Close-out Run

Pierce's Charge Celtics into Finals

It was about time ! Down 70-60 in the 4th quarter, it looked like deja-vu all over again for the Celtics. After having lead most of the game only to see their lead evaporate and then become a deficit, this “front-running” team seemed to have played themselves into a scenario often repeated during these playoffs: lose a close game on the road and have to rely on playing in the old-faithful Garden to pull out the series. But then a funny thing happened. Just like in Game 7 in the quarters, Paul Pierce proved that he could carry a team on his back. He proved he is the only Celtic capable of taking over on the offensive end. He proved he can will his team to a win when it’s needed most. He proved to be, as the veteran Celtic on the squad, worthy of old-faithful status.

The Celtics went on a ridiculous 28-11 run to put this game away. Having finally gotten rid of the “unable to win on the road” gorilla in Game 3, they proved they could win again, in the most improbable of circumstances, on the road down 10 to a well-tested Pistons team. They got contributions from Kevin Garnett (who didn’t whiff this time) and Ray Allen (who finally seems to be coming out of his slump), and a key steal from James Posey towards the end to help to start to put this game on ice. But mostly it was the same recipe that worked in the clincher against Cleveland: Give the ball to Pierce and get the hell out of the way.

These playoffs have been the Celtics’ learning curve in knowing how to win in the NBA’s second season. They have weathered two Game 7’s and won at home, and now they have proved that they can close out a determined and veteran opponent on the road. I believed that this was a must win game for the Celtics so that they could both rest physically and get needed mental confidence against what will surely be their most stern test, the Los Angeles Lakers. They also did not want to have to play yet a 3rd Game 7 in these playoffs, for surely this is a gambler’s nightmare. After all, how many times can you keep rolling the die and win. One of these days it will catch up to you. And Boston didn’t want take their chances against the Pistons in Game 7. Paul Pierce said it best: "We wanted to win it here; we didn't want to have to go back to Boston for another Game 7."

Speaking of the Lakers, they closed out San Antonio in impressive fashion the night before with a stunning comeback of their own. Down by as many as 20 points in Game 5, they too proved they knew how to close out a veteran championship team. They understood the stakes and they took care of business.

The NBA finals will be the 11th meeting of the two most storied franchises in the league. Of the 60 NBA championships played so far, the Lakers and Celtics have won 30 (Boston with a slight edge 16-14). In face to face meetings, Boston rules 8-2. However, the Lakers have made 29 finals appearances.

Basketball is probably the most fascinating game of matchups. This is not the 1-1 of baseball or 11-11 of football. There are only 5 players on the court and 12 on a roster. The dynamics in the game and the constant substitution juggling that take place during the game make it the most chess-like sport there is. Coupled with the legendary history, this is what will make the Finals so interesting.

Will Pierce guard Kobe one on one, and if he does can he be as effective as he was against LeBron and Prince ? How will Kobe handle having to guard Pierce and will his vaunted offensive game suffer like LeBron’s game did ? How will Boston’s vaunted defense, led by Garnett, handle the trio of Kobe, Gasol, and Odom ? How will the Laker defense handle Boston big three ? Boston appears to have a deeper bench but can Rivers find an effective second group ? Or is Phil Jackson simply too good of a coach to be outfoxed by Rivers and his superior army of players ?

As Paul Pierce said: “Bring on the Lakers. It’s going to be great. Watching the Lakers-Celtics in the 80’s is what got me into basketball.”

Watching Bird and Magic fight it out in the 80’s was some of the best basketball I’ve ever seen. For this series, my wish is for a 7 game series, with a OK corral type of showdown between Boston’s and LA’s three studs in a wire to wire series, with huge momentum swings and end to end offensive action and defensive toughness. For the climactic Game 7. I want to see Pierce and Kobe fight it out until the end, with the championship decided in overtime, with the winner making a buzzer-beating 3 pointer to win it all.