Game 2: Boston Celtics 112, Orlando Magic 94

Rafer Alston and JJ Redick both finished the game on the bench, but probably showed the most emotion and intensity of any players on the team in a disheartening 112-94 loss in Game Two.

Both were victims to the fiery play of Eddie House. House finished with 31 points on 11-of-14 shooting and making all four of his 3-pointers, bringing out the worst in Alston and Redick.

Alston slapped House in the back of the head after he hit a 3-pointer that pretty much buried the Magic under the Celtics' third quarter onslaught that led to as much as a 26-point lead. Redick against got frustrated and was ejected after receiving a technical foul on a foul for House.

At least those two had some fight, because no one else on Orlando had the intensity to compete with a much more focused Boston team in a night where nothing could go right.

From the tip, it was clear this game was going to be much different than the Game One performance that saw the Magic build a 28-point lead and hold on for a five-point win.

Rajon Rondo was much more aggressive getting into the paint and Orlando's rotations were too slow or completely ineffective to do anything about it. Rondo recorded his third triple double of this postseason with 15 points, 11 rebounds and 18 assists. He almost had a triple double by halftime as it was clear he was going to dictate the tempo.

Unlike the beginning of Game One, Rondo was not getting trapped or forced into areas where the Magic could trap him and limit his options. He got where he wanted on the court. When that happens, the Celtics are almost impossible to beat.

Impossible enough that Paul Pierce played only 16 minutes thanks to early foul trouble in both the first and second halves. It was effectively a night off for Boston's best player.

Orlando could not take advantage of Pirece's absence -- and actually did better when Pierce was in thanks to the hot shooting of Eddie House and Ray Allen's re-emergence.

The Magic did a poor job keeping the ball moving and could not get any consistency on offense. The Celtics consistently bottled up Howard and forced him into tough shots fading away from the basket. They let Rafer Alston do what he wanted and he failed to convert or make the right pass.

More impressively, the Celtics forced Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu into tough areas to shoot and pass out of. It was a great defensive effort for the Celtics and the Magic simply could not solve it -- or did not want to.

The bottom line, is the series is tied. Orlando has home court advantage for this series now. It would have been foolish to think the Celtics could not get this game.

It is frustrating to see the Magic play so poorly. This lack of effort is becoming a nasty habit and IS a source of concern against a team with so much experience and so much poise under pressure.

This was a game where Boston was clearly the aggressor early. Orlando did not have its shots falling early -- even good looks -- and kind of packed it in.

The Magic have to learn that this feeling of being able to turn the switch on and off is unacceptable and ultimately will not work. Not this late in the postseason. When Orlando does have the effort the team knows it can compete and win this series.