Here's a shocker – no one on the Celtics wants to return to Cleveland. The mantra – Game 6 is really a Game 7. ESPN Boston's Chris Forsberg has more from today's practice:
Rivers said the key for Boston is to avoid focusing on how close they
are to advancing to the next round or becoming complacent with the
homecourt edge in Game 6. He's not even using last year's 3-2 collapse
against the Orlando Magic — the only one of 33 best-of-seven series the
Celtics have ever failed to win when leading after five games in
franchise history — as motivation to inspire his troops.
"I think [the media] will [point that out], I don’t think I have
to," said Rivers. "It doesn’t mater, this is not Orlando. This is
Cleveland. And we don’t have homecourt [advantage], as far as the whole
series goes [like last year].
"The bottom line is, all that stuff doesn't matter — it really
doesn't. At end of the day, you come out and focus on the process of
playing basketball. You can’t focus on anything that's happened before,
or anything that happens after. I don't even like hearing guys talk
about closing out. That doesn't do anything. You gotta play the game,
focus on the game of basketball. It's the only way to win this game."
are to advancing to the next round or becoming complacent with the
homecourt edge in Game 6. He's not even using last year's 3-2 collapse
against the Orlando Magic — the only one of 33 best-of-seven series the
Celtics have ever failed to win when leading after five games in
franchise history — as motivation to inspire his troops.
"I think [the media] will [point that out], I don’t think I have
to," said Rivers. "It doesn’t mater, this is not Orlando. This is
Cleveland. And we don’t have homecourt [advantage], as far as the whole
series goes [like last year].
"The bottom line is, all that stuff doesn't matter — it really
doesn't. At end of the day, you come out and focus on the process of
playing basketball. You can’t focus on anything that's happened before,
or anything that happens after. I don't even like hearing guys talk
about closing out. That doesn't do anything. You gotta play the game,
focus on the game of basketball. It's the only way to win this game."
Here's the latest on the schedule:
Regardless of Thursday's outcome, the Celtics' next game will be on
Sunday. If Boston prevails in Game 6 against Cleveland, the Celtics
would travel to Orlando for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals on
Sunday. If the Cavaliers ties the series with a triumph, the Celtics
will travel back to Cleveland for a deciding Game 7 on Sunday. Both
games are scheduled for 3:30 p.m. on ABC.
Sunday. If Boston prevails in Game 6 against Cleveland, the Celtics
would travel to Orlando for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals on
Sunday. If the Cavaliers ties the series with a triumph, the Celtics
will travel back to Cleveland for a deciding Game 7 on Sunday. Both
games are scheduled for 3:30 p.m. on ABC.
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