Chicago Bulls Outlast Boston Celtics in Another Epic Battle

Bulls survived an epic 3-overtime thriller to force a Game 7. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)" title="The Bulls outlasted the Celtics in another battle for the ages" width="321" height="512" />

Rajon Rondo's fadeway was blocked by Derrick Rose, as the Bulls survived an epic 3-overtime thriller to force a Game 7. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose blanketed Boston Celtics guard Rajon Rondo, sticking with him by refusing to fall for his flurry of moves. Rondo spun, rose up and attempted a 14-foot jump shot as the clock wound down.

 

Regulation

This series has had it all: clutch shots, bloodied faces, and, as of Game 6, fights. 28 seconds remained in the first quarter with the Bulls leading by nine points. Celtics guard Stephon Marbury missed a 21-footer and Rose snagged the rebound.

While he casually took the ball up court, Rondo became entangled with Kirk Hinrich, Chicago’s sparkplug off the bench. Frustrated, he grabbed hold of Hinrich’s arm and threw him against the press table near Boston’s bench. Hinrich recovered quickly and went after Rondo, his hands in fists.

The referees immediately separated the two, who jawed back and forth while being held back by teammates. Rondo, who had already garnered a terrible reputation as a cheap head-hunter after clubbing Brad Miller in the final seconds of Game 5, was assessed a flagrant-two foul, meaning an automatic ejection, but was reviewed by the referees, who inexplicably downgraded the tackle, thereby allowing the guard to remain in the game.

The Bulls continued to play at their pace and hold a manageable lead hovering around a 8-10 point margin for a majority of the second period.

Rose, Miller, and John Salmons, who had 16 points in the half, did their best to keep the advantage in Chicago’s hands, and did, despite falling behind late.

The margin stayed slim in the third quarter, but was lengthened to eight entering the fourth thanks to a 11-2 run anchored by three three-pointers, including one by Miller. The center and genuis mid-season acquisition was the catalyst for the Bulls.

Everything he did was beneficial, using his wide array of talents to bring the type of inentsity and savvy leadership a young Chicago team needed.

To start the fourth quarter, Miller drove into the lane, took the contact by Brian Scalabrine, made the layup, then the free-throw that followed. Lanky and explosive forward Tyrus Thomas kept the crowd abuzz, dunking with authority off a beautiful pass by Salmons. The Bulls were in business, while the Celtics were rattled.

Boston wasn’t for long, rebounding with a furious rally. Over the ensuing seven minutes, the heart of the fourth quarter, they outscored the Bulls by fifteen to take a eight-point lead.

Chicago was flat. The fire was gone. It was not the same team that just seven minutes earlier had all the momentum. The run they allowed was made possible by a poor shot selection on offense.

They had succeeded driving the ball inside for the first three quarters and the first few possessions of the fourth, but went away from their game-plan by settling for outside contested jumpers with little ball movement.

They had the Celtics on the ropes, but let them back in, suddenly staring elimination in its devilish eye.

The game changed once Rondo stepped to the free-throw line with a chance to give Boston a commanding ten-point advantage with three minutes remaining. Rondo, just a 65 percent free-throw shoooter on the season, missed both, giving the Bulls life.

Rose–who else–was the one to knock some sense into his young team, driving to the hoop for a strong layup. It was time for Chicago to make a run of their own. Salmons followed with a jumper, then Miller went to work. After another miss by the Celtics, he was left wide-open at the top of the key beyond the three-point line.

For a 7-footer, he has always possessed this range, though a 32 percentage and 36 attempts on average per season don’t necessarily back this up. Without a Celtics in sight, Miller swished the three-pointer, then thrust his arms in the air and let out a yelp of content. The Bulls had regained the passion. They were back in the game.

For some reason, Tony Allen, a seldom used defensive specialist, was Boston’s got-to guy in the final minutes. Maybe head coach Doc Rivers got him mixed up with Ray Allen, who was on his way to a memorable offensive night.

Even though this was probably not the case, it was still perplexing to see the ball in his hands at such crucial junctures. His wayward layup set up Miller’s shot, then a 7-footer that caught nothing but air on the next possession led to a driving layup by Miller. These five points, benefited by Rivers horrid coaching, tied the game.

Both Celtics’ Paul Pierce and Bulls’ Ben Gordon missed their attempts to win. For the fourth time in six games, overtime was upon the two teams.

 

First Overtime

Chicago scored six of the first eight points in overtime, via baskets by Salmons, Hinrich, and Miller. Yet, because of Pierce’s aggressiveness, Boston tied the score with four of his free-throws. A turnaround jumper by power forward Glen Davis gave the Celtics the lead, but it wouldn’t last long.

After dribbling aimlessly at the top, Salmons drove to the hoop, scoring a awkward layup. Like Miller, Salmons was a mid-season acquisition, and a tremendous one at that. He helped turn the Bulls, which looked below-average before his arrival, into a playoff contender. A team that could keep up and defeat the defending champion Celtics.

Pierce, isolated on Hinrich, who looked scared out of his mind, missed another potential game-winning shot that usually falls.

 

Second Overtime

Salmons picked up where he left off, scoring the first seven points for Chicago to nab a three-point lead. After defensive stands by both teams, the magic was rekindled.

Allen continued his monstrous offensive display. With the shot clock dwindling and down by three points, Allen had the ball in the right corner guarded by 7-footer Joakim Noah. Noah played great defense on Allen, but it didn’t matter. Allen canned a jumper. One problem: his left foot toed the line, meaning Boston remained behind.

Miller, who missed two free-throws at the end of a bitter Game 5 loss, swished two after being fouled by Davis. It was a three-point game once again. Not for long.

Allen made up for his lack of awareness on his previous jumper, scurrying down the court to drain a tying three-pointer. His 47th, 48th, and 49th points in this classic battle.

 

Third Overtime

Rose continued to engrave his name in playoff lore, hitting two jumpers for a slim one-point lead. After a free-throw by Hinrich, Allen answered with his final points, tying the game with under two minutes left.

Noah answered with the biggest play of his career. Paul Pierce attempted to pass out of a double-team, but it was deflected, and fell into the hands of Noah.

A second-year player out of Florida, Noah brings the intangibles; he makes all the hustle plays, whether it’s diving on the floor for loose balls, grabbing key rebounds, or collecting steals. He does it all, bringing an intensity that epitomizes the fight that the young Bulls possess.

Noah sped down-court as Pierce stuck with him stride for stride. He challenged Pierce, who desperately could not afford to pick of a disqualifying sixth foul. The Celtics forward would, much to the dismay of Rivers, but not before Noah lowered the boom.

From where he took off, it appeared he was both too far from the rim and at an awkward angle, considering Pierce was converging on him with his outstretched left arm.

Despite his efforts, Pierce was no match for the freight train. Noah slammed the ball through, then screamed in jubilation, emotion that makes him such a vital asset for the Bulls and their success.

Celtics guard Eddie House, who was inserted into the lineup for his offensive ability, didn’t disappoint, quieting the crowd with a jumper. Yet, like Allen, he had no idea where he was on the baseline, hitting a 21-footer instead of the 23-feet in distance Boston needed to tie. This time, this mistake would matter.

Miller stepped to the free-throw line after David committed a unnecessary foul with twenty-eight seconds left. Again, he made both free-throws, smiling on his way back down the court, clearly with the memories of Game 5 still fresh in his mind.

Rondo followed with a quick, uncontested drive into the lane, making the tip-shot off his own miss. It was a smart play, putting the pressure back on the Bulls, who would presumably be fouled and sent to the free-throw line.

This did not happen, as Hinrich slipped to the basket on the inbounds play. He missed the point-blank layup, to the shock of head coach Vinny Del Negro especially, who stood wide-eyed, staring off into space.

Now, a basket of any kind would win the game for Boston, a victory that would propel them into the second round. The clock ticked, as the red-clad fans stood in unison, anxiously silent. Rondo appeared to have Rose beat, but the rookie used the last burst he had.

He blocked Rondo’s shot, grabbed the rebound, and scampered down the court. He missed both free-throws, the second one intelligently, forcing Rondo into an off-balance mid-court heave the ricocheted hard off the backboard.

It took three overtimes and nearly four hours, but the Bulls mustered enough to outlast the Celtics. It was another magnificent game for the ages in a series that will go down as one of the best in the history of sport.