it's by no means the end of the world and they will still have home court for the rest of the series. However, it would show us that they're still lacking that consistent killer instinct.
Beyond the impact of tonight's game, I think this will be close.
The key offensive player for the Magic will play better. No, not Dwight Howard or Vince Carter. Rashard Lewis is the one who sparks this team and he will start hitting shots tonight. On the other side of the ball, Ray Allen probably won't be dropping 25 again tonight.
Even if those two aspects of game 1 even out, if this game is close, it won't matter. The Celtics have two things the Magic don't have:
1. A go-to guy in the waning minutes of a game, Paul Pierce. And don't even try to tell me Vince Carter is that guy. Since he's been in the league, he's proven time after time that's he's not.
2. The ability to lock-down defense around the arc. The Magic won't be getting any open 3's to decide a game like the Celtics gave them last year. A healthy KG and Rasheed Wallace make that difference because it lets the other Celtic players run out to those Magic shooters.
I don't see why people think that Dwight Howard will play all that much better in game 2. Is he going to learn some post moves in the span of two days? Or how to shoot a 5-foot jumper? I'm going to go out on a limb and say no.
Based on the past 4 games, I see no reason to predict a Celtic loss. This will come down to free throws again and the Celtics on top 95-90.
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