[/caption]Don’t call it a comeback.
The Orlando Magic, who won the last two games to create a competitive series in the Eastern Conference Finals, were pummeled by the Boston Celtics in a convincing 96-84 margin Friday night. The Celtics, who won the series 4-2, move on to the NBA Finals, where they’ll await their opponent from the Western Conference. The Los Angeles Lakers hold a 3-2 series edge against the Phoenix Suns; game 6 of that series will be played Saturday night.
Before the game, Celtics Center Kendrick Perkins was his own story as his availability was in question following two more technical fouls in game 5. His seventh technical foul would have triggered an automatic suspension for game 6. But the league rescinded one of them, making him eligible to play. Perkins scored just two points, but Nate Robinson came off the bench to contribute 13 points in just 13 minutes of work.
A familiar pattern of the series played out again: Boston took a commanding lead and dared Orlando to come back. But they weren’t able to muster much momentum in Boston, where a victory would have forced the series back home for a decisive game 7. Instead, the Celtics kept the pressure on all night long, taking a double-digit lead out of the first period and never relinquishing it.
If the Lakers defeat the Suns Saturday night, the 2010 Finals will be a rematch of the 2008 Finals, won by Boston 4-2. The Lakers won the 2009 Finals by a 4-1 margin over the Magic, so Orlando was also hoping for a chance at a rematch. Now they’ll return home and lick their wounds, and ponder their future in a competitive Eastern Conference that should see shifts in the balance of power. Big-name stars such as LeBron James and Dwayne Wade will be free agents and could change teams.
But for the Celtics, it’s a chance to prove that their 2008 title was no fluke and an opportunity to win their second title in three years. And after stumbling following a 3-0 series lead, Friday night’s win was not only a statement to the Magic, but to their Western Conference opponent: The Celtics are ready.
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