Losing eight of their final thirteen games, the Boston Celtics were already dismissed as has-beens and many thought that the Chicago  Bulls might be able to upset them in the First Round.

Seems like the Celtics are the one capable of an upset delivering the mighty blow on the Cavaliers in six games today and rendering Lebron James’ future in Cleveland as questionable.

Last year, the Celtics faced the Orlando Magic in the Eastern Conference semifinals in a hard-fought series that went all of seven games and won by the Magic.

This year, the two teams are in for a rematch albeit in the Eastern Conference Finals.

The Orlando Magic might have had smooth sailing through two rounds sweeping the Charlotte Bobcats and the Atlanta Hawks along the way but in the Boston Celtics, the Magic will probably have a rough time as the Celtics are very capable of matching with them.

NOTES:

1. The Magic advanced to their second straight Eastern Conference finals while the Celtics the first time since 2008 when they won the championship.

2. The Magic entered the 2010 NBA Playoffs as the #2 seed in the Eastern Conference while the Celtics is #4.

3. In the regular season, the Magic defeated the Celtics 3 times out of 4 meetings.

4. The Magic is led by the trio of Dwight Howard (18.3 ppg, 13.2 rpg, 2.8 bpg), Vince Carter (16.6 ppg, 3.5 rpg) and Jameer Nelson (12.6 ppg, 5.4 apg)

5. The Celtics is led by its Big Four of Paul Pierce (18.3 ppg, 4.4 apg, 1.2 spg), Kevin Garnett (14.3 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 2.7 apg), Ray Allen (16.3 ppg, 36.3 3p%, 91.3ft%) and Rajon Rondo (13.7 ppg, 9.8 apg, 2.3 spg).

SCHEDULE: Celtics won series 4-2

Game 1 May 16 3:30 pm             Amway Arena, Orlando, Florida     ABC 92-88 Celtics
Game 2 May 18 8:30 pm            Amway Arena, Orlando, Florida     ESPN 95-92 Celtics
Game 3 May 22 8:30 pm            TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts     ESPN 94-71 Celtics
Game 4 May 24 8:30 pm            TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts     ESPN 96-92 Magic OT
Game 5 May 26 8:30 pm            Amway Arena, Orlando, Florida     ESPN 113-92 Magic
Game 6 May 28 8:30 pm           TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts     ESPN 96-84 Celtics

GAME BY GAME RECAP:

Game 1

Showing no signs of old age or injury that have hampered them in the regular season, the Celtics drew first blood winning 92-88 with their smothering defense.

The Magic looked rusty in shooting only 41% overall from the field and 22% from the 3-point line. Even Dwight Howard was held to only 3 of 10 shooting in scoring 13 points, and getting 12 rebounds and 5 blocks. Vince Carter scored 23 points while Jameer Nelson added 20 points.

Ray Allen scored 25 points and Paul Pierce had 22 for the Celtics.

Dwight Howard said,

“I don’t think it was rusty. Just anxious We dug ourselves a hole, and it was tough to get back from.”

Game 2

Check out the 2010 NBA Draft Lottery that took place before the game.

After sweeping the first 2 rounds, the Magic has now tasted a dose of its own medicine as they are now in danger of being swept themselves by the Celtics.

Paul Pierce scored 28 points to lead his team to a 95-92 road victory against a team that had won 14 straight until this series.

Dwight Howard  had 30 points, and Vince Carter and J.J. Redick scored 16 apiece for the Magic, who overcame an 11-point deficit to take a brief lead in the fourth quarter. But they couldn’t hold it.

Carter missed two free throws with 31.9 seconds left that might have cost Orlando the game.

Game 3

With a 16-point 1st quarter lead, the Celtics never looked back and ran away from the hapless Magic to win 94-71 and take a commanding 3-0 lead in the series.

Glen Davis scored 17 points, and Rajon Rondo added 11 points and 12 assists to lead Boston over a mismatched Orlando who could only get 7 points and 7 rebounds from its superstar center Dwight Howard.

The Celtics are one win away from their second trip to the finals in three years. No NBA team has ever lost a playoff series after winning the first three games.

Game 4

There will be no sweep in the Eastern Conference Finals. Dwight Howard made sure of that.

After managing only 7 points and 7 rebounds in a Game 3 loss, Howard delivered a superb performance with 32 points, 16 rebounds and 4 blocks to lead the Magic to a 96-92 victory over the Celtics.

After the Celtics came back from a seven-point deficit with 2:24 left in regulation to force the game into overtime 86-all, Jameer Nelson  made back-to-back 3-pointers in overtime to finish with 23 points and nine assists.

Paul Pierce  had 32 points and 11 rebounds but missed two three-point attempts in the final minute as the Celtics failed to complete the sweep.

Game 5

Trying to become  the first team to win coming from a 3-0 deficit, the Magic is halfway their quest with a 113-92 victory over the Celtics.

Dwight Howard  had 21 points, 10 rebounds, 5 blocks and knocked out Glen Davis to the floor after his errant elbow hit the Boston center in the face.

‘Big Baby’ is obviously still dazed having a hard time getting up. He looked like he was just knocked down by Mike Tyson!

Kendrick Perkins was also ejected after earning his second technical foul for arguing with officials after a foul on Howard.

Overall, Orlando’s shooters made 13-of-25 3-pointers to break out of a series-long shooting slump.

Game 6

There will be no history in the making for the Orlando Magic.

Nate Robinson made sure of that.

Scoring all of his 13 points in the second quarter, Robinson proved to be Superman Dwight Howard’s kryptonite by leading a charge that allowed the Celtics to pull away for a 96-84 victory and series win, 4-2.

Howard had 28 points and 12 rebounds to led the Magic.

The Boston Celtics is back in the 2010 NBA Finals after winning it in 2008 .

They will face the Los Angeles Lakers in a rematch of their 2008 NBA Finals showdown.

Watch the 2010 NBA Finals online starting June 3, 2010.

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Tags: 2010 NBA playoffs, boston celtics, orlando magic