I could officially care less about the Celtics road record this postseason. After seeing the way the Celtics have played at home against some tough competition, I don't think that anybody, not even the mighty Detroit Pistons can beat the Celtics in Boston this year. The players are hungry and the city is too, and we can all smell a championship now.
Although today's game was dominated by the individual heroics of LeBron James (who played phenomenal basketball and would not quit giving me heart attacks) and Paul Pierce, the Celtics won because of key contributions from everybody on the floor. Particularly noteworthy were PJ Brown and Eddie House, who both played with exceptional energy and made key plays that provided huge momentum boosts for the Celtics this afternoon. Brown was very active on the glass and stepped up offensively by hitting big baskets (open shots that a veteran NBA player knows they have to make) and converting second chance buckets, while House's attitude and energy were contagious and fired up the whole team (he also played some nice defense down the stretch).
The bulk of the credit, however, must go to Paul Pierce. The Truth brought it as advertised, playing with intensity and the competitive killer instinct that was reminiscent of vintage Bird (actually, I bet I won't be the first to compare the LeBron v. Pierce battle to Bird v. 'Nique circa 1988). ***Disclaimer: Game 7 of the '88 Conference Finals shoot out between Bird and Dominique Wilkins ranks as one of the greatest games in NBA history, today's Pierce/'Bron slugfest doesn't come close. I am merely alluding to the spirit and intensity that Pierce played with. He occupied a similar mindset, one that was a difinitive trait of Larry Bird. Pierce would not lose, and he had an answer for LeBron James after every big basket. I would also like to add that today's game was similar because of the effort that LeBron put forward as compared to 'Nique's in that both players deserved to win and simply came up just a little bit short.***
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What the? Where was I? Oh yeah, Pierce is a baller. And that LeBron kid is pretty darn good too (can't say the same for just about everybody else that happened to be wearing the same color jersey as him, though). Speaking of LeBron...
I must admit that as giddy as I am about the Celtics win today, I do feel somewhat bad for LeBron James and Delonte West, players that I respect and admire for their talent and heart. James played Brilliantly (more on that later), but first a tangent on Delonte West (where'd everybody go?) During West's tenure in Boston, he played with energy and intensity and was an exciting young player and a rare bright spot in a dark and dismal sea of disappointment (Ricky Davis) for the Celtics in the past. I was actually sad to see Delonte go to Seattle this year, and it was nice to see him contributing to a playoff team this year (thoough he put my stomach in knots at times). Today he was the only Cleveland Cavalier not named LeBron James to score in double digits, and his defensive intensity kept the game close until the final possession. He was the only one who seemed to be even remotely alive out there for the Cavs, aside from James (I'm already tired of saying that and I've only been in this game for a few months!).
I could spew forth an abundance of words about LeBron's performance (I think I just may...), but I think that a simple statistic is more descriptive of his performance than anything else. LeBron James was personally responsible for 49% of Cleveland's points today, and if you factor in the baskets related to his assists, he was actually responsible for 54% of Cleveland's offensive output. That sums it up pretty well. The King was better than all of his other teammates put together, more so if you agree with me that the Cleveland Albatrosses (ahem) Cavaliers are a handicap rather than help.
Once again, the non game plan of Mike Brown squandered an epic performance from James, who was forced to do everything for the Cavs, and as always, King James delivered. But even he is still mortal, and the noncontribution of the other Cavaliers doomed his brilliance to ultimately become a failure. It was clear from the start to me and to LeBron that nobody had come to play for Cleveland, and that he would have to shoulder the load and carry the Cavs to victory.
Unfortunately for LeBron, The Truth was just as brilliant and clutch down the stretch. Their battle was one for the ages and will undoubtedly fan the flames of one of the most heated individual competitive rivalries in all of basketball. Do note that I say competitive rivalries, the Stevenson, Wizards et. al./James rivalry is hardly competitive (zing!).
It was worth all of the anxiety and tension to see the best of Paul Pierce. It was electric to see him step up his game and carry the team in a deciding game. This performance could have been the best game of Pierce's life (remember stat geeks, defense and hustle count!), and even if it isn't, he was at the very least playing as if it were his last. Bottom line: If you didn't believe that Pierce is a top ten player in this league, I implore you to watch this game and tell me with a straight face that this is not so.
Keywords: 1988 Eastern Conference Finals, Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Delonte West, Dominique Wilkins, Eddie House, Larry Bird, LeBron James, Paul Pierce, PJ Brown, Ricky Davis
Comments
The Celtics are good, but as many of us out here on the West Coast have noted, any of the top 9 Western Conference teams could have won 66 games if they were playing in the East. It's just not a tough conference. Top that off with the fact that the Celtics went to 7 games apiece against the Cavs and the Hawks--the Hawks--and their chances suddenly don't seem so good. I wouldn't be surprised to see them get bounced by Detroit, and if they make it to the Finals, my money is on the West.
To be fair I'm not a fan of any of the remaining teams, and in fact I actively hate all of them.