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		The Zulewski report By Tom Zulewski May 19, 2010

	Celtics can run with this: The Boston Celtics Paul Pierce has held down the Orlando Magic's Dwight Howard and it's been a great match in game two Pierce scored 28 points to Howard's 30. The Magic however came up short by three points and Pierce knew that that was a close call, "I know it's starting to look that way." said Pierce. Rajon Rondo scored 25 for the Celts in the 95-92 effort on Tuesday night, Rondo's efforts paid off and he's looking to get more. The Celts have been hurting all year but it looks like they have recovered just in time in post season and are just two games away from getting to the Finals. Boston head coach Doc Rivers says the team is taking to their starting of the year habits when things went well, as the Celts are going back to the Boston Garden for game number three, "I think we are becoming the team that started the season, the team that started the season was pretty good." said Rivers. Howard had himself a pretty good game two hitting for 30 points and got help from teammates Vince Carter and J.J. Redick who both scored 16 apiece for the Magic. The Magic gave it all they had but the Celts come through in the end, "I won't stop believing, and I won't let my teammates stop believing" answering a question about being two games down going back to Boston, "our fans won't let us relax, we're going to try to close it down in four games." said Pierce. The Magic's Carter took the loss hard but Howard telling the team not to stop believing maybe the last thing they can hang their basketball hats on for game three, "I don't take loses well, especially when you're on a team like this. They bring me into make plays and deliver in crunch time. For me to step up there and miss two free throws, regardless, this doesn't sit well with me." Game four is on Saturday night 4:30 PM PDT Sharks down 0-2 at United Center on Friday night: If you were in the Sharks dressing room after the game on Tuesday night you would have noted that to a man the players insisted that this series with the Blackhawks isn't over yet. The Sharks who were down as much as 4-1 in the third period of game two and things were not looking encouraging on the scoreboard were flat and not finishing plays enough to keep pace with the Hawks losing 4-2. The Sharks Dan Boyle says no one is giving up just yet after being down 0-2 and going back to Chicago Friday and Sunday for games three and four, "the good news everybody thinks were done and nothing would make me happier than to come back and disappoint everybody, I think that can bring a team together" said Boyle. What about the lines are they ready to take on the fierceness that the Hawks provide. The Blackhawks have stopped shots up the middle and protected the front their net and have pretty much stopped the Sharks defensively from getting the puck to the back of the net, third linesman Manny Malhorta says every line has to be ready especially in a series like this against the best team in hockey, "It's part of the game, I'm used to it by now. You've got to be patient but also ready." said Malhorta. Sharks head coach Todd McLellan insists that each player is responsible for keeping alert and making the plays during a line change that they see a play developing and it's up to them to finish those plays or pay the price, "its so intense right now, you're trying to find that edge, whether it's an extra foot or two on a line change. We've talked about it a lot in the locker room, being vocal on the bench, know who your going for. The player going onto the ice I believe is the one responsible. He's fresh. He can read the play from the bench. He's got to make a judgment call" said McLellan. Sharks and Hawks face off at United Center Friday night 5PM PDT Tom Zulewski files the report each week for Sportstalk radio