RAY ALLEN BECAME A CELTICS HERO TONIGHT, PLAYS ALL 48 MINUTES LEADING THE CELTICS BACK FROM 21 POINTS DOWN AT THE END OF THE FIRST QUARTER- BIGGEST COMEBACK IN NBA FINALS HISTORY
When the Celtics came back from 21 points down in the 2002 Eastern Conference Finals, every shot they made seemed more improbable than the one before it. There was no margin for error. For the Nets, it was like in NBA Jam when the computer just decides that you will lose no matter what and Horace Grant inexplicably catches fire and hits 12 threes in a row. The Celtics were flying all over the place that game, whooping it up, throwing it in from outrageous angles, all fueled by pure adrenaline. Jim O'Brien's offensive scheme was basically to check to make sure that you were behind the three point line and just chuck it up and hope for the best. On that night, from 21 points down, everything came together perfectly for the C's and it was awesome. Because I am an equal fan of the Celtics and all things outrageous- I double loved it.
Tonight the Celtics executed another 20+ point comeback in a completely different way that even for me, as a fan of all things outrageous, was much more satisfying. While it was crazy and improbable, the Celtics clawed their way back coolly and confidently. Nothing was rushed. There were no panic substitutions. They waited for good shots. They even (gasp!) appeared that they knew exactly what to do. (Does Doc Rivers still coach this team!?) Then, all of a sudden, the Celtics were beating the piss out of their tormentor. At the end, it was the Lakers desperately chucking up shots, throwing towels at ballboys on the sidelines and scowling at each other after the Celtics took everything the Lakers had been doing well and slowly disassembled it before whipping out the sledgehammer in the fourth and beating them into a bloody pulp.
And the Celtics could have given up several times! In years past, they would have! Actually, I seem to remember them giving up in that game in 2002, playing just to pass the time until they realized that they couldn't miss and started to care again. Tonight, they could have pulled a BP and given up in the first quarter. The Celtics looked like they weren't prepared to sign Nerf balls at the Solomon Pond Mall, let alone compete against the undefeated-at-home-since-before-the-playoffs-started Lakers in the NBA Finals. They weren't hitting anything and their offensive sets looked like garbage. Yet, they cut the lead down to 11 (I think) near the end of the first half and then immediately gave up a couple consecutive baskets. Their comeback was foiled, it seemed to me. That was the second time I gave up. Then, the Celts had another small spurt, but Farmar hit that ridiculous three at the halftime buzzer... and I didn't give up then. At that point, it seemed to be a little too good to be true for the Lakers. Maybe the Celtics picked up on it, too, I don't know.
NBA games are so long it's rare that a team can sustain a ridiculous shooting night for all 48 minutes (especially with those long TV timeouts gumming up the offensive machinery!)... and I got the impression that the Lakers were going to come back down to earth eventually. Now, I can't take credit for predicting that the Celtics would WIN THE F-ING GAME!!! I just thought the Celtics would make a run at it and get their confidence up for that pivotal Game 5. Nope- I was wrong again for the 50th time, because Posey and House started hitting threes, RayRay and Paul were slashing to the rim, KG was getting rebound after rebound, the defense was squeezing the life out of the Mamba and his terrified compatriots... in the end it just looked easy for the C's!
Now, this was a team effort, and before I forget I have to give credit to Doc. Rondo didn't have favorable matchups and looked a little hindered with his ankle, so in comes... EDDIE HOUSE! (*cough* after a small dose of Cassell, forget about that...) We all, of course, feel vindicated because we all were clamoring for Eddie and he played great on both ends (even grabbing a big rebound or two), shooting 4-9 from the floor and not turning the ball over once. Powe came in to mix things up and although he looked like a madman he muscled in the tying basket. Good move having him in. James Posey was put in great position to score (4-8 from three, each one bigger than the one before it). He also committed some great fouls at exactly the necessary times.
KG had a solid all-around game and I was happy for him. He's kind of like the super-nervous middle schooler that has to give a historical speech in front of his US History class... you root for him to do well mostly because it's so hard to watch when they don't. If you're not a Lakers fan and you are watching this series you should be rooting for KG because he tries so hard and cares so much it can consume him.
But he played within himself tonight- his defense and rebounding in the fourth will be overlooked in this game but he was a monster in the paint on the defensive end. The criticism of him being "not clutch" is completely unfair- it's tough for post players and jump shooters to be "clutch" because plays aren't really drawn up for them in those situations. I'm a broken record on this subject but I am repeating the truth so deal with it. KG was clutch on D tonight, that's for damn-damn, so, as Clint Eastwood would say to Spike Lee, I defiantly tell you haters of KG's clutch skills to shut your faces. Would you rather have a big man committing ugly fouls, bobbling rebounds, and staring incredulously at the refs, or would you like a behemoth that changes every shot in the lane and grabs any rebound within ten feet of him? (Quick note- I do think that criticism of his shot selection IS fair, and I was ecstatic to see KG aggressively attacking the hoop and he was definitely rewarded with some easy buckets that clearly energized his teammates. Thanks for reading the blog, Kev, now please get some sleep before Game 5, you deserve it.)
Our boy Pierce, who is FINALLY getting the recognition he so richly deserves in the finals, played a great defensive game on Kobe and had THE most ridiculous layup I've ever seen him execute... you all know the one I am talking about. That layup will be on his highlight reel when he gets to the Hall of Fame. Awesome. But he wasn't a Sportscenter fluke like Stromile Swift- he played a great all-around game and other than oddly choosing to listen to the PA announcer instead of interviewing with ABC after the game he made all the right decisions and played like a true champion. (Update: Here's the clip! It needs some more angles and some super slomo to do it justice though...)
BUT! THE man tonight was Ray Allen. This much-maligned OCD basketcase came up huge tonight. He also hit a Hall-of-Fame highlight reel layup that was as good as pretty much anything Michael Jordan ever did. That may sound superlative and maybe even blasphemous but come on people- he took the baseline, leaped, pumped, guarded the ball, and AS HE DESCENDED TO THE FLOOR, flipped in the reverse layup with the perfect delicate spin to put it in. WHAT A CLUTCH PLAY. (Update: Here is the highlight.)
He also had a huge offensive rebound and played great defense all night on Kobe. He brought the ball up when Eddie House looked a little overwhelmed by the pressure. Anything and everything asked of Ray Allen tonight he did. I also must mention that he had NINE REBOUNDS. And when the Celtics needed a bucket in the final minute....
One of the best sequences I have ever seen in my life came when RayRay, a true warrior who has atoned for his poor performances in earlier rounds more than anyone ever thought necessary, cleared out the lane in the final minute, smoked Vujacik, a very capable and cheap defender, and calmly deposited the lefty layup. ABC then cut to Vujacik slapping away someone trying to console him on the bench. He looked on the verge of tears. Revenge is a dish best served right in the face of a greasy Serbian punkass instigator wearing a Lakers jersey. (Side note- don't tell me that he is one of those guys you'd love to have on your team. I know he's a good player, but pleeeease. I can't stand players that play dirty and flop and he does both IN SPADES. I couldn't stand Bowen when he was on the Celtics, either. A jerk is a jerk is a jerk whether he wears green or not, I'm just glad I can properly hate him because he plays for the yellow and purple.)
The Celtics won this game with composure, confidence, and execution down the stretch. What the hell, did anyone know that possessed ANY OF THOSE THREE THINGS I LISTED!? Just a couple days ago, when the Celtics almost blew a 20+ point lead in the fourth quarter, they didn't appear to know any of them even existed. They didn't show many signs in Game 3, but they had it when they needed it the most, and they earned every use of the "Nobody believed in us" line in the locker room for the rest of the series. The Boston Celtics, I believe, for the first time this incredibly overhyped season, exceeded everyone's expectations, and I congratulate them for that.
I have to mention one more especially sweet moment for Boston fans. When the game was over and Kobe was deciding which teammate he was going to humiliate in front of his comrades in the locker room (why not all of them?), we were treated to another especially sweet moment when, after three hours of ABC showing every actor or actress who has ever nailed a producer to get a part as an extra on Battlefield Earth 2: Still Battlin' wearing a Lakers hat and texting on their Sidekick throughout the entire game... we had to deal with Will Smith yammering about how he hadn't watched a game in six months and friggin' napping on his wife's shoulder during GAME FOUR OF THE NBA FINALS!!!! Yet, despite having to endure all that garbage, at the end we had diehard Celtics fan Donnie Wahlberg, inexplicably and gloriously wearing a Pierce jersey with a gray blazer, with one finger raised triumphantly in the air. How awesome was that!!?!?!?!?!? Say what you will about the New Kids, the Wahlbergs, whatever... they love the Boston Celtics and always have. This guy was sitting in with Tommy and Mike when the Celtics were trying to lose. It was sweet to watch Donny, a true Boston boy and a true Celtics fan, celebrating amongst all the fakery that is Los Angeles. You deserve it, buddy. How gratifying.
I also love that the Celtics have a few days before Game 5... I am going to watch this game at least two more times in the next couple days. Sure, I am worried about Perk's shoulder (any definitive word on that?) and Rondo (looked like his mobility was compromised although I thought he played well regardless), but thank goodness Stern is enough of an advertising revenue whore to delay the net game until Sunday so they can rest up and we can all savor the moment. The Celtics will have some time to rest up, enjoy their victory, and get ready to put this series to bed in five games. Congrats to the Celtics, and also, what the hell, thanks!!!Source URL: https://ledger-heath.blogspot.com/2008/06/i-love-boston-celtics.html
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