How do you spell choke? P-I-E-R-C-E. On a last second play with the Celtics down by 1, Paulie was fouled former Florida doofus Joakim Noah, and went to the line with two shots. Paul drained the first to tie the game, and then stepped up to the line for the game winning shot. A game winning free throw. Brick. After a less than perfect overtime, the Green & White dropped the opening game in the opening round of the NBA playoffs to the Bulls 103-105, and everyone in Celtic Nation realized how difficult it is going to be to repeat without Kevin Garnett.
The game was close enough, 28-28 after the first period, followed by a superb second by the Bulls, a superb third by Austin, and then an even fourth. There was a couple of huge mistakes at the end of the game. First, Rajon Rondo fouled Derrick rose with the C's over the limit, allowing Rose to drain two free throws to give the Bulls the lead. Why would you foul him at that point? Then, when Noah fouled Pierce on the other end, it was all about to be rectified. But it wasn't. Pierce choked on the free throw line, Celtic fans everywhere let out a collective gasp in disappointment, and we were headed to an OT where you could see it all come crashing down. In the OT, it came down to a two point deficit for the C's with the clock winding down. Rondo would get fouled, but it didn't warrant any shots. On the final play, Ray Allen bricked a shot just inside the three point arc, and the game was over. At least fans living in the Massachusetts city that shall not be mentioned can move on with the Bruins playoff game tonight. What the heck am I supposed to do? I guess I have to wait for tomorrow's Canucks game to regain my smile, because we all know that the Halos aren't going to help me out the way they've been going.
Time for today's "Plums & Bums" awards are ready to be handed out for the opening game of this series: Plums go to Rajon Rondo (29 points in a supreme battle of the point guards), Glen Davis (18 points and a +7 afternoon), and I reluctantly give a plum to Derrick Rose (36 points in 50 minutes). The Chicago, IL native and Memphis graduate tied the all-time NBA record for most points scored by a rookie in their first playoff game. He tied freaking Kareem Abul-Jabbar! That was an effort that deserves to be pointed out. The bums of the game are Paul Pierce (the aforementioned joke of a free throw effort that cost the C's the game), Stephon Marbury (just an aweful 10 minutes of play, with 0 points and a -4 effort), and Ray Allen (just 4 points in 39 minutes, including an 0 for 6 afternoon from beyond the arc). Bum town, USA has become the capital of Celtics Nation today.
Monday afternoon is game 2 of the NBA's opening playoff round against Chicago, and it is scheduled on the anniversary of the 1986 playoff game with Michael Jordan scored 63 points against Austin in a Bulls loss. To put this baby into perspective, the Bulls had not beaten my boys in Green & White since they were called the Chicago Stags during the 1948 NBA Quarterfinals. It was so bad that Kevin Garnett shifted from watching the game on the bench in the first half to watching in the locker room in the second half. He almost knew what was coming. He didn't want to be seen watching it go down on national TV. Hopefully they get the ice down in time for the hockey game.
Can anyone explain to me the headline on ESPN.com about this game? "Blooming Onions!" What the hell does that mean?
As I walk off, I'd like to mention that the Andrew/Brandon/Jon post strike is at a LSF record 53 days. We're getting dangerously close to Joe DiMaggio.
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