ESPN Boston's Chris Forsberg has some statistics for us to chew on:
on to win that series 95.8 percent of the time. Only eight teams have
come back from a 3-1 hole, but none (0-93) have come back from the 3-0
hole the Magic previously faced.
The Celtics are a mere 2-7 in first-chance closeout games during
the the Big Three era. The more encouraging news is that Boston is 5-1
in second-chance closeout games, the lone loss coming in Game 7 of last
year’s conference semifinal against the Magic.
The Magic became only the third team in NBA history to win Game 4
on the road after trailing 3-0 in a best-of-seven series. The two
previous teams — the 2005 Suns and 1969 76ers — both got eliminated on
their home turf in Game 5.
If Orlando prevails in Game 5, it would become only the 10th team
in NBA history to force a Game 6 after dropping the first three games of
a best-of-seven series (out of the 94 teams that have faced that
situation). The Magic would be the first team since the 2007 Bulls
forced a Game 6 against the Pistons in that year’s conference
semifinals.
History suggests the Celtics are primed to win Game 5. After
leading a best-of-seven series 3-0, the Celtics have swept four times
and won in five games seven other times. No series has ever advanced to a
Game 6.
All of those factoids favor the Celtics. Carry it out, boys.
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