Well, it had to happen eventually.  The C's were valiant and gave it all they had.  Tonight there was nothing left in the tank.  I don't blame Doc since he couldn't trust the bench enough to buy minutes for the starters.

Injuries are part of the game so there can't be the excuse of missing KG and Leon.  Of course not only are they a(HUGE) improvement on what remained, but they would play 50+ minutes a game, saving PP and others from overuse.

Kudos to the Magic for finding their game.  They deserved to win and I will root for them, though not very hard.  I always root for the nderdog except when my team is the favorite.

Next year, who knows or as we say in Vietnamese:  "Ai biet?"

I'm of course hoping KG post-surgery wil make a full recovery.  Baby should re-sign and practice his post moves.  Tonight he over-tried and did not play within himself.

Rondo should be sentenced to watch film and of course shoot mid-range jumpers and FREE THROWS.

This team can contend if healthy and intact, although I'd love to get a Posey-type to slow LeBron down.  I see that Pose lost a step or more so he would not have been the answer(not THE ANSWER, don't even think about him!)

Steph, we hardly knew ye....

The C's did not go gentle into that good night.  They don't owe us wins, just effort and they gave that and more...

Marbury had a very good, almost great stint in the first half.  I wonder why he got no time in the second half.

The game was there to be won as the Magic(actually for the 3rd straight time) blew a huge lead and were totally unglued.  Rondo gave a lot of energy but kept making these mindless plays, giving up the ball with no chance of a decent shot.

The C's were lucky when Alston stole the ball on Rondo's clock saving maneuver as he regained it and hit Scal for 3.  They were extremely unlucky when Turkoglu hit a fallaway 3 as the shot clock went and also when Baby got called on a random fould with 0.4 seconds in the 3rd and particularly when Pierce fouled Howard as the shot clock was expiring after a wildly missed 3-ball.

Ray's last 3 when the lead was 4 went in and rattled out, but of course he had a horror, just never getting in rhythm.

I'm glad they never ever give up but you can't put that kind of pressure on yourself and expect to win.  Now Game 2 is about as close to "must-win" as it gets. 

Well both teams played well and both teams had many chances.  The C's coulda, shoulda lost in regulation.  I do think they should have found a way to beat a team with much less experience.

Sure some shots went in and out like Baby's layups.  They should have found a way to at least get a good look at a 3 rather than Pierce's force.  I think they should have gone quick and extended the game, maybe even taken a drive to the hoop.

I only think that the experienced team should be the one executing down the stretch.  How big was Salmons' 3 when it was 105-100?  How big was Scal's giveaway and then his "clear path" foul?

This series is even and yet the C's might have swept it.  I believe that the more experienced team should win more than one of three contested games.

That said, injuries have relegated this season to "moral victories."  They can't beat Cleveland so whatever happens from now on will have to be for fun.

The games are certainly won and lost on the court, but there often seems to be "destiny."  This year it looks like Kobe/LeBron, not just because NBA or networks want it.  Things are falling into place.  C's would have had easier time with 76ers but the Bulls managed to tank against Toronto then turn it on.

C's are injured, banged-up and perhaps a bit mentally fatigued.  Bench hasn't stepped up and guys are dropping like flies. 

I also have this theory that great teams who for whatever reason don't appear likely to have a serious shot, tend to lose interest or actually lose focus and often go out early, like the C's in 1983 against Milwaukee or the 76ers in '84 against the Nets.  Once they see they can't win it all, they go home.

I'm not saying this is happening and of course losing KG is the most important factor but I think fatigue and karma are both contributing to the struggles in the first two games.

Meanwhile did you notice that Bulls were out of timeouts both games and were an in-and-out free throw away from being valiant competitors with no shot at the series?

One last disjointed point...Isn't Tony Allen billed as a defensive "stopper?"  I was hoping Doc would give him a whirl trying to defend Gordon.  I won't get sarcastic because I see Doc's problem.  He needed Ray on offense and Rondo to run the team.  Pierce, even in mentally and physically tired state HAS to be out there.  Perk and Baby have to rebound and defend bigs and last I saw you only get 5 guys(unless you are the Trailblazers in need of a hoop)

Yes this was a horrible game and makes us think it may be like 1983 for C's and 1984 for Sixers. 

What do I mean?  OK...The team that has title aspirations realizes there is a better team so rather than getting embarrassed by that team, they just dump in an early round.

Not saying it's happening but C's played just bad enough to lose.  If Pierce makes the 2d FT which went in and out, or if Baby's layup sins in instead of out or Ray goes 2 for 12.

We'll see how they react on Monday and Thursday.

I believe that it would be extremely difficult for the C's to get to the Finals, much less repeat as champs. 

Depending upon their attitude, they should win the first round regardless and probably the second.

I fear that his injury is worse than originally reported just from the party line of "tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow..."  

I now believe that it is unlikely that either he or Leon will return anytime soon.  Knees are tricky things and if KG is not fit in nearly two months he is unlikely to wake up one morning and play at anything approaching 100%.

Injuries are part of the game so I'm not crying but I'm much less hopeful than I was this morning.

Yesterday's game meant nothing as those of you who recall the "Mothers' Day Massacre" can attest.  That one was in a playoff series and the Lakers were able to win the series.  Surely the C's will have forgotten yesterday if they meet Cleveland in three weeks or so.

Home court is useful but not essential and is less important than it was last year.

Even last year home court was overrated.  Some would say the C's couldn't win on the road and it could have cost them.  My take is that the didn't win on the road

UNTIL THEY HAD TO!!!  Notice that except for Game 7 vs Cavs, they were not in any danger of losing a home game and that as soon as Detroit beat them in Game 2, they immediately broke back with a relatively easy win in Detroit.

They went into LA basically needing one game and they got it, albeit with amazing last quarter heroics.  If the refs had called Kobe for reaching around Pierce instead of giving him a steal, the series would never have reutrned to Boston.

If KG can't play at all(Which I think is a distinct possibility) I make them a big underdog against Cavs.  If Powe returns intact and Tony Allen can contribute, I think they may still have a puncher's chance.

I'm not making excuses and they won't be "robbed" but I think that Kobe-Le Bron matchup is kind of ordained or at least hoped for.

Chrechez le Marbury.  If he comes around he can be a big help.