Boston Celtics: A Date With LeBron Is Reward For First Round Win

No one thought the Boston Celtics would play seven games in the opening round against the Atlanta Hawks.  I don’t even think any of the Hawks thought it would go seven. 

The series did, and if there had to be a seventh game, yesterday went about as well as any Boston fan could have hoped.

The game might well have been scripted by a Boston fan, right down to Kevin Garnett sending Zaza Pachulia crashing to the ground with a hard screen before KG departed to the Celtics bench for good with 2:02 left in the third and Boston ahead 73-39.

That was my favorite play of the game.  Pachulia had flopped and hacked his way through the series, and received far too much attention for someone who averaged four points and three rebounds.

He and KG had their run-in during game four.  That received a lot of attention.  The play that didn’t receive any attention though happened about a minute before Pachulia got knocked on his butt yesterday.

With the Celtics well on their way to a fourth blowout victory in the series, Pierce drove the lane and made a behind the back pass to Garnett.  KG took the pass and went up for another emphatic dunk.  Zaza, who was being beat for the easy hoop, put two hands in Garnett’s back and pushed him.

He was called for a foul but there was no mention of Zaza’s shove to the back.  KG didn’t react, but I am sure he took note.  And a minute later, when the chance came up to send a final message to Zaza, Garnett did.

Perfect.

There was another play from yesterday that stands out—Marvin Williams’ hard foul on Rajon Rondo.  The NBA has the reputation of over reacting and not letting players play.  But that was as clear a flagrant foul as any I have seen and the refs did what they had to and ejected Williams.  Right call.

The Celtics kept their cool, and just continued on with their domination—Rondo hit the free throws and then Ray Allen nailed a three for a five-point trip up the court.  Meanwhile, Williams went back to the lockerroom and watched the replay.  He and Rondo apparently are friends and I have the feeling he felt badly it had happened.

I have not watched much Hawks basketball before this series, but Williams does not come off as a dirty player.  I am sure he was frustrated and reacted.  It happens.  I hope there are no lingering effects, that this is isn’t something that bothers him going forward and he can forget about it. 

It was a much tougher series than anyone could have predicted.  I’ve never seen anything like it.  I am sure there have been seven-game NBA series with the home team winning each game—but I can’t recall a series where one team won four games so convincingly, by an average of 25.3 points, only to see that team lose three close games on the road. 

The young Hawks got themselves up off the mat after the first two games and made it a series.  They didn’t back down, they weren’t intimidated, and when the Celtics talked trash, the Hawks gave it right back to them. 

This is what playoff basketball is about, when familiarity between teams turns into animosity.  It was great to watch.

Rookie Al Horford gave it to the Celtics as good as they dished it out.  In game three after a big hoop, he ran up the court, got right in Pierce’s face, and let him know the Hawks were about to win the game.  I hated seeing that because I am a Celtics fan, but as a basketball fan, I enjoyed seeing a young player who was not intimidated.

What will this series mean for Atlanta going forward?  Will they and their fans, and potential free agents, see a young team on the rise that pushed the team with the best record to a game seven? 

Or will people just remember the game seven blow out?  I can see it going either way.  Although I am sure the Atlanta fans, unlike the bandwagon Boston fans that Mike Bibby talked about, will stand by the team and sellout all the games regardless of the team’s wins and losses next season. 

Next up for Boston, Cleveland.

The debate I heard last night as I watched highlights was what does this series mean for the Celtics.  Yes they dominated four games, but do they have a problem winning on the road.

I don’t think that is really the issue to worry about against Cleveland.

The difference between the games in Boston and the games in Atlanta was the officiating.  Whether you agree or not with the calls, the games in Atlanta were officiated tighter, with calls off the ball against Boston that sent the Hawks parading to the free throw line.  In Boston, the refs for the most part, let the teams play, saving their calls for plays on the ball and shooting fouls (and a devastating pick).

How the games are officiated will matter and I think it is clear Boston benefits when the officials let the players play.

The real issue isn’t can Boston win on the road, but can the Celtics win a close game regardless of where it is played. 

There is no question where Cleveland is going with the ball down the stretch in a close game—it is the same place they are going with the ball in every other situation. 

His name is LeBron.  You may have heard of him.  He is pretty good.

What is Boston going to do down the stretch?  This team has prided itself all season on being unselfish, right down to KG only wanting to do interviews if Ray Allen and Paul Pierce were with him.  But in basketball, at times, you need a player to be selfish.  Especially in the playoffs.  You need a player to take the game over.  Who will that be for Boston?

I nominate Paul Pierce.

Garnett is a uniquely talented player and can impact a game like almost no other player in the league.  But this is his thirteenth year in the league, and the question of can he dominate a game on offense in the closing minutes continues to be asked.

I don’t think now is when he will finally put that question to rest.  It has to be Pierce.  That doesn’t mean Pierce has to shoot the ball every time. But the offense has to run through him in a half court set when Boston finds itself in a situation where it absolutely needs a hoop.

Cleveland and Boston played four times this season, with each team winning twice.  The home team won each game.

The Cavs handed Boston its second loss of the season in late November in overtime behind 38 points, four rebounds and 13 assists from LeBron.  Ray Allen led Boston with 29 points, but missed a pair of key free throws with the game tied late in regulation.

The teams split the next two games, with Boston beating Cleveland in a game that LeBron did not play in, and then the Cavs beating Boston in a game that KG did not play in.

Finally in late February, the teams played again with all the stars present.  The Celtics led by 13 after three quarters on their way to a 92-87 victory.  LeBron scored 26, becoming the youngest player to 10,000 points during the game. Ray Allen again led Boston in scoring with 22 points and KG added 18, 11 boards, five assists and four steals.

LeBron averaged 32.3 points in the three games he played in.  Paul Pierce on the other hand, struggled offensively in the four games against the Cavs—averaging only 13.5 points on 37.3% field goal shooting (19-51). 

Does this undercut my theory of Pierce needing to be the man for the Celtics? I do not think so.  Boston needs Pierce to play well offensively, in part to ensure LeBron can't take a rest on any play while on defense.  

The key for Cleveland is clear.  LeBron must be, well, LeBron.  And the role players need to knock down open shots when James draws the attention of the Boston defense. 

The Celtics need to play with the defensive focus they showed in game seven, they need to not get frustrated when things do not go their way.  The non-All Stars, Rondo, Perkins, Powe, Posey, need to be consistent.  And it would help if the team had a timeout remaining for a key last second possession. 

But most importantly, they will need to execute down the stretch of games.  

I can't guarantee that the road team will win a game in this series, although I expect it to happen—but I can guarantee that Boston will not be able to knock off Cleveland by winning four games in blowout fashion. 

If the Celtics are to advance to the Eastern Conference finals, they are going to have to win tightly contested games, and execute offensively in the closing minutes.