Jameer Nelson and the Orlando Magic will face the Boston Celtics in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals tonight (Photo by Gary W. Green, Orlando Sentinel)
BOSTON — The Orlando Magic and Boston Celtics will square off in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals tonight at TD Garden. And, by using the phrase ”square off,” I’m taking a cue from what one Boston Herald columnist has written about what he thinks the Celtics need to do to Dwight Howard.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Phoenix Suns last night in thrilling fashion in Game 5 of the Western Conference finals.
So, let’s get right to the links.
1. Believe it: Game 6 biggest night in Orlando Magic history since 1995, Orlando Sentinel, Brian Schmitz
The Buzz: The headline says it all.
2. 0-93 is just a number: Magic will make history against Celtics, Orlando Sentinel, George Diaz
The Buzz: George writes: “Starting with a worthless possession in the last seconds of regulation in Game 4 — when the Celtics could have sent the Magic home in four games — the Celtics have unraveled, piece by piece.”
3. Now Celtics have to be thinking about belly-up Bruins, Orlando Sentinel, Mike Bianchi
The Buzz: “Teams can absolutely feed on the synergy and psyche of another team in town,” Mike writes. “Especially when that other team — the Bruins in this case — own and play in the same arena you play in.”
4. NBA’s flagrant-foul rules are meant as deterrents, but can cause considerable confusion, Orlando Sentinel, Josh Robbins
The Buzz: This piece explains how the league’s rules on cumulative technical fouls and flagrant fouls work during the postseason.
5. Idea of a choke is hard to swallow, The Boston Globe, Dan Shaughnessy
The Buzz: “There is a lingering sense of dread,” Shaughnessy writes. “The Orlando Magic are Glenn Close, lifeless and submerged in the bathtub, but we are afraid she may yet rise out of the water and try to cut out our heart. One more time.”
6. Celtics staying strong, The Boston Globe, Julian Benbow
The Buzz: Here’s the latest Celtics injury news involving Glen Davis, Rasheed Wallace and Marquis Daniels. Also, Kendrick Perkins will not serve a one-game suspension tonight for his accumulated technical fouls.
7. Beat ‘em to punch, Celtics, Boston Herald, Ron Borges
The Buzz: The Herald columnist says the Celtics need to combat Dwight Howard with the same kind of “frontier justice” physical play that Kevin McHale leveled on Kurt Rambis in Game 4 of the 1984 NBA Finals. “Rambis got up spoiling for a fight but his team didn’t, and what had once seemed like a Lakers blowout turned out to be a Celtics victory,” Borges writes. “They tied the series at 2 and ended up winning it in seven games.”
8. Lakers defeat Suns on last-second shot by Ron Artest, Los Angeles Times, Ben Bolch
The Buzz: The defending NBA champs now lead their series against the Suns 3-2.
9. Phoenix Suns still have hope against Los Angeles Lakers, The Arizona Republic, Paola Boivin
The Buzz: Again, the headline says it all.
10. Wade: Free agents to plot in advance; agent: No ’summit’ in works, South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Ira Winderman and Sarah Talalay
The Buzz: Looks like Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and Joe Johnson will talk before the free-agency period starts, but Wade’s agent says there’s no “summit” planned.
Follow Josh Robbins on Twitter at @JoshuaBRobbins and e-mail him at jrobbins@orlandosentinel.com. Subscribe to our Orlando Magic newsletter at OrlandoSentinel.com/joinus.
