<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> What To Look For As Series Shifts to Indy The Celtics first round series with the Indiana Pacers is now down to a five-game series after each team won a game in Boston. The next team to win three games will earn the right to advance to the second round and most likely take on the defending champion Detroit Pistons who have a 2-0 lead over the Philadelphia 76ers. And as most fans know, the postseason is all about adjustments... so, let?s take at what the team needs to do to move on in the 2005 NBA playoffs. Which team can make the appropriate changes from one game to the next? With that said, let?s take a look at what the Celtics need to do to get back on track and regain control of this series. </div><font color="green">Source</font> IMO, for the Celtic's to win a game in Indiana they need to grab more offensive rebounds and get a good game out of Payton and Lafrentz. Jefferson also needs to have a 15-20 point game and grab double digit rebounds.
In Game 2 the Celtics went away with what helped them win Game 1, strong bench play. The lift from the bench was not there for the Celtics like it was in Game 1. The Celtics also gave up too, many easy baskets. The Celtics need to use their speed and athleticism more in Game 3. I still think Marcus Banks has to be the catalyst for the Celtics. He played 19 minutes in Game 1, and no one on Indiana could keep up with him. In Game 2, he played all of 9 minutes. The Celtics got caught up in too, much 1 on 1 play instead of moving the ball around like they did in Game 1. Indiana does not have the depth the Celtics have, so I expect Doc Rivers to loosen his rotations in the next two games. With O'neal banged up, Jackson hurting, and Reggie Miller not a young buck anymore, having fresh legs on the court all game long is going to wear the Pacers down. I think the Celtics need some goon work from Perkins, too. If the Pacers, especially Reggie Miller is going to jump into defenders and get a call, then foul him hard and send him to the hardwood. The Celtics have to make sure they don't allow anymore easy baskets.
The Pacers made seperate adjustments for Al and Marcus. For Marcus, they limited his ability to press in the backcourt. For Al, they double teamed him in the post. Those two adjustments kept Doc from playing them in significant minutes. Doc was outcoached, and now it's his responsibilty to make counter-adjustments so that he can use his bench effectively again.
I expect them to look for Raef a lot earlier in the game this time around. It worked in game 1, but then they didn't look for him in game 2 and O'Neal didn't have to worry about guarding Raef's range. Go to Raef early and play the young kids in the third, saving a little juice in Paul and Toine for the last 5 minutes and they can pull this win out.
