I don’t know what to expect from game 5. It’s unlikely it can possibly match the drama that’s resulted thus far from the Celtics/Bulls first round contest. Heading into the playoffs I predicted a five-game series, expecting Chicago to steal one at home. After the announcement that Kevin Garnett was likely out for the playoffs, I extended my guess to six games, still undoubtedly in Boston’s favor. But there is now zero chance this series won’t go seven games. In the past I’ve been critical of the NBA adopting a best of seven formula for the first round, as opposed to the best of five format they’d used for years. I think it makes the playoffs too long, drains too much energy from the players with so many games left, and minimizes the potential for upsets (remember Denver defeating top ranked Seattle in 1994?) Selfishly however, I’m now glad that last point generally holds true.
The Celtics are a better basketball team than the Bulls, even without KG and Leon Powe. Yes, the Bulls are missing Luol Deng, but from what I’ve seen of their play this season they are a better club without him. John Salmons plays tougher defense from the small forward spot anyway. Reverse the outcome of two plays in this series (Paul Pierce’s missed free throw at the end of game 1, Ben Gordon’s off-balance three pointer that sent game 4 to a second overtime), and we’d be talking about a Celtic sweep. The importance of those plays can’t be overstated. Boston needed this to be over fast, so they could rest for the second round and a likely match up with Orlando (who is having their own problems with a young Sixers bunch).
The Celtics aren’t a decidedly old basketball team top to bottom, but their best players are. Pierce has shown signs of age in this series, from his shooting to his turnovers to his failures making big defensive stops. Ray Allen has fared better, including some miraculous clutch shooting following game 1. I’m not sure what to make of Pierce right now. On the one hand his marginal outings still represent well-rounded offensive efforts. Add to that the fact that he hasn’t really taken over a single game yet, and I’m optimistic about our chances. But I wonder why he hasn’t yet gone for forty over the smaller, less athletic Kirk Heinrich. If I’m Doc Rivers I’m getting the ball to Pierce early and often tonight, especially in the post where he can overpower the defense or get to the line.
The real difference for Boston thus far has been the play of Rajon Rondo and to a lesser extent Glenn Davis and Kendrick Perkins. The contributions of the latter two have been invaluable, especially Davis, who’s become the most shockingly nimble, round-bellied individual to impact the sport since yours truly back in the
mid-90s. But Rondo is on another planet. He’s averaging a triple-double in the series, has been the leader on both ends of the court, and has actually outplayed Derrick Rose who himself has played sensationally for Chicago. But the Bulls rely more heavily on individual efforts than the Celtics, which is why I correctly predicted Boston would take game 3 easily in Chicago. The Bulls were coming off astounding games from their best players, and unless they were able to match those numbers, they weren’t going to win. They simply don’t have the coaching, veteran leadership, or decided home court advantage to overcome a bad shooting night. But they have had the X-factor in this series, Ben Gordon, who’s making me question any knowledge I thought I possessed regarding ways to win a basketball game.
I always liked Gordon (especially at UConn), but for all the wrong reasons. I believed he was fundamentally sound, a reliable passer and shooter who any coach would love. I didn’t realize he was an assassin with balls of steel and a complete disregard for proper shot selection. If he were on my NAA team I would bench him for the sheer volume of stupid shots he’s taken. But I digress . . . he makes them. He’s reminds me of a tougher Rex Chapman with the confidence of Isiah Thomas. He’s scary, and his recent hamstring strain could be the difference in the series. As impressive as is his knack for hitting difficult eighteen-footers, if he has no lift, he becomes a non-factor. Remember the announcers debating whether or not Boston should foul Chicago on their last offensive possession before Gordon drained that fall-away in game 4? If he can’t shoot, there’s no longer a debate. You play it out, rely on your defense, and hope for the best, an opinion I bear regardless because 90% of the time that’s not dropping. It’s like walking the bases loaded with two men on when you’re up three runs in the ninth . . . Why put yourself in a position to lose? If they miraculously tie the game, so be it.
I pray this series is decided on the court. The officiating has caused plenty of complaints on both sides and it’s becoming clear that David Stern must makes some rule changes. The strictly enforced “clear path” rule, involving a defensive player intentionally stopping an opposing breakaway, is the single dumbest rule in sports. It sounds like a JCC rule invented by middle-aged white guys who don’t want to run. What is wrong with preventing the other team from scoring as long as it’s clean? And to the latter point, I am so sick of flagrant fouls being called any time there’s more than a “little” contact. What would happen had Kevin McHale’s famous clothesline of Kurt Rambis occurred in 2009? Would he be suspended for a year? Basketball is a contact sport, always has been, and always should be. The ongoing pussification (spell check couldn’t help me out with that one) of the league is a travesty. But those two rules aside, I love everything about this series.
I love that that Doug Collins made a “Semi-Pro” reference, comparing the oafish, curly headband sporting Brian Scalabrine to Jackie Moon. I love that Chicago boasts two of the five ugliest players in the league in Heinrich and Joaquim Noah, who’s a better player than often given credit for being. I love that this series has one of the league’s great overachievers in ‘Big Baby’ and sad underachievers in Tim Thomas. I love that TB was so fascinated by the site of an obscenity-spewing KG on the bench that she thought it would make for a great reality show. Seriously, can you imagine how insane he’d look behaving the same way in a supermarket? Or how you might react if he showed up on your doorstep for Halloween, staring you down for all your mini-Butterfingers? If he weren’t a great athlete, he’d be institutionalized. I love that TNT made public the news that Reggie Miller now has an email bag, which I will use to berate his play and commentating on a weekly basis. I love that Boston has the rare coaching edge in this series and that Doc has designed successful plays for Ray to get clean looks. I love that Chicago inexplicably doesn’t know when to switch on a pick-and-roll. I love that Rondo and Rose have blossomed into the best young point guards in the conference and will potentially face off against Chris Paul and/or Deron Williams in the NBA finals for the next decade. I love that both teams are loaded with talented players, most of whom I actually like and would want on my team, including Tyrus Thomas who could be a beast this time next year. I love that Bill Simmons’ Celtics columns reach thousands of readers daily, since mine tend to max out around twenty.
Most importantly, I love that the C’s are getting an early round test as tough as the Bulls, who at this point are probably the third best team in the East. They are fearless, athletic, persistent, and are providing the Celtics with little margin for error. If Boston can somehow muster up the strength to finish them off by game
6, that would go a long way towards conserving energy for the inevitable showdown with Lebron in the conference finals. Hopefully by that time, Pierce will be ready to go.
