Howard isn't smiling anymore. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

Boston Celtics defeated the Orlando Magic 94-71, for a sixth consecutive playoff win. The Celtics take a 3-0 series lead and can end the series Monday  in Game 4.

Boston forced Orlando into 17 turnovers and the Magic shot only 37%, tallying just 10 team assists. Meanwhile, Boston turned the ball over just 9 times, shot 47% and passed for 23 team assists. Glen Davis led six Celtics in double-figures with 17 points. Rajon Rondo contributed 11 points, 12 assists, 4 steals, and  a crowd-pleasing, sprint-and-dive  hustle-play early in the second quarter.

“Pure grit; pure hustle,” Garnett said in a post-game interview aired on ESPN. “It was the play of the playoffs.”

Shortly after Rondo’s play warmed the Garden crowd, Davis scored 7 straight points, moving the lead to 43-19, sending the crowd into a frenzy, all but dashing the Magic hopes of a comeback. Orlando was noticeably deflated by the series of events, and gave a lackluster effort the rest of the game.

Magic star Dwight Howard finished with just 7 points and 7 rebounds in 39 minutes of play. Rashard Lewis continued his struggles behind the arc, missing all four of his 3-point shots in the game. Lewis is 1-12 on 3-point field goals for the series.

Game 4 is in Boston on Monday at 8:30 ET on ESPN. A potential Game 5 would be Wednesday in Orlando at 8:30 ET on ESPN.

Play of the Game: Early in the second quarter, Orlando lost the the ball into the backcourt. Jason Williams loafed to the ball, seemingly the only player with a play on the ball. But Rajon Rondo never gave up on the play; he sprinted into the forecourt, dove past Williams, outfought him for the basketball, picked it up and finished the layup–to the the delight of the raucous TD Garden fans.

“I just wanted it,” Rajon Rondo said.

Game Notes: Glen Davis lead the Celtics in scoring for the first time all season, tallying 17 points (he also added 6 rebounds). With the Celtics up 36-19 early in the second quarter, Davis scored 7 straight points, moving the lead to 43-19 , all but dashing the Magic hopes of a comeback…In the third quarter, Paul Pierce tipped a made Magic basket back through the other side of the hoop, trying to pretend the ball didn’t go in. He continued the act even further by not taking the ball out–until the referees stopped the charade and made Boston in-bound the ball. On the next play, Matt Barnes retaliated by shoving Kevin Garnett right into his coach, Stan Van Gundy, who received a solid forecheck from KG…Boston Celtics were up double-digits in points since 3:30 left in the first quarter.

Van Gundy will have to do more than yelling if he hopes to win Game 2.

Game 2 is going to come down to which coach can push the correct buttons and make the right moves. I could talk about all the different match-ups at each position, but these teams know  each other well, and I believe the series will come down to who game-plans and executes the best from the sidelines.

In game 1, the Celtics executed their game plan to perfection.  You could tell from the start that their plan was to force Dwight Howard away from the basket (easier said than done) and maul him whenever he gets close , sending him to the line. In addition the green wanted to keep pressuring Rashard Lewis off the three point stripe, forcing him to make moves and beat them from off the dribble.  Lewis is a borderline all-star player, and he has shown at certain points in his career that he can make those plays from the dribble, but versus a great defensive unit like the C’s it will be interesting to see how it plays out.

Matt Barnes was supposed to be the defensive stopper, but it looks as if back spasms are going to limit his play (he only played 22 minutes in the first game).  I  thought Barnes would be a problem, whether he  guarded Pierce or Allen to start.  Barnes started guarding Allen, and Allen showed that he can run even some of the best defensive players in the league ragged by piling up 25 points.  It will be interesting to see how Van Gundy adjusts to the Barnes injury, and how his team is affected from a defensive perspective.  While  Matt Barnes looks like he is much better suited to sell crack on Dorchester Ave in South Boston rather than be a reliable NBA player (sweet neck tattoos), when healthy he is a very serviceable defender.

Van Gundy failed to make the adjustments necessary to get his team over the hump in Game 1, and judging from how the game played out, I  wonder if Orlando can match up with Boston.  I know we have a long way to go in this series, but as Rasheed Wallace said after the game, “It looked like their butt holes tightened up.”  In order for the Magic to win, Magic studs Dwight Howard and Jameer Nelson will have to lead the way in Game 2.  If the Magic plan to tie this series up, they will need to get  out of a half court game, and speed up the tempo, while getting Dwight involved with some easy buckets early.  Howard and Nelson are at their best when they feed off each other, and when Howard doesn’t get involved early, he has a tendency to disappear from games.

Rivers’ game plan is working true to form, and if they can make Howard beat them from the line, while keep Lewis and Carter in check, Boston will dominate the series. Surprisingly, the Celtics won game 1 without a significant contribution on the offensive end from Rajon Rondo or Kevin Garnett.  You have to believe– with the way those two have been playing– that won’t happen again.  KG was missing open looks, but Rondo really seemed to struggle with having the man with the tiniest head in the NBA (Dwight Howard) waiting for him whenever he beat Nelson off the dribble.  I am curious to see how Rivers devises some  creative ways to get Rondo more involved.

Regardless, Game 2 is as close to a must-win game for the Magic as possible. As good as the Green are playing, they cannot afford to go back to Boston down 2-0.  The key will be how Stan Van Gundy plans to get Howard more touches close to the basket.  If that happens, Howard gets going, the crowd gets going, Nelson gets going, and so go the Magic.

With the way Boston played in game 1 it seemed to me that they were fed up with all the crap going on with ESPN/ABC.  The Celtics were sick of seeing bullshit puppet commercials featuring Lebron and Kobe, sick of seeing stupid halftime segments of Dwight Howard interviewing himself as Superman. Boston is a blue collar team that is peaking at the right time, and if they play Howard the way they did in Game 1, they will be looking at a 2-0 series lead.  My prediction: 99-92 Celts……and maybe Matt Barnes gets caught with a crack rock in the locker room (seriously, you can’t tell me that guy doesn’t do some illegal shit, its a rule, more than one neck tattoo, you are a scumbag, see Delonte West).

I can’t even begin to describe how much I’ve hated Tony Allen for years. I’ve wanted to strangle Doc Rivers for subbing him into games, then strangle Tony for how he played once he got subbed in. There wasn’t a three-point shooter Allen wouldn’t foul, nor an opponent to whom he wouldn’t turn the ball over.

Suddenly, he’s reformed. And this dunk on Antawn Jamison was special. Jamison has now had his first taste of Tony Allen’s ass.

Pierce came out of hibernation to outplay Lebron tonight.

Boston beat down Cleveland in a crucial Game 5, taking a 3-2 advantage in the series with a 120-88 victory. Boston led 50-44 at halftime after an ugly first half of basketball, in which LeBron James did not score a field goal and Game 4 hero Rajon Rondo went scoreless.

In the decisive third quarter, however, Rondo scored 14 points and Boston outscored Cleveland 30-19. After two quick Ray Allen three-pointers to start the second half put the Celtics up 12, the Cavaliers never threatened again.

LeBron James finished the game with only 15 points on 3/14 shooting and the Cavaliers combined to shoot just 41.2%. Shaquille O’Neal led Cleveland with 21 points and 4 blocks.

For the Celtics, Ray Allen’s hot shooting blazed the way– 6 of 9 on 3-point FG for 25 points-, followed by impressive performances from both Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett. Pierce broke out of a series long slump to score 21 points and grab 11 rebounds, while Kevin Garnett added 18 points and 6 rebounds despite sitting most of the fourth quarter. Glen Davis was huge off the bench ( no pun intended), connecting on two fourth quarter and-ones on his way to 15 points.

Boston’s Game 5 blowout victory shocked both the Cleveland Cavaliers and their fans into submission. It also put the Celtics on a possible collision path with Orlando in the Eastern Conference Finals.

One more win, Celtics.  One more win.

I don’t have much time for a preview, so just read my posts so far to see some of the most important aspects of tonight’s game and the series.

You don’t need me to tell you that stealing Game One, on the road, would be a huge step toward propelling Boston to a series victory.  I’m nervous, anxious, and excited about tonight, and I can only hope that Boston has enough to battle the Cavs and possibly take them down.

Just in case you don’t remember, this is what happened the last time Boston played Cleveland in the playoffs.

And if you need any other excuse to get hyped for Game One.

Its the playoffs.

After reading Scoop Jackson’s article on Kevin Garnett earlier today, I am fully entrenched in Scoop mode. That is something for which I will never apologize.

Scoop Jackson has always been one of the best. His words. Have soul. Periods, no lack. Confused? Read this. Artistry. Beauty. In writing. Picture says. One thousand words. No picture. His words. At his best.

Scoop Jackson. Misunderstood. Changed. ESPN. Love. Hate. Respect. Admire. Inspire. Basketball. Poetry. Words. Bleed meaning. Bleed love. Hope. Drama. Crash. Burn. Rise up. Phoenix. Not the city. Describe Garnett. Enlightened. Joyful. Wish it didn’t end.

Kevin Garnett hasn’t been himself. Old man. Old soul. Grinding season. Peaks. Valleys. Injury. Psychology. Fewer minutes. Lesser stats. Ray Allen, Garnett’s the same. “Ain’t nothing changed.” Garnett explains. “Playing on one leg.” Still productive. Not the same. Big numbers. No more. Big effort. Still there. Dragging a leg. Profanities. All the time. Rashard Lewis. Kris Humphries. Matt Bonner. Lateral movement, not so much. Decline of a legend. Build on a dream. Leg getting better.

Meet the rest of the Celtics. Starters. On them, nobody else. Paul Pierce. Up. Down. “Best shooter in the world.” “Best player in the world.” Self-proclaimed. Slump. Star. Needed. Nightly. Rondo. Seize the reigns. Go-to guy. Ready. Not sure. Free throw line. Three-point arc. Drive. Dish. Command. Lead. Ray Allen. Jesus Shuttlesworth. 51. Chicago Bulls. Houdini. Orlando Magic. J.J. Redick. Shut down. Playoff time. Crunch time. Sharp-shooter. Ice in veins. Perkins. All-star? Decline. Decent. Not great. Defensive stopper. Dwight Howard, you too. Layups. Keep ball up. Not down. Block shots. Frown. Scowl, more like. Always, scowl.

Bench. To support, not let down. Tony Allen. Improved. Defense. Turnovers. Calmed down. Foul, three-point shooter. Charge, fast break. Trust. No. Maybe never. Marquis Daniels. Sixth man. Point guard. Versatile. Necessary. Disappear. Disappoint. Underachieve. Splinters. Michael Finley. 37. Grandfather. AARP. Surprise. Splash. Swish. Buckets. Defense, maybe not. Nate Robinson. Immature. Gunner. Gun-shy. Rotation, no. Eddie House, miss you. Bill Walker, you too. Rasheed Wallace. Disaster. Bad influence. Weakside rotations, not Sheed. Ball don’t lie. Gut don’t either. Three-year contract. Head. Shoot. Gun, not basketball. Glen Davis. Big Baby, think not. Friend’s face, Glen’s fist. Broken bones, broken season. Salvaged, with hustle. Midrange jumper, not this year. Get blocked, too often. Shelden Williams looming. Scal, not so much. Gaffney, Lafayette. Unknown.

Doc Rivers. Retirement. Family. Extension. Season. Up. down. Frustration. Regret. Glory days, not now. Gary Washburn. Cliques in locker room, Doc says no. Danny Ainge. Rebuild. Stay intact. Big contracts. Tough to move. One trade. Three stars. One championship. So far. Probably ever. Maybe later. Not now. Maybe.

A city lacks hope. Boston. Worried. City, not team. Playoffs, they’re here. The switch. Maybe. Age. Old. Desire. Not there. First-round exit. Banner 18. Anywhere. Anytime. Road wins. Home losses. Beat Cavs. Lose to Nets. Blowouts. Both ways. Cavs. Magic. Hawks. Too fast. Too quick. Too good. Celtics. Washed up. Something to prove. Opportunity knocks. Rebounding drops. Turnovers rise. Losses. Bad losses. Embarrassment. Again. Again. Again.

But the playoffs have finally come. Dwyane Wade. Up first. 40 points. Per game. Nightmares. Double teams. No supporting cast. No chance. Beasley. Don’t scare me. Arroyo. Please. O’Neal. Corpse. Spoelstra. Yes. Wright. No. Haslem. Maybe.

Whispers. Shouts. Truth, not Pierce. Celtics. Too old. Washed up. Not enough. Transition necessary. Road warriors. Home bums. Inconsistent. Unable. Clinging to, thin hopes. ’95 Rockets. ’69 Celtics. Playoffs start. Second season. Win? Compete? Will find out. First-round exit, possible. Beat anyone. Or lose.

The dream. Still there. Flip the switch. Win the crown. Championship. Banner 18.  Parade. Floats. Confetti. T-Shirts. Hats. Rings. Champions. 2010. Euphoria

Pinch self. Wake up. Cold sweat. Reality. Nightmares. Not happening. I don’t think.

Still, maybe.