Post-season success in the NBA is often measured by a diligent bench. That was the case last night in Game 4 of the Finals between the Boston Celtics and L.A. Lakers. The Celtics evened the series at 2-2 Thursday after their reserves provided 21 fourth quarter points in a 96-89 home victory. The teams traded baskets throughout the first half, but L.A. faded and fizzled after the break to find themselves in a deadlocked series. Boston’s bench plucked away the Lakers’ two point edge heading into the final quarter, anchored by Glen Davis’ nine buckets. The reserve forward tallied 19 in the win and went 7-for-10 from the field. Nate Robinson added 12 points and a pair of assists in his 17 minutes of court time as the Celtics outlasted and out-rebounded their purple-and-gold opponents.
Kobe Bryant led all scorers with 33 points, including 6-of-11 beyond the arc. He also endured seven turnovers and received little help from teammates other than Pau Gasol. Gasol reeled off 21 points in the loss but also collected four of L.A.’s 15 turnovers. The Lakers held a 45-42 advantage at halftime thanks to their veteran duo, but everything came undone in the second half. The Lakers allowed 36 fourth quarter points while managing to put up just 17 in the third quarter. Boston’s Paul Pierce had 19 points and Kevin Garnett provided 13 as the Lakers couldn’t keep the Celtics off the board. Bryant’s trey with just over a minute in the third gave the Lakers a 62-58 lead before Davis’ putback pulled the Celtics within a basket. Davis followed by charging down the middle for seven points in a four minute fourth quarter span.
Lamar Odom was ineffective in replacing starting L.A. center, Andrew Bynum. Bynum lasted 11 minutes before exiting the game in the first half. Odom’s defense was dismal and L.A. failed to prevent Robinson and Davis from taking over the final quarter. The Celtics’ scoring binge evaporated the Lakers’ lead. Boston’s bench outscored L.A.’s by double and pummeled the visitors in the paint. Odom recorded ten points off the bench as one of three Lakers to score in double figures. Odom was otherwise, awful. He was schooled by Davis in the second half as Boston slammed the door shut. Ron Artest put up a nine spot and dished out nine rebounds for a Lakers’ high. Boston did a tremendous job finding Davis to give the 6’9” power forward open looks. The Lakers looked fatigue down the stretch in what has become a roller coaster series between the storied franchises. Boston needed last night’s game the most, and Sunday’s Game 5 at home appears another must-win if they expect to win the Finals. Bynum is optimistic about playing Game 5 despite a torn right knee ailment. The Lakers need their strong center to strut his stuff and keep in contention with the Celtics.
Parting Points: What a strange walk-off win for Milwaukee over the Cubbies.
It looks like Nebraska is headed to the Big 10.
Angry female rock pop song of the day- Kelly Clarkson’s “Since You’ve Been Gone”
Showing posts with label Boston Celtics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Boston Celtics. Show all posts
Friday, June 11, 2010
Monday, June 7, 2010
Celtics Clip Champs
Boston buried the L.A. Lakers 103-94 Sunday to even the NBA Finals at one game apiece before the series heads back to Beantown. The Celtics’ Rajon Rondo recorded a triple-double and Ray Allen made an NBA Finals high eight 3-pointers in the Game 2 win. The defending champion Lakers were handed their first home loss of the post-season as Pau Gasol’s 25 points were wasted. Kobe Bryant picked up his fifth foul of the evening during the fourth quarter and finished with a fistful of turnovers. The Celtics snapped a streak and leveled the series in what should be a tight Finals.
Bryant and Andrew Bynum collected 21 points each in defeat but Boston’s big, dynamic guards battered the Lakers throughout the game. Allen notched seven treys in the first half alone and knotted an eighth in the third quarter to break the NBA record. Rondo’s offensive rebounding overwhelmed Phil Jackson’s squad. Los Angeles’ presence up front couldn’t contain sharpshooting Rondo and Allen, whose hustle and vivacity were visible in Game 2. The physical game featured 29 fouls by each team for a combined total of 59. L.A.’s Rashard Wallace was charged with his third personal foul in the second quarter. Glen David and Kevin Garnett did likewise for Boston. There were six lead changes in the first quarter, but Boston held the advantage from late in the first quarter to midway in the third. Allen went 11-for-20 from the field to finish with a game high 32 points. Rondo grabbed 12 rebounds in a 19 point affair, while leading all players with 10 assists. The explosive point guard carried the Celtics in the second half after Allen cooled down a bit. The Celtics clogged the paint with 36 points, ten more than their opponents. Boston peppered the perimeter and drained their free throws during the first half. The Lakers answered late in the second quarter by trimming the lead to nine and going down low to Gasol and Bynum.
Boston watched their lead fall to six points seconds before halftime after Bryant connected from downtown. The Lakers outscored Boston24-18 in the third quarter and tied the game at 72-72 headed into the final session. Los Angeles benefited from 41 free-throw attempts but were sorely beaten down the stretch without Bryant. Nate Robinson boosted Boston off the bench with seven points in the fourth quarter during a six minute stretch. Garnett helped push the Celtics’ lead with a late three at the 2:40 mark. Garnett completed the night with six points, four rebounds and four assists. Rondo was successful on all shots in the final six minutes of the game to silence the Staples Center crowd. Lamar Odom logged less than 15 minutes for the Lakers and had more fouls than points. Los Angeles’ outside shooting was not good enough. Ron Artest played solid in defending Paul Pierce but went just one-for –ten on offense. Game 3 of this even series is Tuesday night in Boston.
Parting Points: It’s not too surprising Rafael Nadal won his fifth French Open.
Bryant and Andrew Bynum collected 21 points each in defeat but Boston’s big, dynamic guards battered the Lakers throughout the game. Allen notched seven treys in the first half alone and knotted an eighth in the third quarter to break the NBA record. Rondo’s offensive rebounding overwhelmed Phil Jackson’s squad. Los Angeles’ presence up front couldn’t contain sharpshooting Rondo and Allen, whose hustle and vivacity were visible in Game 2. The physical game featured 29 fouls by each team for a combined total of 59. L.A.’s Rashard Wallace was charged with his third personal foul in the second quarter. Glen David and Kevin Garnett did likewise for Boston. There were six lead changes in the first quarter, but Boston held the advantage from late in the first quarter to midway in the third. Allen went 11-for-20 from the field to finish with a game high 32 points. Rondo grabbed 12 rebounds in a 19 point affair, while leading all players with 10 assists. The explosive point guard carried the Celtics in the second half after Allen cooled down a bit. The Celtics clogged the paint with 36 points, ten more than their opponents. Boston peppered the perimeter and drained their free throws during the first half. The Lakers answered late in the second quarter by trimming the lead to nine and going down low to Gasol and Bynum.
Boston watched their lead fall to six points seconds before halftime after Bryant connected from downtown. The Lakers outscored Boston24-18 in the third quarter and tied the game at 72-72 headed into the final session. Los Angeles benefited from 41 free-throw attempts but were sorely beaten down the stretch without Bryant. Nate Robinson boosted Boston off the bench with seven points in the fourth quarter during a six minute stretch. Garnett helped push the Celtics’ lead with a late three at the 2:40 mark. Garnett completed the night with six points, four rebounds and four assists. Rondo was successful on all shots in the final six minutes of the game to silence the Staples Center crowd. Lamar Odom logged less than 15 minutes for the Lakers and had more fouls than points. Los Angeles’ outside shooting was not good enough. Ron Artest played solid in defending Paul Pierce but went just one-for –ten on offense. Game 3 of this even series is Tuesday night in Boston.
Parting Points: It’s not too surprising Rafael Nadal won his fifth French Open.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Celtics Crush Conference
The big, bad blazing Boston Celtics knocked the Orlando Magic out 96-84 in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals Friday at TD Garden. Boston advances to the NBA championship series, where they patiently wait the winner of the Western series between L.A. and Phoenix. The Celtics charged out to an early lead in Friday’s clincher on their way to a second NBA finals appearance in three seasons. Boston’s Paul Pierce outshined Orlando’s Dwight Howard with 31 points and 12 rebounds, and banked 4-of-5 3-pointers. Pierce, the eight time All-Star, collected nine points from the free throw line. Howard finished with 28 points and a dozen boards, while failing to take a shot from beyond the arc.
Rajon Rondo logged 35 minutes for the home team. He set the tone by driving home 12 of his 14 points in the first quarter and picked up a game high six assists along the way. Boston carved up the Magic 30-19 in the opening quarter after Orlando’s Jameer Nelson tied the game at 14-14. Nelson committed five turnovers for the sloppy Magic and scored 11 points. The Magic hardly challenged the inspired Celtics the rest of the contest. Boston blossomed their advantage to 55-42 at the half. J.J. Redick had three blocked shots for the visitors, but was held in check most of the night. Redick scored seven points in 23 minutes, the same amount as Orlando’s Rashard Lewis in half the time.
Ray Allen added 20 points, knifing his way through Orlando’s defense and sinking three from downtown in the Boston triumph. Allen exploded in the third quarter with ten of the Celtic’s 27 points. Boston’s Kevin Garnett shot 50% from the field and also scored in double figures, with 10. Orlando’s off-season acquisition, veteran Vince Carter, had 17 points as his dreams for a championship were nixed in his hometown. Carter ignited the Magic to highlight a mini-run in the second quarter as Orlando trimmed the Boston lead to 14 points. But it was Boston’s bench that answered with a promenading and pulverizing performance. Backup point guard, Nate Robinson, threw up 13 points in the second quarter to increase the Celtics’ point margin.
Boston knotted 11 of the first 13 points in the third quarter to continue their scoring prowess. Stan Van Gundy’s mediocre Magic were out-rebounded 56-44 and shot just 59% from the line. Orlando’s 20 fast-break points allowed didn’t help either. Boston’s offense broke down the Magic with a firm presentation. Kendrick Perkins delivered his only bucket, a smooth 14-footer from the baseline with one and a half minutes left in regulation to all but seal the deal for the composed Celtics.
Parting Points: Song of the day- “The Impression That I Get” by the Mighty Mighty Bosstones
A well-pitched game from Matt Cain yesterday against Arizona. It’s about time his name came up this season.
Patrick Crayton asked for an immediate release from the Cowboys. Yawn…
Rajon Rondo logged 35 minutes for the home team. He set the tone by driving home 12 of his 14 points in the first quarter and picked up a game high six assists along the way. Boston carved up the Magic 30-19 in the opening quarter after Orlando’s Jameer Nelson tied the game at 14-14. Nelson committed five turnovers for the sloppy Magic and scored 11 points. The Magic hardly challenged the inspired Celtics the rest of the contest. Boston blossomed their advantage to 55-42 at the half. J.J. Redick had three blocked shots for the visitors, but was held in check most of the night. Redick scored seven points in 23 minutes, the same amount as Orlando’s Rashard Lewis in half the time.
Ray Allen added 20 points, knifing his way through Orlando’s defense and sinking three from downtown in the Boston triumph. Allen exploded in the third quarter with ten of the Celtic’s 27 points. Boston’s Kevin Garnett shot 50% from the field and also scored in double figures, with 10. Orlando’s off-season acquisition, veteran Vince Carter, had 17 points as his dreams for a championship were nixed in his hometown. Carter ignited the Magic to highlight a mini-run in the second quarter as Orlando trimmed the Boston lead to 14 points. But it was Boston’s bench that answered with a promenading and pulverizing performance. Backup point guard, Nate Robinson, threw up 13 points in the second quarter to increase the Celtics’ point margin.
Boston knotted 11 of the first 13 points in the third quarter to continue their scoring prowess. Stan Van Gundy’s mediocre Magic were out-rebounded 56-44 and shot just 59% from the line. Orlando’s 20 fast-break points allowed didn’t help either. Boston’s offense broke down the Magic with a firm presentation. Kendrick Perkins delivered his only bucket, a smooth 14-footer from the baseline with one and a half minutes left in regulation to all but seal the deal for the composed Celtics.
Parting Points: Song of the day- “The Impression That I Get” by the Mighty Mighty Bosstones
A well-pitched game from Matt Cain yesterday against Arizona. It’s about time his name came up this season.
Patrick Crayton asked for an immediate release from the Cowboys. Yawn…
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Thursday Take-Twos (The Howard Edition)
Either the Celtics are running out of steam, or the Magic finally found their engine. The NBA’s Eastern Conference Finals is 3-2 in favor of Boston after Orlando shortened the gap on the Celtics’ three game lead Wednesday in Florida’s Amway Arena. The Magic incredibly have a plausible chance to winning the series. However, no team in NBA history has ever overcome a 0-3 deficit to win a seven game series. Dwight Howard and guard, Jameer Nelson, combined for 52 of the Magic’s 113 points in a 21 point Game 5 victory. Ironically, Orlando also shot 52% from downtown last night. The series heads to a pressure-packed Boston Friday, where the home Celtics could possibly be without Kendrick Perkins. The starting center for Boston was lost in the second period last night after picking up a technical foul, his seventh of the post-season. The league issues mandatory suspensions for exceeding the foul limit. The inundated Celtics also played without Glen Davis for the final quarter after Big Baby took a Howard elbow to the mouth and lost a tooth.
Orlando showed a bit of punch in a physical game, parading out to a 51-37 second quarter edge. J.J. Redick burst off the bench to give the Magic a much needed boost. The former Duke standout tallied 14 points to add to Orlando’s frenetic pace. Boston trailed 57-49 at the break. The Celtics couldn’t sustain a solid 3-point defense against the Florida hot hands. Nelson was 4-for-5 from the arc and Matt Barnes added three from the rainbow. Howard grabbed 10 rebounds and clamped down on the Celtics with five blocked shots. Superman stood on his platform as the team’s cornerstone Wednesday two days after the Magic stole an overtime Game 4 in Boston.
The Magic had an answer to every Celtics’ charge even when Boston trimmed their lead in the third quarter. Shooting guard, Vince Carter, struggled for the Magic but Rashard Lewis stepped up in the fourth quarter to lift the hosts to a second straight win. Lewis rattled off five consecutive buckets in the final period and finished with 14. Boston basketed just 17 points in the final quarter. Rasheed Wallace led the way with 21 points, followed by Rajon Rondo’s 17 for Boston. Ray Allen had a game high seven assists, but it wasn’t enough to send the Celtics to the NBA championship series. Allen and company have two more chances to put away this series.
Everyone has heard of Dwight Howard. Tim Howard? Maybe not so much. Tim Howard is one of three goalies named to the 23-man U.S. World Cup roster, finalize yesterday by Coach Bob Bradley. I decided to check into the number one goaltender who will try to lead our country to a soccer title this summer. Howard is a 31 year old Everton, England star. The six year veteran of England’s Barclay Premier League is not the oldest goalkeeper on the team, by the way. The American is expected to be one of the core leaders for Bradley’s U.S. squad next month. Many consider him in the top ten talent-wise for glovemen in the world. Howard was born in North Brunswick, New Jersey (one of three Jersey born on the team) and has occupied the number one position for the U.S. since 2006. He is a FIFA Gold Glove and U.S. Soccer Male Athlete of the Year winner. Howard was also on the fourth place U.S. Olympic team that competed in Sydney in 2000. Bradley is banking on a bolder, better finish in South Africa with Howard in net again.
Philadelphia’s Ryan Howard is arguably close to the most-feared slugger in the National League (behind Albert Pujols). You wouldn’t have known it last night, as Howard was fanned twice and went 0-for-4 at the plate against the Mets. The MVP first baseman has seen his batting average dip below the .300 mark and he continues to leave runners on base. Would it make sense to move Howard from the clean-up slot? I think Charlie Manuel needs to insert some challenge into his struggling infielder’s head. He’s had four hits in his last 18 at-bats, and has struck out at least one time in all six of those games. Howard has eight dingers on the season, but hasn’t registered a multi-homer game yet. The Phillies’ first baseman had his best game on May 17th, where he drove in six runs in five plate appearances against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Yes, the same Bucs who have had something close to 17 straight losing seasons. It’s time for Ryan Howard to step up to the plate and dish out hits. Philadelphia relies on his bat, just as the Orlando Magic depend on Dwight and U.S. Soccer will soon look to Tim for the answers.
Parting Points: “I thought what I felt was simple, and I thought that I don’t belong”- Lisa Loeb
Is it just me or is there absolutely no buzz around the French Open this year?
Orlando showed a bit of punch in a physical game, parading out to a 51-37 second quarter edge. J.J. Redick burst off the bench to give the Magic a much needed boost. The former Duke standout tallied 14 points to add to Orlando’s frenetic pace. Boston trailed 57-49 at the break. The Celtics couldn’t sustain a solid 3-point defense against the Florida hot hands. Nelson was 4-for-5 from the arc and Matt Barnes added three from the rainbow. Howard grabbed 10 rebounds and clamped down on the Celtics with five blocked shots. Superman stood on his platform as the team’s cornerstone Wednesday two days after the Magic stole an overtime Game 4 in Boston.
The Magic had an answer to every Celtics’ charge even when Boston trimmed their lead in the third quarter. Shooting guard, Vince Carter, struggled for the Magic but Rashard Lewis stepped up in the fourth quarter to lift the hosts to a second straight win. Lewis rattled off five consecutive buckets in the final period and finished with 14. Boston basketed just 17 points in the final quarter. Rasheed Wallace led the way with 21 points, followed by Rajon Rondo’s 17 for Boston. Ray Allen had a game high seven assists, but it wasn’t enough to send the Celtics to the NBA championship series. Allen and company have two more chances to put away this series.
Everyone has heard of Dwight Howard. Tim Howard? Maybe not so much. Tim Howard is one of three goalies named to the 23-man U.S. World Cup roster, finalize yesterday by Coach Bob Bradley. I decided to check into the number one goaltender who will try to lead our country to a soccer title this summer. Howard is a 31 year old Everton, England star. The six year veteran of England’s Barclay Premier League is not the oldest goalkeeper on the team, by the way. The American is expected to be one of the core leaders for Bradley’s U.S. squad next month. Many consider him in the top ten talent-wise for glovemen in the world. Howard was born in North Brunswick, New Jersey (one of three Jersey born on the team) and has occupied the number one position for the U.S. since 2006. He is a FIFA Gold Glove and U.S. Soccer Male Athlete of the Year winner. Howard was also on the fourth place U.S. Olympic team that competed in Sydney in 2000. Bradley is banking on a bolder, better finish in South Africa with Howard in net again.
Philadelphia’s Ryan Howard is arguably close to the most-feared slugger in the National League (behind Albert Pujols). You wouldn’t have known it last night, as Howard was fanned twice and went 0-for-4 at the plate against the Mets. The MVP first baseman has seen his batting average dip below the .300 mark and he continues to leave runners on base. Would it make sense to move Howard from the clean-up slot? I think Charlie Manuel needs to insert some challenge into his struggling infielder’s head. He’s had four hits in his last 18 at-bats, and has struck out at least one time in all six of those games. Howard has eight dingers on the season, but hasn’t registered a multi-homer game yet. The Phillies’ first baseman had his best game on May 17th, where he drove in six runs in five plate appearances against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Yes, the same Bucs who have had something close to 17 straight losing seasons. It’s time for Ryan Howard to step up to the plate and dish out hits. Philadelphia relies on his bat, just as the Orlando Magic depend on Dwight and U.S. Soccer will soon look to Tim for the answers.
Parting Points: “I thought what I felt was simple, and I thought that I don’t belong”- Lisa Loeb
Is it just me or is there absolutely no buzz around the French Open this year?
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Owning Orlando
Unless you’re an extreme optimist or really do believe in magic, chances are you have the Boston Celtics in this year’s NBA Finals. The Orlando Magic are in a 3-0 hole and Boston is just one victory away from their second trip to the finals in two seasons. The Celtics can punch their championship tickets Monday night in Boston with a win in game four of the seven game series. Saturday, the Celtics coasted to a 95-71 pasting of mistake-prone Magic. After ripping off eight riveting playoff contests, the Magic have gone cold, dropping three straight. Their chances of coming back to take the Eastern Conference are slim to none with the way Doc Rivers’ Celtics are dazzling.
The Celtics opened the game 14-0 to steal the stage from the Beantown tipoff. Boston cruised to a 20-5 uncontested run in taking a 27-12 first quarter lead at TD Garden. The Celtics completely dominated Orlando with championship-style defense. Boston forced 11 Magic turnovers in the first half and smothered their Easter n rivals with 51.2% shooting. The Celtics’ offense dished out 14 assists before the intermission and saw six players finish in double digits by the end of the game. Glen Davis led the balanced Boston shooters with 17 points off the bench. Paul Pierce recorded 15 points and nine rebounds and Rajon Rondo ruled the show in assists, with 12. Ray Allen and Rasheed Wallace also contributed with aggressive numbers. Allen had six assists and 14 points, while Wallace whipped Orlando from beyond the arc with pair of treys off the bench. Wallace notched 10 points as the hungry Celtics won without their injured swift shooter, Kevin Garnett.
The defending Eastern Conference champion Magic were propelled by Jameer Nelson and Vince Carter on offense. The 28 year old Nelson was 3-of-9 from downtown and tallied 15 points. Carter also bucketed 15 in the loss. Dwight Howard virtually vanished and was a nonfactor for the Magic. The 6’11” Howard had a team high seven rebounds but managed just seven baskets. The Magic shot over 83% from the charity stripe but were continually outhustled down the court and beaten in the paint. Rashard Lewis went 2-for-8 from the field and scored a disappointing four points. Lewis missed all four 3-point attempts. Orlando found themselves down by 28 points in the third quarter and trailed by as many as 32 at one point in the final session. Davis provided the energetic spark for Boston and Orlando couldn’t match his celebrated athleticism. The Celtics out-rebounded their opponents 43-36 and were colossal in converting from long range. They annexed a ridiculous 12 steals and made the Magic look miserable in handling the basketball. Orlando never led during the lopsided game three affair as their front court couldn’t put anything together.
Parting Points: Sad song of the day - “It’s For You”- The Fray
Let the French Open begin!
The Celtics opened the game 14-0 to steal the stage from the Beantown tipoff. Boston cruised to a 20-5 uncontested run in taking a 27-12 first quarter lead at TD Garden. The Celtics completely dominated Orlando with championship-style defense. Boston forced 11 Magic turnovers in the first half and smothered their Easter n rivals with 51.2% shooting. The Celtics’ offense dished out 14 assists before the intermission and saw six players finish in double digits by the end of the game. Glen Davis led the balanced Boston shooters with 17 points off the bench. Paul Pierce recorded 15 points and nine rebounds and Rajon Rondo ruled the show in assists, with 12. Ray Allen and Rasheed Wallace also contributed with aggressive numbers. Allen had six assists and 14 points, while Wallace whipped Orlando from beyond the arc with pair of treys off the bench. Wallace notched 10 points as the hungry Celtics won without their injured swift shooter, Kevin Garnett.
The defending Eastern Conference champion Magic were propelled by Jameer Nelson and Vince Carter on offense. The 28 year old Nelson was 3-of-9 from downtown and tallied 15 points. Carter also bucketed 15 in the loss. Dwight Howard virtually vanished and was a nonfactor for the Magic. The 6’11” Howard had a team high seven rebounds but managed just seven baskets. The Magic shot over 83% from the charity stripe but were continually outhustled down the court and beaten in the paint. Rashard Lewis went 2-for-8 from the field and scored a disappointing four points. Lewis missed all four 3-point attempts. Orlando found themselves down by 28 points in the third quarter and trailed by as many as 32 at one point in the final session. Davis provided the energetic spark for Boston and Orlando couldn’t match his celebrated athleticism. The Celtics out-rebounded their opponents 43-36 and were colossal in converting from long range. They annexed a ridiculous 12 steals and made the Magic look miserable in handling the basketball. Orlando never led during the lopsided game three affair as their front court couldn’t put anything together.
Parting Points: Sad song of the day - “It’s For You”- The Fray
Let the French Open begin!
Friday, May 14, 2010
Bowing in Boston
Kevin Garnett turned in 22 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Boston Celtics past the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Boston eliminated the number one seed 94-85 at TD Garden Thursday night to move on to the conference finals. Two-time MVP, LeBron James, recorded his sixth career playoff triple-double in what could be his final game as a Cavalier. James finished with a game high 27 points and added 19 rebounds and 10 assists in the loss. The Cavs were ultimately doomed by turnovers, including nine by James. Despite Cleveland’s bounce back effort from Tuesday’s trouncing and their aggressiveness, the Cavs’ season fell short of the finals for the second straight year. Boston staved off the top seed and will face the Orlando Magic for a chance to return to the championship game for the first time since 2008. The Magic will have home court advantage because they are seeded second.
Cleveland showed a credible spirit and James set the tone early in the contest. Still, the Celtics held the Cavs under 90 points for the third straight game. Mike Brown’s team shot just 38% and James was successful on 8-of-21 from the floor. The soon-to-be free agent, James, may have been crippled by an injured elbow, but he still resembled the25 year old league MVP with nifty dunks, leg pumping jumper and backdoor darts to the basket. Garnett was strong in the post for Boston as the previously injury-plagued Celtics delivered a post-season performance to remember. Boston’s Big Three tandem of Garnett, Paul Peirce and Ray Allen combined for 43 points. It was Rondo and Garnett sparking the Celtics after the intermission, in which Boston held a 51-49 edge. Garnett landed his third double-double of the series.
The Cavaliers stayed close for two quarters but the cohesive Celtics began pulling away in the third. Boston outscored Cleveland by seven in the pivotal third, charging the net with fast-break points. Cleveland’s 24 turnovers were too much to overcome and Boston capitalized with 27 points. Rondo snagged 12 rebounds and had 21 points, and Peirce plowed through Cleveland defenders for 13 points. Peirce’s 3-pointer with four minutes in the third put the Celtics up 65-58, giving the hosts some breathing room. Boston completed a 16-4 run before the start of the fourth quarter as the Cavs went to their bench for help. Boston’s bench was much deeper as Rasheed Wallace and Tony Allen combined for 23 points. Wallace knocked down a trey and Allen picked up a steal in the final five minutes of regulation with the Cavs trailing 88-74.
Mo Williams, who lifted the Cavs with 20 points during the first half, was ineffective in the second half. Shaquille O’Neal contributed 11 buckets in 24 minutes for visiting Cleveland and Anderson Varejao struggled offensively despite grabbing seven boards. It was the veteran Celtics’ forward stealing the show Thursday. Garnett was 11-of-19 from the field with key offensive rebounds. He was too tall and silky for the Cavaliers’ Antwan Jamison. Jamison went just 2-of-20 shooting against the clamped down Boston big men.
James is eligible to opt out of his contract this offseason. It’s been another upsetting end for the Ohio native and city that hasn’t had a championship team since 1964. Boston gained the 4-2 series victory after reeling off three consecutive wins. The Cavs clearly allowed the Celtics back into the series. Credit Boston for shooting and distributing the ball well, and for playing outstanding defense.
Parting Points: Friday Firings Update- The Hawks dismissed Mike Woodson and the Royals let go of Trey Hillman.
Cleveland showed a credible spirit and James set the tone early in the contest. Still, the Celtics held the Cavs under 90 points for the third straight game. Mike Brown’s team shot just 38% and James was successful on 8-of-21 from the floor. The soon-to-be free agent, James, may have been crippled by an injured elbow, but he still resembled the25 year old league MVP with nifty dunks, leg pumping jumper and backdoor darts to the basket. Garnett was strong in the post for Boston as the previously injury-plagued Celtics delivered a post-season performance to remember. Boston’s Big Three tandem of Garnett, Paul Peirce and Ray Allen combined for 43 points. It was Rondo and Garnett sparking the Celtics after the intermission, in which Boston held a 51-49 edge. Garnett landed his third double-double of the series.
The Cavaliers stayed close for two quarters but the cohesive Celtics began pulling away in the third. Boston outscored Cleveland by seven in the pivotal third, charging the net with fast-break points. Cleveland’s 24 turnovers were too much to overcome and Boston capitalized with 27 points. Rondo snagged 12 rebounds and had 21 points, and Peirce plowed through Cleveland defenders for 13 points. Peirce’s 3-pointer with four minutes in the third put the Celtics up 65-58, giving the hosts some breathing room. Boston completed a 16-4 run before the start of the fourth quarter as the Cavs went to their bench for help. Boston’s bench was much deeper as Rasheed Wallace and Tony Allen combined for 23 points. Wallace knocked down a trey and Allen picked up a steal in the final five minutes of regulation with the Cavs trailing 88-74.
Mo Williams, who lifted the Cavs with 20 points during the first half, was ineffective in the second half. Shaquille O’Neal contributed 11 buckets in 24 minutes for visiting Cleveland and Anderson Varejao struggled offensively despite grabbing seven boards. It was the veteran Celtics’ forward stealing the show Thursday. Garnett was 11-of-19 from the field with key offensive rebounds. He was too tall and silky for the Cavaliers’ Antwan Jamison. Jamison went just 2-of-20 shooting against the clamped down Boston big men.
James is eligible to opt out of his contract this offseason. It’s been another upsetting end for the Ohio native and city that hasn’t had a championship team since 1964. Boston gained the 4-2 series victory after reeling off three consecutive wins. The Cavs clearly allowed the Celtics back into the series. Credit Boston for shooting and distributing the ball well, and for playing outstanding defense.
Parting Points: Friday Firings Update- The Hawks dismissed Mike Woodson and the Royals let go of Trey Hillman.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Beaten Boston
The good news for Boston area sports enthusiasts was that the idle Patriots didn’t lose. The bad news: the Celtics, Bruins and Red Sox all lost Friday night. The BoSox were clobbered at Fenway Park by their New York archrivals 10-3 and the Bruins dropped an overtime game on the road in Philadelphia. But perhaps the most emphatic trumping occurred at Boston’s TD Garden, where the hometown Celtics allowed LeBron James and the Cavaliers to blow them out of the arena in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. James recorded 38 points as Cleveland topped the Celtics 124-95. The trio of Beantown losses is certainly blistering for the city’s fans. Another certainty stemming from Friday is the Celtics’ worst home defeat in playoff history. The Cavs have control of the series with a 2-1 edge.
James jammed 21 points in the first quarter for the new franchise post-season record. The MVP added eight assists, seven rebounds and a pair of blocks to his Game 3 stat sheet. He showed little signs of an ailing elbow that dominated the talk of the three day Cleveland layoff. Instead, he finished with an historical night and helped to salvage a split at TD Garden for the Cavs. Antawn James contributed 20 points and 12 boards for Cleveland but it was the other James who engineered the victory. LeBron bucketed 8-of-10 shots in the pivotal first quarter as the Cavs outscored the Celtics 36-17. James’ statement scoring spree in the opening quarter was followed up by more soft jumpers and aggressive drives to close out the half. Boston’s Paul Pierce missed his first six shots and the Celtics’ offense was frozen from the tipoff. The former Kansas guard didn’t find the basket until midway through the second quarter. By that time, the Cavs led by as many as 24 points. Pierce finished with 11 points, shooting 4-for-15. James attacked the Boston defense early and the game never really was a close contest. He was the tone setter for the top seed Friday night. Five Cavs scored in double figures, energized by the best player on the court. James operated as the dynamic force paving the way for a pulverizing performance.
Kevin Garnett sparked the home team with 19 points in 31 minutes on the hardwood. Garnett tried to outhustle Jamison, but instead was frustrated and held to just one assist. Ray Allen was just 2-of-9 from the field with 7 points on the night. Boston’s Big Three (Garnett, Pierce and Allen) were a collective 2-for-10 in the first quarter as the Celtics fell into a 36-17 hole. Rajon Rondo lit a fuse on the floor for Boston with a solid 18 point effort. Rondo was still limited by the Cavs’ feisty defense, notably Anthony Parker. Parker applied full court pressure and stretched the floor as the Celtics often found themselves without open looks and whistled for fouls. Shaquille O’Neal drained 12 points and 9 rebounds and Delonte West knotted 14 points while going perfect from the line. Guard Mo Williams drilled 12 points in the win. The Celtics were just 4-of-17 from long range and managed 43% from the field. Even their size advantage wasn’t advantageous for a beaten Boston. They were overwhelmingly outrebounded 45-30 and had a hard time leaving an impression in the paint. Cleveland stampeded the paint, posting 50 points inside. The resilient Cavs never trailed by less than 20 points after halftime.
Parting Points: What a dreary and rainy Saturday…
James jammed 21 points in the first quarter for the new franchise post-season record. The MVP added eight assists, seven rebounds and a pair of blocks to his Game 3 stat sheet. He showed little signs of an ailing elbow that dominated the talk of the three day Cleveland layoff. Instead, he finished with an historical night and helped to salvage a split at TD Garden for the Cavs. Antawn James contributed 20 points and 12 boards for Cleveland but it was the other James who engineered the victory. LeBron bucketed 8-of-10 shots in the pivotal first quarter as the Cavs outscored the Celtics 36-17. James’ statement scoring spree in the opening quarter was followed up by more soft jumpers and aggressive drives to close out the half. Boston’s Paul Pierce missed his first six shots and the Celtics’ offense was frozen from the tipoff. The former Kansas guard didn’t find the basket until midway through the second quarter. By that time, the Cavs led by as many as 24 points. Pierce finished with 11 points, shooting 4-for-15. James attacked the Boston defense early and the game never really was a close contest. He was the tone setter for the top seed Friday night. Five Cavs scored in double figures, energized by the best player on the court. James operated as the dynamic force paving the way for a pulverizing performance.
Kevin Garnett sparked the home team with 19 points in 31 minutes on the hardwood. Garnett tried to outhustle Jamison, but instead was frustrated and held to just one assist. Ray Allen was just 2-of-9 from the field with 7 points on the night. Boston’s Big Three (Garnett, Pierce and Allen) were a collective 2-for-10 in the first quarter as the Celtics fell into a 36-17 hole. Rajon Rondo lit a fuse on the floor for Boston with a solid 18 point effort. Rondo was still limited by the Cavs’ feisty defense, notably Anthony Parker. Parker applied full court pressure and stretched the floor as the Celtics often found themselves without open looks and whistled for fouls. Shaquille O’Neal drained 12 points and 9 rebounds and Delonte West knotted 14 points while going perfect from the line. Guard Mo Williams drilled 12 points in the win. The Celtics were just 4-of-17 from long range and managed 43% from the field. Even their size advantage wasn’t advantageous for a beaten Boston. They were overwhelmingly outrebounded 45-30 and had a hard time leaving an impression in the paint. Cleveland stampeded the paint, posting 50 points inside. The resilient Cavs never trailed by less than 20 points after halftime.
Parting Points: What a dreary and rainy Saturday…
Friday, February 26, 2010
Cavs Curtail Celts
Lebron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers captured the spotlight in the Eastern conference rivalry with the Boston Celtics. James scored 36 points in the Cavs’ creaming of the Celtics at TD Garden. Cleveland’s 108-88 victory ties them with Boston for the best road record in the NBA. The Cavs improved to 20-10 away from Ohio despite defensive depression in the first half. The Cavs assembled one of the finest second halves of the season to overcome the malaise. Cleveland held Boston to 22% shooting after halftime and outscored them by 28 points without Shaquille O’Neal. The Cavs limited the Celts to 3-of-21 shooting in the final quarter to snap a nine game losing streak in Boston.
Cleveland trailed for nearly all of the first three quarters until Mo Williams gave them a point lead in the fourth quarter. Williams made 14 of his 19 points in the fourth. The All-Star guard increased the visitor’s edge with consecutive three-pointers with less than five minutes in regulation. Williams was teased by Rajon Rondo, the Celtics guard, in the first half. The Cavs were sluggish in defending the ultra-quick Rondo, who finished with 19 points and 11 assists. Boston made 10 of their first 13 shots of the contest, with Rondo hitting five buckets and collecting as many assists. The home team was up by ten at the end of the opening quarter. Allen nailed two late 3-pointers in the first half after Nate Robinson notched one from downtown. The C’s carried a 56-48 lead into the locker room.
Cleveland shot 65% in the second half. James made it a fourteen point game by drilling the next four baskets. James added nine assists and seven rebounds while playing without his tenacious teammate. O’Neal suffered a thumb injury in the first half when Glen Davis whacked him trying to block a shot. Anderson Varejao was inserted into the lineup for Mike Brown’s Cavs in place of Shaq. The 27 year old Brazilian responded with 14 points and a team high 10 rebounds. Varejao picked apart the Celtics’ pick-and-roll game to keep Cleveland in a good position to comeback. Cleveland’s J.J. Hickson helped Varejao expose the Celtics in the paint. The Celtics were unable to contend after the break, especially during Cleveland’s portly fourth quarter. Boston played Thursday without Paul Pierce. The Celtic’s offense could have used the All-Star during the game’s final two minutes. They relied heavily on the outside shot instead of running through the lanes. They attempted 12 treys and made just one.
Ray Allen scored a Celtics’ game high 21 points as Boston fell 7 ½ games behind in the East. The Celtics are tied with the Hawks. Boston needs to start beefing up if they plan to compete and advance in the playoffs. Doc Rivers’ team can no longer afford to punt away sizable leads. They certainly cannot shoot a dismal 14% in any one quarter like they did at Thursday’s home fourth quarter. Cleveland plays Boston two more times this season. Celtics forward, Kevin Garnett scored 10 points in the loss. Garnett needs to show some leadership to spark Boston and snap their relaxed attitude. The Celts allowed the Cavs to top them at home for the first time since 2007. Boston puts up a fight, and even with their health issues, has been a remarkable NBA story this season. They need to be and stay more physical throughout the duration of the game.
Parting Points: TGIF…please make the snow go away.
Cleveland trailed for nearly all of the first three quarters until Mo Williams gave them a point lead in the fourth quarter. Williams made 14 of his 19 points in the fourth. The All-Star guard increased the visitor’s edge with consecutive three-pointers with less than five minutes in regulation. Williams was teased by Rajon Rondo, the Celtics guard, in the first half. The Cavs were sluggish in defending the ultra-quick Rondo, who finished with 19 points and 11 assists. Boston made 10 of their first 13 shots of the contest, with Rondo hitting five buckets and collecting as many assists. The home team was up by ten at the end of the opening quarter. Allen nailed two late 3-pointers in the first half after Nate Robinson notched one from downtown. The C’s carried a 56-48 lead into the locker room.
Cleveland shot 65% in the second half. James made it a fourteen point game by drilling the next four baskets. James added nine assists and seven rebounds while playing without his tenacious teammate. O’Neal suffered a thumb injury in the first half when Glen Davis whacked him trying to block a shot. Anderson Varejao was inserted into the lineup for Mike Brown’s Cavs in place of Shaq. The 27 year old Brazilian responded with 14 points and a team high 10 rebounds. Varejao picked apart the Celtics’ pick-and-roll game to keep Cleveland in a good position to comeback. Cleveland’s J.J. Hickson helped Varejao expose the Celtics in the paint. The Celtics were unable to contend after the break, especially during Cleveland’s portly fourth quarter. Boston played Thursday without Paul Pierce. The Celtic’s offense could have used the All-Star during the game’s final two minutes. They relied heavily on the outside shot instead of running through the lanes. They attempted 12 treys and made just one.
Ray Allen scored a Celtics’ game high 21 points as Boston fell 7 ½ games behind in the East. The Celtics are tied with the Hawks. Boston needs to start beefing up if they plan to compete and advance in the playoffs. Doc Rivers’ team can no longer afford to punt away sizable leads. They certainly cannot shoot a dismal 14% in any one quarter like they did at Thursday’s home fourth quarter. Cleveland plays Boston two more times this season. Celtics forward, Kevin Garnett scored 10 points in the loss. Garnett needs to show some leadership to spark Boston and snap their relaxed attitude. The Celts allowed the Cavs to top them at home for the first time since 2007. Boston puts up a fight, and even with their health issues, has been a remarkable NBA story this season. They need to be and stay more physical throughout the duration of the game.
Parting Points: TGIF…please make the snow go away.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Complacent Chicago-Celtics Complete Classic Clash
Today may be Derby Day, but the real horse race takes place tonight in Boston. It’s all about the C’s and B’s. The Celtics host the Chicago Bulls in Game 7 one of the spiciest playoff series we’ve ever witnessed. The captivating and confounding classic closes out this evening at TD BankNorth Garden with an 8pm tip-off. The Eastern opponents have played seven overtimes in the first six games, including a Game 6 triple overtime Bulls win. If the first six are any indication of what to expect in the decisive game, NBA fans are in for another thrilling threat. Here is a quick recap of the first six wars.
Derrick Rose was the difference in Game 1. Rookie Rose pulled off a Michael Jordanesque performance in Boston with the support of teammates, Joakim Noah and Tyrus Thomas. The game went to overtime after Rose hit both free throws with 9.4 seconds left and the Bulls leading 97-96. Noah double-teamed Paul Pierce and blocked his jump shot but drew a foul on the play. Pierce was sent to the line. The Celtics shooter tied the game with his first free throw, but missed the second. Rose went 12 for 19 from the field and was perfect from the line until fouling out in overtime. Thomas had 16 points and scored the game-winning basket with a left corner jumper. Noah nailed 11 points to go along with a double-double. Rose’s 36 points and Noah’s 17 rebounds helped carve Chicago’s way to the 105-103 road win in Game 1. Boston, playing without injured Kevin Garnett, struggled to defend the point guard Rose and missed shot early in the game against the Bulls. The Chicago defense wasn’t fantastic but took advantage of Boston’s miscues. They led at halftime 53-44 and increased the lead to 11 in the second half. At the end of the third quarter, Boston outscored Chicago to re-take the lead entering the fourth.
Rose took over from there and Ben Gordon added 12 points in the final quarter. The Bulls fought off a late Celtics rally and kept bringing the pressure on Boston’s Ray Allen and Pierce. Then in the extra session, Thomas helped Chicago put it away, permitting six of the team’s eight points.
Game 2 was just as stunning as Ray Allen hit a three point shot with two seconds left. Allen’s basket notched the series at 1 and completed a 118-115 Celtics win. Boston grabbed an early lead in this game just five minutes into play. Rose was benched on four fouls but the Bulls managed to rally back and cut the lead. Chicago had a 36-35 advantage by the second quarter. At the half, Chicago held a nervous 61-58 lead. Gordon’s career high 42 points were tremendous but the Celtics were successful in out-rebounding Chicago. Point guard, Rajon Rondo, was gritty in snagging a triple-double for Boston. Rondo had 19 points, 16 assists and 12 rebounds. Allen helped score 30 points in the second half against his former college teammate at Uconn, Gordon and the Bulls. The Celtics converted any second chances into points and scored on four straight possessions with just about a minute left in regulation. Boston led by one point when Rondo collected a bucket from 18 feet. Gordon countered with his own tough shot to put the Bulls back on top as the clock showed 46 seconds. The teams exchanged leads again with an Allen three pointer. Gordon tied the game with 12 seconds left and overtime was imminent until Allen’s fade away finisher. The Bulls fought and defended well for the second straight game. They had 14 blocked shots, including six from Thomas and four from Noah. Boston had 9 steals to Chicago’s 7.
The fired up Celtics lead by 22 points at halftime of Game 3. Chicago missed their free throws and turned the ball over in front of their home fans at the United Center. Rondo scored 20 points, with nine coming in the opening quarter. Nine times, Chicago turned the ball over and missed 7 free throws in that quarter. Poor shooting killed the Bulls in the first half, especially with Pierce firing and making tough shots in cruise control mode. John Salmons and guard, Kirk Hinrich, each scored 14 for Chicago as the team had to play catch-up in the second half. Gordon finished with 15 points of his own but Rose only had nine buckets with seven turnovers. The aggressive Celtics’ swipe leaders were forward, Glen Davis and Rondo. Even misconceived Stephon Marbury contributed for the Celts. He scored 13 points off the bench. Chicago was never able to entirely erase the commanding Celtics first quarter lead.
The Bulls needed two overtimes to defeat the Celtics 121-118 in Sunday’s Game 4 contest. Even after Allen hit a three-pointer near the end of regulation, Chicago did not cave. Allen’s bucket tied the game at 96 to send the teams into overtime. The Bulls trailed by five with two minutes in OT number one but managed to force a second overtime on Gordon’s three pointer. Miller was in the middle of the nastiness, burying baskets all night. Noah collected 10 rebounds and the Bulls were helped by Hinrich’s 18 swishes. Hinrich contained Pierce throughout the game. The Bulls problems with timeouts have hurt them in this series, but this night they were able to suffice. They never trailed in the second session. Salmons struggled from the start, but finished with 20 points and four free throws in the game’s final 26 seconds. Rose also had trouble this game. He couldn’t hold on to the ball, committing seven turnovers. Rondo had two takeaways for Boston and is the leader in steal average this series for either team.
Pierce netted three shots in overtime to give Boston a 106-104 overtime win in Game 5.
The Tuesday night clash put the Celts on top 3-2 in the first round series. Bulls center, Brad Miller, was fouled by Rondo to give Chicago a chance to tie the game after Pierce’s last basket. Miller missed the two free passes for the scoring opportunity. The Celtics battled back from an 11 points deficit to force overtime in the fourth quarter. Pierce tied the game with just over 10 seconds in regulation and ended the game with 26 points. Rondo scored 28 for Boston and Gordon hit 26 while nursing a strained hamstring for the Bulls. Kendrick Perkins starred in rebounding 19 for the Celts and Davis added 21 points. Perkins also tied an NBA record with 48 minutes of play time without a being called for a foul. Offensively for the Bulls, Noah had 11 points and Salmons contributed 17. Thomas and Rose each had 8 rebounds, and Hinrich came off the bench to drill 19.
An instant classic occurred Thursday when Chicago and Boston survived a 128-127 triple overtime affair. In the fourth quarter, Chicago went from being 12 points up to 8 down in a mere six minutes. Allen amassed an outrageous 51 points. He also tied a playoff record with nine three pointers. Rondo dished out 19 assists for Boston and Salmons scored 35 for Chicago. Salmons clocked 60 minutes during the epic game. The Bulls looked exasperated and exhausted by the second overtime and Allen hit another three with 7.6 second left to force another five minutes. Noah’s free throw in the third session gave Chicago some breathing room and a 126-123 lead. Noah’s remarkable and memorable open-court steal on Pierce gave Chicago the lead they needed to end the masterpiece game at home.
This is one enduring series for two teams of hard nosed players. Five games have been decided by three points or less. The Bulls never folded against the polished, defending champion Celtics. The teams keep sticking it to each other in different and devastating ways. Underused players have stepped up for both teams, Miller for Chicago and Mikki Moore, Eddie House and Brian Scalabrine for Boston. Rose has rocked and been brilliant defensively, and Allen has let loose so often for the Celtics it’s hard to remember just how many times he’s scored. Pierce plants pure buckets and Gordon glowingly gnats offenders as a defensive presence. Rondo is an untiring point guard crucial to the Celts without Garnett available. He is capable of being the thorn in Rose’s side and turning it into overdrive offensively. Perkins has a great inside game and Davis sets screens superbly for Boston. The Bulls have a proven veteran in Hinrich to provide the energy Chicago needs to defeat Boston on the road. Hinrich and Gordon are money players but it’s Noah who show constant effort in pressuring dribblers. Thomas is also a quiet factor, trumping and taming the Boston big men. Tonight should be another classic battle between two teams both perfectly practiced and set up for victory. People questioned whether Boston’s chemistry would be the same without Garnett. They haven’t missed a beat yet. Doc Rivers represents a head coach who demonstrates a desire and determination to win. Chicago is a team with just enough scruffy players and chemistry to pull through too. Del Negro experimented with different starting sets and Gordon is his true symphony conductor on the court. It would be hard to live up to Game 6, but all Game 7’s are always awesome because of the elimination factor.
Parting points: Is Eric Chavez really on the DL again? It is unfortunate he cannot stay healthy.
Song for the day- “Give it up”-Linkin Park
Derrick Rose was the difference in Game 1. Rookie Rose pulled off a Michael Jordanesque performance in Boston with the support of teammates, Joakim Noah and Tyrus Thomas. The game went to overtime after Rose hit both free throws with 9.4 seconds left and the Bulls leading 97-96. Noah double-teamed Paul Pierce and blocked his jump shot but drew a foul on the play. Pierce was sent to the line. The Celtics shooter tied the game with his first free throw, but missed the second. Rose went 12 for 19 from the field and was perfect from the line until fouling out in overtime. Thomas had 16 points and scored the game-winning basket with a left corner jumper. Noah nailed 11 points to go along with a double-double. Rose’s 36 points and Noah’s 17 rebounds helped carve Chicago’s way to the 105-103 road win in Game 1. Boston, playing without injured Kevin Garnett, struggled to defend the point guard Rose and missed shot early in the game against the Bulls. The Chicago defense wasn’t fantastic but took advantage of Boston’s miscues. They led at halftime 53-44 and increased the lead to 11 in the second half. At the end of the third quarter, Boston outscored Chicago to re-take the lead entering the fourth.
Rose took over from there and Ben Gordon added 12 points in the final quarter. The Bulls fought off a late Celtics rally and kept bringing the pressure on Boston’s Ray Allen and Pierce. Then in the extra session, Thomas helped Chicago put it away, permitting six of the team’s eight points.
Game 2 was just as stunning as Ray Allen hit a three point shot with two seconds left. Allen’s basket notched the series at 1 and completed a 118-115 Celtics win. Boston grabbed an early lead in this game just five minutes into play. Rose was benched on four fouls but the Bulls managed to rally back and cut the lead. Chicago had a 36-35 advantage by the second quarter. At the half, Chicago held a nervous 61-58 lead. Gordon’s career high 42 points were tremendous but the Celtics were successful in out-rebounding Chicago. Point guard, Rajon Rondo, was gritty in snagging a triple-double for Boston. Rondo had 19 points, 16 assists and 12 rebounds. Allen helped score 30 points in the second half against his former college teammate at Uconn, Gordon and the Bulls. The Celtics converted any second chances into points and scored on four straight possessions with just about a minute left in regulation. Boston led by one point when Rondo collected a bucket from 18 feet. Gordon countered with his own tough shot to put the Bulls back on top as the clock showed 46 seconds. The teams exchanged leads again with an Allen three pointer. Gordon tied the game with 12 seconds left and overtime was imminent until Allen’s fade away finisher. The Bulls fought and defended well for the second straight game. They had 14 blocked shots, including six from Thomas and four from Noah. Boston had 9 steals to Chicago’s 7.
The fired up Celtics lead by 22 points at halftime of Game 3. Chicago missed their free throws and turned the ball over in front of their home fans at the United Center. Rondo scored 20 points, with nine coming in the opening quarter. Nine times, Chicago turned the ball over and missed 7 free throws in that quarter. Poor shooting killed the Bulls in the first half, especially with Pierce firing and making tough shots in cruise control mode. John Salmons and guard, Kirk Hinrich, each scored 14 for Chicago as the team had to play catch-up in the second half. Gordon finished with 15 points of his own but Rose only had nine buckets with seven turnovers. The aggressive Celtics’ swipe leaders were forward, Glen Davis and Rondo. Even misconceived Stephon Marbury contributed for the Celts. He scored 13 points off the bench. Chicago was never able to entirely erase the commanding Celtics first quarter lead.
The Bulls needed two overtimes to defeat the Celtics 121-118 in Sunday’s Game 4 contest. Even after Allen hit a three-pointer near the end of regulation, Chicago did not cave. Allen’s bucket tied the game at 96 to send the teams into overtime. The Bulls trailed by five with two minutes in OT number one but managed to force a second overtime on Gordon’s three pointer. Miller was in the middle of the nastiness, burying baskets all night. Noah collected 10 rebounds and the Bulls were helped by Hinrich’s 18 swishes. Hinrich contained Pierce throughout the game. The Bulls problems with timeouts have hurt them in this series, but this night they were able to suffice. They never trailed in the second session. Salmons struggled from the start, but finished with 20 points and four free throws in the game’s final 26 seconds. Rose also had trouble this game. He couldn’t hold on to the ball, committing seven turnovers. Rondo had two takeaways for Boston and is the leader in steal average this series for either team.
Pierce netted three shots in overtime to give Boston a 106-104 overtime win in Game 5.
The Tuesday night clash put the Celts on top 3-2 in the first round series. Bulls center, Brad Miller, was fouled by Rondo to give Chicago a chance to tie the game after Pierce’s last basket. Miller missed the two free passes for the scoring opportunity. The Celtics battled back from an 11 points deficit to force overtime in the fourth quarter. Pierce tied the game with just over 10 seconds in regulation and ended the game with 26 points. Rondo scored 28 for Boston and Gordon hit 26 while nursing a strained hamstring for the Bulls. Kendrick Perkins starred in rebounding 19 for the Celts and Davis added 21 points. Perkins also tied an NBA record with 48 minutes of play time without a being called for a foul. Offensively for the Bulls, Noah had 11 points and Salmons contributed 17. Thomas and Rose each had 8 rebounds, and Hinrich came off the bench to drill 19.
An instant classic occurred Thursday when Chicago and Boston survived a 128-127 triple overtime affair. In the fourth quarter, Chicago went from being 12 points up to 8 down in a mere six minutes. Allen amassed an outrageous 51 points. He also tied a playoff record with nine three pointers. Rondo dished out 19 assists for Boston and Salmons scored 35 for Chicago. Salmons clocked 60 minutes during the epic game. The Bulls looked exasperated and exhausted by the second overtime and Allen hit another three with 7.6 second left to force another five minutes. Noah’s free throw in the third session gave Chicago some breathing room and a 126-123 lead. Noah’s remarkable and memorable open-court steal on Pierce gave Chicago the lead they needed to end the masterpiece game at home.
This is one enduring series for two teams of hard nosed players. Five games have been decided by three points or less. The Bulls never folded against the polished, defending champion Celtics. The teams keep sticking it to each other in different and devastating ways. Underused players have stepped up for both teams, Miller for Chicago and Mikki Moore, Eddie House and Brian Scalabrine for Boston. Rose has rocked and been brilliant defensively, and Allen has let loose so often for the Celtics it’s hard to remember just how many times he’s scored. Pierce plants pure buckets and Gordon glowingly gnats offenders as a defensive presence. Rondo is an untiring point guard crucial to the Celts without Garnett available. He is capable of being the thorn in Rose’s side and turning it into overdrive offensively. Perkins has a great inside game and Davis sets screens superbly for Boston. The Bulls have a proven veteran in Hinrich to provide the energy Chicago needs to defeat Boston on the road. Hinrich and Gordon are money players but it’s Noah who show constant effort in pressuring dribblers. Thomas is also a quiet factor, trumping and taming the Boston big men. Tonight should be another classic battle between two teams both perfectly practiced and set up for victory. People questioned whether Boston’s chemistry would be the same without Garnett. They haven’t missed a beat yet. Doc Rivers represents a head coach who demonstrates a desire and determination to win. Chicago is a team with just enough scruffy players and chemistry to pull through too. Del Negro experimented with different starting sets and Gordon is his true symphony conductor on the court. It would be hard to live up to Game 6, but all Game 7’s are always awesome because of the elimination factor.
Parting points: Is Eric Chavez really on the DL again? It is unfortunate he cannot stay healthy.
Song for the day- “Give it up”-Linkin Park
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