Are the Celtics in trouble?
I think it’s too early to say that, but the injuries – especially the ones to their big men – will certainly be a problem. In our Game 5 preview I predicted the Magic to win at home and pull within a game of tying the series. They did. And I am still expecting the Celtics to close out the series at home Friday night.
Glen “Big Baby” Davis will be a game-time decision after suffering a concussion when Dwight Howard inadvertently elbowed him in the face in the third quarter. Davis blacked out on the court and had to be helped off by referee Joey Crawford.
On top of the injury to Davis, Rasheed Wallace tweaked his back. He might miss Game 6. Wallace was Boston’s top-scorer in Game 5 with 21 points. More importantly, Big Baby and Wallace were assigned to guard Howard for the majority of the time.
Celtics backup shooting guard Marquis Daniels also suffered a concussion when he got hit on a passing attempt. Celtics coach Doc Rivers rarely uses Daniels, so this injury will not weigh as heavily as the ones to Davis and Wallace
Despite all the injury trouble, there is good news for the Celtics. Center Kendrick Perkins, who picked up two technical fouls Wednesday, will not be suspended for Game 6. The league took another look at the T’s and rescinded one of the technical fouls and nixed his suspension.
In a city that just watched the Bruins blow a 3-0 series lead in the NHL playoffs, fans are starting to get nervous about the same happening to their basketball team. And I’m sure the Celtics players have heard about what happened to the Bruins too.
Boston playmaker Rajon Rondo, who was a big part of the success in the first three games, hasn’t been a factor in the last two games. He scored only nine points on 3-for-10 shooting in Game 4. He picked it up a little more Wednesday, scoring 19 points. He shot 7-for-15 from the field, but struggled from the charity stripe, where he made only five of his 11 attempts.
Howard had another strong outing, scoring 21 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. He added five blocks and two steals in a great defensive effort.
Bookmaker has the Celtics as a three-point favorite at -110. In the moneyline, they have Orlando at +140 and the Celtics at -160. The over/under (-110) is set at 189, which seems a little high to me. The average total in the series is only 185, and this average was boosted by the 205 points the teams scored Wednesday. Despite going into overtime, the teams only scored a combined 188 points in Game 4.
5Dimes offers the same spread and over/under. They run the Celtics at -155 and the Magic at +135 on the moneyline.
I think the Celtics will overcome the scare in front of their home-crowd Friday. Rondo made a step in the right direction Wednesday and I can see him having a great game at the TD Garden.
The big men Davis and Wallace – if medically cleared – won’t let their injuries keep them from suiting up. They might have limited roles, but they will tough it out and contribute to the Celtics’ game. Perkins will be back in Game 6 and that might prove crucial. The Celtics were outscored by only two points in Perkins’ 16 minutes on the floor Wednesday. He was ejected just before halftime with Boston down by eight. The Magic went on to win by 21.
Perkins is essential in guarding Howard. I think with Perkins able to play and a strong game from Rondo, the Celtics will get back on track and close out the series Friday.
