Orlando 86, Boston 79

I don't really know how to feel about this one.

[recap] [box score] [highlights]

It's hard to be too upset at this loss given the injuries we have. Kevin Garnett was out again -- word is that the absolute earliest he'll play is next Sunday -- and Rajon Rondo missed this one with the ankle injury he suffered but was able to play through against Cleveland on Friday. Tony Allen and Brian Scalabrine continue to miss time with various injuries, and Glen Davis went out in the second half of this game with a bad ankle.

At the same time, that shouldn't be an excuse for not showing up until the third quarter, which is basically what happened. Boston got down by as many as 22 before making a late run -- Ray Allen, who was spectacular in the fourth quarter, actually had a decent look from three that would have tied it -- and you just can't do that against a good team like Orlando. The energy that carried the day against the Cavs was completely absent for the first 24 minutes against the Magic. The second half was better, thanks in particular to Leon Powe, who played his second straight inspired game and really did the best he could despite having to guard Dwight Howard and Rashard Lewis -- two different matchup problems for him.

Stephon Marbury got the start in Rondo's stead and was largely ineffective. I like the move of starting him instead of Eddie House, even though House knows the offense better, just to get Marbury more comfortable. We need him to be more assertive on offense, a little more like the Marbury of old. He was too passive today. I think he's clearly worried about fitting in and conscious of disrupting championship chemistry, and he's been too unselfish in his first few games with the team. Boston didn't bring him in to pass up layups.

It's a delicate situation with Steph, because he's proven to be, shall we say, emotionally fragile, and the last thing you want is to send him a bunch of mixed messages. He's been reading and hearing about how he he's going to come in and destroy the Celtics, and for many reasons, he wants to avoid doing that. But the truth is, the Celtics need a little bit of his famously large ego, particularly with so many key players out. Marbury is capable of taking over offensively -- was capable, anyway, and I think still is -- and Doc Rivers needs to figure out a way to get him to do it, selectively.

So, while the loss was understandable, it's still frustrating, and the injury to Rondo comes at the worst possible time. If he misses any more time with KG out, we're in danger of losing games we "shouldn't" lose, which may very well mean that Friday's win, which seemed so important at the time for home court advantage purposes, may end up completely moot. Boston's next game is Wednesday at Miami, and while the Celtics are better than the Heat, it's a lot to ask to beat them on the road missing two starters and a handful of bench guys. But it may very well be that Boston will need to do exactly that, with no excuses.