NBA Playoffs 2011: Celtics Rattled Heat in Game 3

In their Eastern Conference Semifinal showdown, both the Boston Celtics and the Miami Heat are on trial. Boston because of their age, and Miami because of their talent. Each team must prove that these much-discussed attributes can work in their favor.

In Game 3 on Saturday, the Boston Celtics, down two games to none in the series, exhibited that they are definitely not yet over the hill.

Indeed the C's put a second-half whooping on the Heat that is going to sting until Monday game time—if not longer. The bean-town ballers held Miami to a paltry 35 points after the half, reducing the vaunted high fliers from Florida to a squad of desperate jump shooters with no clear view of the basket, and no pathway to the basket.

The Celtics got mean after the break.

Ray Allen had a look of disdain for D-Wade when he was guarding him, and his defense matched his disdain. Allen added a crushing three-pointer to put the Celtics up by 16 points in the fourth quarter.

Paul Pierce, whose face showed scowl, sneer, and icy stare to his counterpart, totally stifled LeBron James, who finished with 15 harmless points. Pierce hit his on-balance, off-balance trademark jumpers when it counted, and he ran the game as well, orchestrating from half court—ball in his hands; directing words coming from his mouth.

Kevin Garnett took Joel Anthony—who was being given praise way beyond his ability in the series—to school on both offense and defense. Poor Anthony thought he had a rejuvenated career until Garnett ate him alive following halftime—really all game long—with an assortment of hooks, face-up jumpers, and drives.

By now the statistics are known: Garnett, 28 points; Pierce, 27 points; Allen, 15 points; Rondo, 11 assists.

But it was the way these four worked together that told the tale. Therein lies the C's basketball beauty this day. Each one got the basketball from the other in rhythm, where he could do the most with it, at the confident spot of each player. And once each got a shot or two to fall, there was no stopping the Green and White clad team with all of the championship banners.

Here is more juicy detail:

Rondo was able to get out on the break, after he harassed the bewildered Miami crew. Garnett rebounded (18 boards for the game to be exact) and he threw meaningful outlet passes for scores; Paul Pierce quarterbacked like Bob Cousy; and Ray Allen had D-Wade chasing him like a ghost, thereby facilitating the whole of Boston's offense.

Yes, this was true Boston Celtics Twenty-First Century hoops.

The Los Angeles Lakers are now out of their misery, having shamefully lost to the historically invisible Dallas Mavericks. The Boston Celtics—if Game Three is any indication—have no intention of going down easily. Rajon Rondo playing with practically one arm in the second half following a collision with Dwayne Wade symbolizes the Celtics' will to survive.

The Celtics must take enormous solace from Game 3 because Miami reverted to Miami. The Heat looked like a horror, wilting when things got too hot for them—that is, when the Celtics turned up the defensive intensity. If the Celtics play their best and the Heat play their best, the Celtics will win because the Celtics have three Hall-of-Fame players (to two for the Heat), in addition to a fourth possible in Rajon Rondo.

And to state a plain fact: If their was one player from both teams to be had in a pressure series, the choice would have to be Paul Pierce. Dwayne Wade had that one great championship run, but Pierce would be the man. Pierce is clutch; he produces consistently; and he is even pretty to watch (LeBron and D-Wade are not watchable at times).

The Celtics can only hope that at this point in their careers they can sustain the level of play shown in their latest victory.