One of the best series ever: Celtics win 4-3

[Illini Iceman]

This was my favorite part:

 

Either way, I am prepared for anything: KG pulling a Willis Reed, Jordan and Bird showing up, Rondo hitting John Salmons with a chair, Doc running the series-deciding play for Tony Allen, Kevin Harlan's head flying off his body, Tim Thomas experiencing a human emotion, you name it. That's the best thing about this series: Anything is possible. The ceiling hasn't just been removed, it's been obliterated.

 

I thought this was funny:

 

My best-case scenario would be the Celtics winning in quintuple-OT, followed by Ray Allen and Ben Gordon collapsing into each other's arms like Apollo and Rocky as Allen says, "Ain't gonna be no rematch.".

[RedFlash]

NEW YORK -- The NBA has decided not to take any additional action against Rajon Rondo for his skirmish with Kirk Hinrich in Game 6.

 

The league said Friday the first-quarter play would stand as a flagrant foul against Rondo. It could have upgraded the foul or even suspended the Celtics' point guard for Game 7 of the series Saturday.

 

Chicago was leading 34-25 Thursday when Derrick Rose rebounded a missed 3-pointer by Boston's Stephon Marbury with 30 seconds left. That's when Rondo shoved Hinrich into the scorer's table. Hinrich pushed him back and Rondo then threw an elbow that missed.

 

The league previously declined to further penalize Rondo for his foul on Brad Miller in the closing seconds of Game 5.

 

Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press

 

 

Not surprising, but still... horsehowry

 

Then NBA then you should allow Hinrich and Miller to have free reign on Rondo at any time in the game. I want to see Rondo have his butt beaten down.

[illiniguy]

Yep, this outta read. Come one this is for game 7. Howard could have shot Dalembert with a rifle in the mouth and not had to sit for game 7.

 

Huh?

 

Edit: I see I'm not the only one.

I was trying to show how the NBA only got tough with Dwight Howard because it was for game 6. There is no way he would have sat either were it a game 7. I did so poorly.

[ELCABALLO45]

So pumped for this game, and im not even a Celtic or Bulls fan.

[illiniguy]

So pumped for this game, and im not even a Celtic or Bulls fan.

The series has been amazing.

[Guest]

http://i39.tinypic.com/2m3sh7a.jpg

 

Should have drafted Hawes.

[ELCABALLO45]

So pumped for this game, and im not even a Celtic or Bulls fan.

The series has been amazing.

 

It really has been.

 

Its amazing that a NBA game/series is getting talked about THIS much. I think Stuart Scott mentioned Oprah mentioned it on her show today. Its leading Sportscenter. And today on NBA fastbreak or whatever, they didnt even lead with the Hawks/Heat game, it talked about this game. This series is what sports is all about. I wish it didn't have to end.

[SouthSideRyan]

Yeah, Spencer Hawes sucks.

[ChiCubsFan]

go bulls

[Guest]

NEW YORK -- The NBA has decided not to take any additional action against Rajon Rondo for his skirmish with Kirk Hinrich in Game 6.

 

The league said Friday the first-quarter play would stand as a flagrant foul against Rondo. It could have upgraded the foul or even suspended the Celtics' point guard for Game 7 of the series Saturday.

 

Chicago was leading 34-25 Thursday when Derrick Rose rebounded a missed 3-pointer by Boston's Stephon Marbury with 30 seconds left. That's when Rondo shoved Hinrich into the scorer's table. Hinrich pushed him back and Rondo then threw an elbow that missed.

 

The league previously declined to further penalize Rondo for his foul on Brad Miller in the closing seconds of Game 5.

 

Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press

 

 

Not surprising, but still... horsehowry

 

Then NBA then you should allow Hinrich and Miller to have free reign on Rondo at any time in the game. I want to see Rondo have his butt beaten down.

 

If the Celtics start to run away with the game, Rondo is going to get hit hard by somebody on the Bulls.

[RedFlash]

 

Should have drafted Hawes.

 

To do what? Work with a man name Hawk to solved cases?

[Flames24Rulz]

http://i39.tinypic.com/2m3sh7a.jpg

 

Should have drafted Hawes.

 

Keep proving me wrong, Joakim.

[Careless]

That game was great....even my wife and in laws, who typically could care less about this stuff sat there through the overtimes watching that game. So exhausting.

yeah, even my wife, who didn't live in this country until a few years ago (although her country played a bit of dunkless basketball) got wrapped up with watching the last overtime.

 

I keep having to call my bulls fan but tivos everything father to tell him to extend the end-time on the recording for the game

[Guest]

people are talking about whether this is the greatest series of all time? i guess it's interesting and the teams may be more closely matched than just about any two teams that have ever met in an NBA playoff series, but really isn't it just because the celtics are missing their best player and the teams are equally "pretty good?" i mean, nobody thinks either of these teams have a shot in hell at beating the cavs, so i have a hard time getting that into it.

All this legendary series talk is dumb. It's exciting, but you hit it on the head. It's two mediocre teams who happen to match up well. If these were two teams with ambition to play for, then maybe, in their current states it's a joke.

 

 

I don't think the stakes have to be so high for it to warrant consideration. Nobody's saying it's the most important series of all time. It's amazing because nobody's seen anything like it before. And that makes it special, regardless of either team's title aspirations.

 

Agreed.

 

I don't think the circumstances matter (i.e. KG missing and the teams not being two of the best like Lakers/Cavs). Obviously KG being in and both teams being 65 win teams would make it a bit better, but not much. The thing that matters is that five of the six games have all had multiple big shots with four of them going into at least one overtime. Five of the six games have been hotly contested and have featured remarkable comebacks on both sides.

 

Sure, the stakes could be higher. Sure, the teams could be better and at full strength.

 

But entertaining is still entertaining. Like snood said, people are just arguing that it's the most riveting series, not the series with the most on the line.

[gflore34]

I don't expect the Bulls to win, some BS call or non-call will lead to their demise but, I'd like to see them play some better defense today. I mentioned they don't play defense perhaps, I should have said they don't play much defense. For six games now I've seen the same things from the Celtics yet, Vinnie has been unable to make defensive adjustments to counter them.

 

I've seen:

1. Ray Allen - all he wants to do is come off screens and shoot 3's

2. Paul Peirce - left, left, left, first, middle and last moves always to his left

[ChiCubsFan]

I don't expect the Bulls to win, some BS call or non-call will lead to their demise but, I'd like to see them play some better defense today. I mentioned they don't play defense perhaps, I should have said they don't play much defense. For six games now I've seen the same things from the Celtics yet, Vinnie has been unable to make defensive adjustments to counter them.

 

I've seen:

1. Ray Allen - all he wants to do is come off screens and shoot 3's

2. Paul Peirce - left, left, left, first, middle and last moves always to his left

 

I hate vinny, but he finally did make the adjustment late in the game and ran another defender at Pierce to trap him and eventually make Rondo or Big Baby (who apparently developed an 18 foot jump shot in the past 2 weeks) take the shot instead of Pierce.

 

You are right though, they need to play better defense. I don't expect the Bulls to win, but I don't expect them to lose. All I expect is another game that comes down to the end and hopefully the Bulls can pull it out one more time. I hope their youthfulness and bench cancel out the advantage Boston has of "experience" and home court advantage.

[rawaction]

 

I hate vinny, but he finally did make the adjustment late in the game and ran another defender at Pierce to trap him and eventually make Rondo or Big Baby (who apparently developed an 18 foot jump shot in the past 2 weeks) take the shot instead of Pierce.

 

Agreed and this should not stop. If the Bulls lose due to Rondo and Davis hitting 18 footers, more power to the Celtics. The key will be getting Perkins in foul trouble again. He's the only thing keeping the Bulls from getting to the basket at will. If the Celts stay big and bring in Scalabrine or Moore, Noah and Tyrus should be able to dominate the offensive boards. If the Celts go small, the Bulls will destroy Eddie House. I thought the Bulls were a lot better without Gordon in the game. And frankly, if he's not shooting well, the Bulls are better without him on the floor. I like Hinrich on Allen.

[ChiCubsFan]

 

I hate vinny, but he finally did make the adjustment late in the game and ran another defender at Pierce to trap him and eventually make Rondo or Big Baby (who apparently developed an 18 foot jump shot in the past 2 weeks) take the shot instead of Pierce.

 

Agreed and this should not stop. If the Bulls lose due to Rondo and Davis hitting 18 footers, more power to the Celtics. The key will be getting Perkins in foul trouble again. He's the only thing keeping the Bulls from getting to the basket at will. If the Celts stay big and bring in Scalabrine or Moore, Noah and Tyrus should be able to dominate the offensive boards. If the Celts go small, the Bulls will destroy Eddie House. I thought the Bulls were a lot better without Gordon in the game. And frankly, if he's not shooting well, the Bulls are better without him on the floor. I like Hinrich on Allen.

 

And I agree with everything here. Hopefully Perkins picks up a couple early fouls and stays in foul trouble throughout the game.

[RedFlash]

 

I hate vinny, but he finally did make the adjustment late in the game and ran another defender at Pierce to trap him and eventually make Rondo or Big Baby (who apparently developed an 18 foot jump shot in the past 2 weeks) take the shot instead of Pierce.

 

Agreed and this should not stop. If the Bulls lose due to Rondo and Davis hitting 18 footers, more power to the Celtics. The key will be getting Perkins in foul trouble again. He's the only thing keeping the Bulls from getting to the basket at will. If the Celts stay big and bring in Scalabrine or Moore, Noah and Tyrus should be able to dominate the offensive boards. If the Celts go small, the Bulls will destroy Eddie House. I thought the Bulls were a lot better without Gordon in the game. And frankly, if he's not shooting well, the Bulls are better without him on the floor. I like Hinrich on Allen.

 

And I agree with everything here. Hopefully Perkins picks up a couple early fouls and stays in foul trouble throughout the game.

 

I certainly don't hate VDN, but I do agree with the message of attacking the C's. It starts with Derrick Rose. Rose cannot be settling for jump shots. If Rose is schooling Rondo and Perkins while getting to the hoop with ease then that opens up everything for the Bulls. Rose needs to get the C's to collapse on him so that Gordon and Salmons (who I expect both to hve great games) can have open opportunities. But the most important thing the Bulls need to do to beat the Celts is too take advantage of their one major advantage and that is their bench. Run the Celtics at EVERY opportunity of the game. The Bulls will need Hinrich and Miller to continue to play well against the C's "2nd team", cause if they do that it keeps the Bulls first team fresh and allows them to continue to run the Celtic's ragged.

[Cynosure]

Actually incredibly excited about a basketball game for the first time in a LOOOOONG time.

[Schwarber Fan]

Celtics: 166

Bulls: 165

 

7 OT

[cubswin2009]

http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/1603/chibos.jpg

[Tyrant]

http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/1603/chibos.jpg

 

That's pretty good.

[Cynosure]

Garnett participated in the shoot-around today... but Rivers is lying and saying he's still not playing.

[Mark Priors Calves]

i'll fully admit to being a very fairweather bulls fan since the championship years.

 

two weeks ago, i watched the first half of game 1 one of this series when i was at the gym. i rushed home at half time and watch the rest of the game. i've watched every minute of the series since with the exception of the garbage time in the game three blowout.

 

i'm absolutely excited for tonight's game. i haven't wanted to win a game so badly since the bears in the superbowl two years ago. i'm not convinced the bulls are going to win tonight, butregardless, i've definitely become a bulls fan again. this series has been amazing and i won't be that disappointed with a loss. hopefully they do pull it and garnett has to walk off the court with his stupid huge chin buried in his chest.