Everything was shaping up just right for the Celtics. The Magic couldn’t hit shit (they shot 36.6%), they let the Celtics go up 10 on them in the 3rd quarter, and they seemed ready to die. But the Celtics couldn’t put their foot on Orlando’s throats. They turned the ball over 19 times (to Orlando’s 9) and they choked away a chance to get 4 days off. The Celtics didn’t score a point in the last 3 and a half minutes (a stretch that included two missed Pierce FT’s that could have given Boston a lead). Ray Allen stepped up with a 2-11 game (0-7 3pt). He scored 5 points. Only Stephon Marbury (0 points) scored less.

The stats might tell you Rajon Rondo had a monster game (19 pts, 16 reb, 6 asst, 4 stl) but his 5 turnovers were indicative of how crappy this team played.

Let’s hope Stan Van Gundy hasn’t figured out that Courtney Lee can be a big help and he deserves more minutes. Let’s also hope that the Magic haven’t figured out that they can drive on the C’s almost at will. And finally, let’s hope Ray Allen returns for game 7. Ray… please come back. We miss you.

This is too frustrating. The C’s had it and let it slip away. I have no faith in Orlando on the road in a game 7, so I’m not TOO concerned about Dwight Howard making good on his guarantee … but this Celtics team is too wildly unpredictable for me to be completely confident here.

John Reds Army