Is game 3 a "must win" for the cavs

[Romanowski]

I normally hate the overused "must win" cliche

but this might be justified....can the cavs afford to lose game 3 in boston?

[Bisket]

nope, not a must win

[KDubSquared]

I don't think its a must win because Cavs have home court advantage in this series. I do think they need to steal one of these games in boston but I wouldn't consider them done if they don't get the next game. I find it funny how people overreact to every single game in these NBA playoffs... Cavs drop one in Cleveland so now people want to jump off the bandwagon and Magic beat Hawks by 50 and everyone wants to crown there asses.

[bigsportsguy2006]

AGREED, absolutely not a must win

[Romanowski]

Originally Posted by KDubSquared

Cavs have home court advantage in this series.

no they dont, there are potentiallly 5 games left and 3 will be played in boston, celtics stole home court

Originally Posted by KDubSquared

Cavs drop one in Cleveland so now people want to jump off the bandwagon and Magic beat Hawks by 50 and everyone wants to crown there asses.

the magic have been the best team in the nba (on paper) in terms of a power rater that takes both defensive and offensive efficiency since well before the playoffs began

sorry you werent aware

[Romanowski]

the cavs must win at least one of the next 2 in Boston, if they go down 3-1 they wont win 3 in a row

[KDubSquared]

Originally Posted by Romanowski

the magic have been the best team in the nba (on paper)

sorry you werent aware

I'm well aware that the Magic are paper champs lol

[Romanowski]

funny you mention that, no team is more of paper champs then the cavs

back to topic though, they really are better than the celtics, hope they can win in 7

[GFootsXtreme]

7 game series are all about ebb and flow and giving away games and getting up for games

There is no way the Cavs can go into game 3 with anything less than their best effort. The Celts will also go with their best effort because they want to maintain home court now.

This is a situational matchup where both teams will give it their all. Not an ideal situation to bet the Cavs, but imo it is a must-win if they have an interest in making it to the finals. They cannot go 7 games against the Celts and then have to face Orlando.

Best situation obv is when one team tries and the other doesn't. The next game is not one of those matchups (like Orlando was against Atlanta the other night).

[justdonating]

If the Cavs come out with anything less than a stellar effort they're in trouble. They can't afford to go down 2-1 to Boston. The Cavs can win in Boston, but game 3 is critical. Going down 2-1 would put a ton of pressure on them to be perfect in game 4. Sorry, but this team doesn't answer the bell when down in a series. Right now this series is tied 1-1, but reality is the Celts have more than enough "juice" to win this series. Cleveland is the better team, but except for the 2nd half of game #1 they haven't played like it.

[vonkaiser78]

Not a must must win, but a definately a needed win, but a -1 cavs line tells me that they ain't gonna take game 3 IMHO

[Romanowski]

pllease dont tell me you expected the cavs to be favored by more than 1 at most in boston

model im using shows boston -1.5/2 as an average "true" line in this series, and cavs -6 in clev

that line can deviate some but not much

[Romanowski]

wouldnt you know ...after reviewing my line service, celtics had 2 players either skip practice today or leave early

garnett and perkins, and that why cavs are even -1 instead of +1

[GFootsXtreme]

With that line this is a situation, imo, where you absolutely cannot back the Cavs.
The Cavs are playing away, and nothing about the Cavs playing away makes them the "favorite" imo against Boston.

yes, cleveland is angry they lost big time on their home court, and will come back firing big time.

But having to back cleveland to win outright on an away court against a team that proved them can beat them -- and give them a run twice -- is being stubborn imo. It is believing that records and hype are more important than actual results.

[mr sickems pickems]

losing game 3 can have 2 effects on teams.....either they wake up and start giving it everything or they think their talent will win them games. i believe the cavs to be a team that will wake up. i came in to this series saying its going 7 so definitely not a must win but game but game 4 YES for BOTH teams thanx guys gl