Wow! Some game last night between the Celtics and the Bulls. I've said it before and there's nothing like men in the NBA, the world's best league, playing for a ring in the playoffs.
I had more than a few phone calls and e-mails from people asking me if I still feel that Paul Pierce is one of the top offensive players in the league after he seemed to be sputtering through yet another so-so game. But "The Truth" turned it on in the fourth quarter and overtime and showed that he belongs in the conversation when you discuss guys who consistently make big shots at the end of the game. His time has past when it comes to major awards as he will never win a regular season MVP, although he does have a Finals MVP trophy on his mantle at home, but he can still deliver the knockout punch. Just ask Chicago as he had 15 points in the fourth quarter and overtime to give Boston a 3-2 series lead. Chicago knew he was getting the ball but couldn't stop his mid range game as he was quicker than John Salmons in squeezing off his pull up jumper and may have been too big for another smaller defender. Kirk Hinrich did a good job in defending him but it wasn't crunch time which is where Pierce comes through when the team needs it most.
The short answer to the question is "yep, Pierce can still do it". Funny, with Ray Allen fouling out on two of the worst calls I've ever seen for fouls five and six, and Kevin Garnett barking from the bench, the Celtics personnel on the floor looked like the team that finished near the bottom of the Atlantic Division a couple of season ago. Amazing how player development through experience, confidence and a taste of winning can improve a team. Rajon Rondo almost put up his third triple double of the series while Glen "Big Baby" Davis and Kendrick Perkins, the only two legitimate frontcourt big men left in the Celtics line up, played very well.
Rondo's foul on Brad Miller near the end of the game was a hard playoff foul. Amazingly, after Miller missed the first free throw, he needed both to tie the game, he tried to intentionally miss the second one but did not know the rule. It was one of the first rules you are taught when you stand there as a youngster heaving the ball at the hoop on a free throw. If it doesn't hit the rim, there can be no offensive rebound as the violation gives the ball to the other team. It was drilled into me with my first coach yelling "Hey Jones, easy on the airballs at the line. The least you could do is hit the rim to give our big guy a chance for the board."
The opposite of Miller is a situation I saw this season during the end of Raptors practice on the road where Jay Triano was covering every late game situation. Toronto actually has a play if they have to miss a free throw at the end of a game to get a rebound. The shooters aim for a particular side on the rim to have the carom go to a certain spot where there can be screens on rebounders and the like where they can have a chance for an offensive rebound. It's a far cry from Miller's backboard smashing rocket he threw up at the glass last night.
The series has been hotly contested between the Bulls and the Celtics but Doc Rivers and Chicago head coach Vinny Del Negro are friends as former teammates and have a great deal of respect for one another. I remember Rivers telling me how the minute he entered the game for the first time as a San Antonio Spur, there was a play called for him. It is a balancing act right now as the two men, who are close friends, desperately want to win the series.
Dwight Howard got hit with a one-game suspension for his elbow last night in Orlando's win over Philadelphia. Without "Superman" in the line up, I'm looking for a game seven between the Magic and Sixers.
I picked the Dallas Mavericks to defeat the San Antonio Spurs, so I'm not surprised by the win. But what I do raise an eyebrow to is how quickly the Mavs dispatched of the Spurs. Has San Antonio gone from being "experienced" to old that quickly, or is it a matter of just one key injury with Manu Ginobili out of the line up? I guess we'll find out next season when Manu is healthy. But rest assured, the Spurs are not going to rest lightly after their ouster at the hands of the Mavericks.
And speaking of a team that has some work to do, what about the Detroit Pistons? Has Cleveland played yet? Oh yeah, that's right they had what was akin to four regular season games in its first round series win. That's a good thing for the Cavaliers as rest is always welcome come playoff time.
There is much discussion regarding Carlos Boozer's future with the Utah Jazz. But Boozer is not the only player that the Jazz need to make a determination on going forward. One name that will garner interest is Ronnie Price. The back up point guard is quick, can break defenders down on the dribble, and could potentially be a bargain for some team this summer if the Jazz runs out of money bringing back the likes of Paul Millsap and Jarron Collins. Raptor fans will remember that it was Price two seasons ago on St. Patrick's Day in Salt Lake City that frustrated T.J. Ford to the point that he lost his cool and was ejected from the game. Price matched Ford's exceptional quickness step for step in that game and served notice that would not back down from anyone.
