I’m pretty sure everyone will be saying the same thing. If Lebron wasn’t such a wuss and if Wade hit that last second three, we’re having a completely different discussion this morning.
Let’s back up a bit.
Friday as we’re sitting at Buffalo Wild Wings, we said that there needs to be some support from the bench. We were saying that the C’s can’t have Rondo playing 53 minutes a game (plus OT). We needed the bench to wake up and contribute.
Needless to say Friday we were high fiving and praising Dooling and Daniels. Two guy we thought we’d never have anything good to say about them. Two guys that really helped make sure that the starters were able to rest. By keeping their lead with the starters on the bench, there wasn’t a sense of urgency for Doc to rush the starters back in the game. Celtics win and it was a 2-1 series.
Without Avery Bradley I didn’t think the Celtics would win this series. Heading into the playoffs I absolutely thought the C’s could win the series. They had already won in Miami in the regular season and kicked the shit of the Heat at home.
Again, no Bradley, I didn’t think they could win the series.
Back to last night and let’s skip ahead to the third quarter. The Celtics lead was slipping away (it was as high as 18). The refs must have gotten a call from the league office at the half because in the blink of an eye the Celtics had both Peirce and Rondo with four fouls and headed to the bench. A five point lead heading into the fourth.
Ugh…
I know I spoke to this last week, but I hate when you’ve had a long weekend and you’re in desperate need of sleep but you emotionally invest in a game and then you can’t sleep. You have to stick it out.
That’s what happened last night.
So the Celtics lose the lead at the start of the fourth and I’m regretting not rolling over and falling asleep like in game two. They volley back and forth in the fourth and the C’s are clinging to a three point lead with less than a minute. I’m thinking OK defense, clamp down. They clamped a little but Lebron nailed a three to tie the game with it looking like the C’s getting the last shot.
Then the officials remembered their phone call from the half and whistle KG for an offensive foul with 21 seconds left in the game. At that point the boys should just be playing, no? It felt like the Sixers game when he was whistled for an offensive foul with 10 seconds left in the game.
Like I said at the top, Lebron doesn’t want that last shot. He doesn’t have it in him. So he dishes to Haslem who didn’t have a clean look and they miss. Headed to overtime again.
Ugh, I should have gone to sleep.
Or not. I didn’t expect the Heat to be as cold as the C’s from the field. With the C’s clinging to a two point lead Wade puts up a three for the win that he missed. Celtics win and the series is tied at two. The Celtics were able to hold the Heat to two points in the OT. They didn’t do much better scoring four, but so long as you’re scoring more than the other team, a win is a win.
They head back to Miami Tuesday night. I’m not jumping on the C’s able to win this series, I’m just happy they’ve made it a series. I expect Miami to win at home Tuesday but if somehow the C’s could steal game five. Wouldn’t a game six in Boston be amazing for the series win?
We’ll have to wait and see.
