Boston Celtics

And didn’t give nobody/No kind of slack

By Chad Finn

4 minutes to read

Putting aside any rooting interest for a moment — I know, not the easiest thing to do in the hours before the fifth game of an unexpectedly grueling playoff series — let me just reiterate what is plainly obvious to any genuine hoops junkies who have been paying attention to this Bulls-Celtics playoff showdown:

Man, this has been one wildly enjoyable series.

In fact, purely from the perspective of someone who savors watching two evenly matched but entirely dissimilar basketball teams punch and counter-punch each other possession after possession, I wouldn’t be devastated if this series goes seven games. And I say that knowing full well that the Celtics need all the rest they can get in their noble (and most likely ill-fated) attempt to defend their title. I’m enjoying this, and I’m not sure I want it to end before it has to.

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Consider what we’ve seen so far, through just four games: rookie Derrick Rose’s arrival as a star in Game 1, the Ray Allen-Ben Gordon epic shootout in Game 2 . . . Rajon Rondo’s emergence as the Celtics’ most indispensable player while averaging a triple-double in the series . . . a lengthy series of what-ifs (Pierce’s missed free throw in Game 1, Rondo’s rock of a jumper at the end of the first overtime in Game 4) that make you mentally replay the game long after the final buzzer . . . and of course, the highlight reel’s worth of plot twists and crucial plays in the double-overtime grind of Game 4. (That game belongs on an endless loop on ESPN Classic. You know, if it showed something other than bowling and poker reruns.)

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As for tonight’s pivotal Game 5 (you can’t mention a Game 5 without “pivotal” preceding it — unwritten rule), I’m going to stay away from my usual overly hopeful proclamations. You know, these sorts of things:

Paul Pierce is gonna drop 40 tonight. Maybe 45. Why? Because he is The Truth, that’s why!

Rajon Rondo? Automatic quintuple-double. Put it in the books now!

Mark my words: Tonight’s the night Mikki Moore is on the court for more than 30 seconds without completing the silly foul/failure to box out/unforced turnover trifecta!

No, for once we’ll wisely hold off on the hyperbole here. (Especially on that last one.) Instead, I’m focusing on the smaller things, sweating the details, pondering the logical ways the defending champion Celtics can prevail in this basketball game tonight.

Mostly, it’s stuff that’s as fundamental as Red on Roundball. They need to play consistent, unyielding, inspired defense, not only against the dead-eye Gordon on the perimeter (assuming he plays, and I am, despite his claim that he needs a “miracle”), but on the interior as well, where Kevin Garnett’s absence is lamented with every late rotation by the Celtics’ big men and every easy put-back by the likes of Joakim Noah and Tyrus Thomas. If they play as well defensively as they are capable of — even sans KG — they will return to Chicago up a game. It’s that simple.

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Other points of emphasis for the Celtics:

  • I will never doubt the intentions of Paul Pierce — one of the best things about the Celtics’ rejuvenation is that he’s finally getting his due, not only as a player but as a competitor. But tonight, it’s important if not imperative that he play with the efficiency he showed at the beginning of Game 3, rather than with Game 4’s sloppiness (six turnovers, 15 missed shots, one assist). I’m sure he’s up to it, even though putting Kirk Hinrich on him in spurts has been a clever move by Vinny Del Negro. I didn’t know he had it in him.
  • Kendrick Perkins needs to forget about the referees and avoid picking up ticky-tack fouls while setting screens and swapping elbows with Noah, who, by the way, might be the most annoying opponent since Dennis Rodman of the Bad Boys Pistons. (It’s okay, you can admit it: You wish the Celtics had someone just like him right now.) The Celtics are desperate for Perk’s defense and rebounding; he needs to be a beast, but without drawing the ire of the quick-whistling referees. It’s a tricky road to navigate, but I believe in him, and I know he’s up for it. It surely wouldn’t hurt his cause if there happens to be a few referees’ relatives dressed in Celtics gear in the house.
  • Someone from the bench needs to make a meaningful contribution. Maybe Eddie House will go on a Ben Gordon-like hot streak. (Minus the public grabbing of certain appendages, of course.) Maybe Stephon Marbury will finally realize he doesn’t have to play so selflessly with the second unit, that the Celtics actually need him to be himself now. Maybe Mikki Moore will accidentally trip and fall into Gordon’s sore hammy, knocking him out of the series. Maybe Tony Allen can contribute a few decent minutes of perimeter defense without departing with a double-digit negative plus/minus rating and a couple of mind-numbing fouls. Maybe Doc will find a way to give Moore’s minutes to Clifford Ray.
    Okay, so maybe that wasn’t the most optimistic analysis — at this point, I’m hoping that once the New Orleans Hornets finish their let’s-get-Byron-Scott-fired campaign by mailing it in once more against Denver, maybe James Posey will show up in Boston disguised as J.R. Giddens for Game 7. But someone from this motley crew needs to deliver tonight, because the Celtics — from the starters to the last man on the bench — knows nothing is going to come easy against this lively Bulls team. Pierce and Rondo, Perk and Ray Allen . . . they need all the help they can get.
    Oh, and one last thing. Yes, I still think KG plays again the season if the Celtics survive this series. C’mon, you knew I had one ridiculous proclamation in me.
    * * *
    As for today’s Completely Random Basketball Card:

    The Iceman as a Bull. Just doesn’t look right, does it?

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