CELTICS ONE STEP AWAY
(Image taken from NBA.com)
The 2010 NBA playoffs were really heating up and the Eastern Conference Finals between the Magic and the Celtics were particularly interesting. The series started in Orlando but a Magic off day resulted in a Celtics 92-88 win in Game 1. The Magic tried to recover from that in Game 2 but again the Celtics took the glory, winning 95-92. If that was what happened in Orlando, then what chance did the Magic have of getting back into the series with Games 3 and 4 in Boston? This Celtics team that was absolutely nowhere in the regular season looked more than happy to make morons out of everyone. Was the series over already?
Well at the start of Game 3 the Celtics were in no mood for mercy and the Magic couldn't even grab a bucket for nearly four minutes. The Magic's score didn't even hit double figures till there was less than a minute left in the opener - and they thought their start in Game 1 was bad. The Magic didn't really look like getting back into the game in the early stages of the second quarter and in the meantime, the Celtic lead hit 20. The Magic did manage to reign them in to an extent but really it was just a drop in the ocean. The Celtics came in at half time leading 51-34. Paul Pierce had grabbed 10 points by that point and the Magic were looking like dead men walking already.
Well there were no points whatsoever in the opening minute of the third and though the Magic got the opening bucket of the period when it did come to cut the deficit to fifteen, that was as good as it got for them. The Celtics were just cruising through this match and built their biggest lead yet. The Celtic lead hit 30 early on in the 4th and from there on out the Magic might just as well have walked off the court, they had so little chance of coming back. Credit where credit's due though, they did make an effort to rally - it was way too little too late though. "Big Baby" Glen Davis grabbed 17 points off the bench. Celtics won the game 94-71.
No doubt about it, the Magic had their backs against the wall in Game 4 but came out fighting early on yet the Celtics weren't going to lie down and led 5-4 with 9:28 in the 1st. However the Magic were certainly finally looked like they were going to run the show this series and had a solid lead at the end of the opener. The early stages of the 2nd quarter were pretty low scoring and the Celtics looked unlikely to turn the game around any time soon. The Magic lead hit double figures brliefly late on in the half but the Celtics managed to haul them in. Still, the road side led 51-47 at half time with Dwight Howard on 17 points. This series wasn't over yet.
The Magic lead 55-47 with 10:44 left in the 3rd but the Celtic wound in the deficit once more but still, they were unable to turn the game back around. The game was certainly closer than it was thopugh and the Celtics did take the lead before the end of the quarter, leading 68-67 at the third buzzer. Now the Magic really were in trouble, but they then proceded to hold the Celtics scoreless for oer three minutes, yet the home side came back to tie the game with half the quarter still to go. What else did the Magic have? Enough to retake the lead but not to keep it. The Celtics were lead by Paul Pierce on 32 points. The Magic were lead by Howard on 27 points backed up by Jameer Nelson on 17. The game was tied at 86 at the end of regulation.
The first minute of so of overtime turned out to be pretty uneventful. Both sides were probably too desperate not to lose the match. Someone had to do so though and the Magic did the honours, landing a three pointer. Still, that was after over two minutes had elapsed. A second Magic three pointed extended their lead, the Celtics responded in kind to cut the deficit, the Magic then grabbed a layup. It looked like mission accomplished for Stan van Gundy's men. Sure enough the Celtics were not able to turn the game around. Howard led the Magic with 32 points. Nelson backed him up on 23. Further backup came from Rashard Lewis on 13. The Magic won 96-92 to save their season. They still have a long way to go though.
Out West, the Lakers and Suns were rumbling in Phoenix. The Suns won Game 3 118-109 but had to deal with a stubborn Laker effort which was only subdued with help from their bench which came up big to prevent a sweep. The Suns then went on to win Game 4 115-106 with over 50 points coming from their bench players and six guys in double figures. The Lakers were never really in the picture on that occasion and leave town with tails between legs. That means that the series is tied at 2-2 and turns it into a three gamer. The two sides return to LA for Game 5 in an encounter that has to be seen as the series most decisive game.
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