After 10 seasons in the NBA, all with the most storied franchise in basketball, and many of those years being very difficult, Paul Pierce and the Boston Celtics are NBA Champions. The C’s ran away and hid from the lifeless Lakers at the Garden to capture Banner 17. KG totally reversed his self-proclaimed "garbage" performance in Game 5 to lead the Green to a blowout win.
Personally, this moment makes me think of two specific memories as I watch Paul Pierce dump Gatorade over Doc Rivers as the seconds ticked down. My first thought is 1987 over my grandparents house watching Magic sweep through the lane and hit a running hook to put the nail in the coffin for Larry Legend and the Celtics. I was heartbroken by that series. Obviously not knowing this at the time, but many years of heartache would soon follow after this moment.
Coincidentally, one of the few bright spots was my first day as an intern for Comcast SportsNet (then Fox Sports New England) in 1998. It was NBA Draft night at the Garden (then FleetCenter). I didn’t receive much direction of where to go that night from my supervisor, so I kind of wandered around not knowing what I was supposed to be doing. I had front row seat as the entire crowd watched as Paul Pierce from Kansas kept slipping and slipping, eventually down to # 10 and the Boston Celtics.
Game 6 is tonight and Wicked Good Sports is providing you with complete coverage of the NBA Finals between the Celtics and Lakers. Here’s a list of the Top 10 links covering game 6.
ESPN’s Game 6 Preview
Bill Simmons: Ready for 17?
Bob Ryan’s Series Recap and Game 6 expectations
At the Bank, it’s locked up (maybe) by Dan Shaugnessy
Easy-to-follow directions for Celtics to arrive at title No. 17 by Steve Bulpett
Kobe Won’t Force..Says Lakers Don’t Need To
Pierce has jumped from good to great in Finals
Physical play formerly the NBA’s signature style
Check back tomorrow for complete post game coverage.
Katherine Underwood talked to some fans after Game 5 of the NBA Finals around the TD Banknorth Garden.
With all the flopping, diving, whining, bad hairdos, and bad facial hair running through the NBA these days, I’ve decided to compile a list of ballers that you have probably considered punching (given the chance) in the face. Please feel free to comment if you think I’ve missed someone.
10. Richard Hamilton (Detroit Pistons)
The masked man has taken ‘ticky-tack’ play to a new level in the years since Reggie Miller retired. I’m glad that he can run around the court all day. I can appreciate that. What I don’t appreciate is that he pushes, pulls, tugs, swipes, and uses a variety of swim moves to get open. And that’s BEFORE he uses three screens to get an open shot. Defensively, he’s a pest. Not in a good way. In the “I flail my arms as soon as I receive any type of contact” kind of way. Take the mask off Rip, you punk.
9. Al Horford (Atlanta Hawks)
Al was a player I thought I liked when he came out of Florida. I’ve come to realize that I only like him slightly more than the disdainful Joakim Noah, his college teammate. His actions in the Celtics-Hawks series, including taunting Paul Pierce, celebrating wins like he won the Super Bowl, and his general “gotta show you I’m tough” demeanor made me feel like decking this guy. He’s got the potential to become a “Punch him in the face All Star”.
Matt Damon...only pumped for a minute. / Getty Images" src="http://newengland.comcastsportsnet.com/wp-content/image/wgs/jlevine/matt_damon.jpg" />Personally, I thought the series was over last night. I did not think A) The Lakers wanted to fly across the country to get their asses kicked at the Garden, B) they didn’t have the heart (see: Odom and/or Gasol), and C) Kobe was going to take 112 shots and the rest of the team was going to start not even bothering to play on offense from the middle of the 2nd quarter on. Obviously none of these things happened. Paul Pierce did his best to win his coveted ring in his hometown. KG, on the the other hand, did not play his best game in Green. Some critical missed free throws and constant foul trouble really were a killer. In his own words, "I played like garbage."
So now the teams head back this way for what should be a very loud TD Banknorth Garden. A major championship has not been won in the city of Boston since June 8, 1986, when the Celtics captured Banner #16 against the Houston Rockets. Boston looks to repeat the same trend in that series by winning Games 1, 2, 4, and 6. This reporter was out at DJ’s at the Garden last night ready to celebrate in the streets and possibly high five some people I had never met. The Boston Police department was primed and ready for a celebration with several reports from fellow patrons of a large number of police, riot gear, cops on horsies, archers, and the brut squad (Andre the Giant as Fesik) from "The Princess Bride". Sound crazy? I am just reporting what I saw.
Celtics center Kendrick Perkins is out for tonight’s Game 5 according to an interview Greg Dickerson just did with Perk in the locker room out in LA. Tune-in to GMC Trucks Celtics Pregame Live on from 7:30 to 8:30 on Comcast SportsNet.
Thoughts from a week that brought us one of the greatest games in Boston sports history—and a game that will be the sole focus of this column
“Defining Moment” of the Week
Ray Allen’s “give me the ball and get out of the way, there is no effing chance a guy named Sasha is stopping me” move on Sasha Vujacic at the end of Game 4 was the definition of what we’ve been looking for from the PGA Tour these entire playoffs.
The game was on the line, and Ray assumed total responsibility. He put the team on his back and said, “this is my game, and I’m finishing it right now.” If the Celtics end up winning the championship, this shot will not only be looked back on as the defining moment of the series, but potentially the defining moment of Ray Allen’s Hall of Fame (maybe) career.
There was nothing getting in the way of his will to score that hoop—not the fatigue, not the refs and certainly not Vujacic. And the way in which he finished it off was vintage Ray. It was everything I’ve grown to love about his game since last November, when I realized that he was far more than just a glorified spot up shooter.
Note: In Pierce’s interview with Michelle Tafoya after the game, he was talking about Ray’s basket and alluded to KG setting a big screen. Maybe Paul forgot which play he was talking about…
Comcast SportsNet had you covered with the best coverage after the Celtics shocked the Lakers at the Staples Center, coming back from a 24 point deficit to win and take a 3-1 series lead in the NBA Finals. Boston now stands one win away from capturing their 17th NBA Championship. Here are some of the interviews we secured after last night’s game.
Greg Dickerson and Mike Gorman recap Game 4 and look ahead to Sunday’s Game 5 as the Celtics look to clinch.
Celtics captain Paul Pierce talks to the media in a state of disbelief after the rousing comeback by Boston.
Celtics guard Ray Allen talks with Mike Gorman right after the game.
Celtics Exec. Dir of Basketball Ops. Danny Ainge chats with Mike Gorman about the Celtics impressive comeback and Doc Rivers coaching magic during Game 4.
Eddie House talks about his extended playing time with Greg Dickerson.
As Doc Rivers just reported to the media on Celtics Pregame Live, Rajon Rondo is "ready to go" and the his foot injury will "not be a factor" for Game 4 tonight. As Donny Marshall just stated, you have to be a little skeptical about Doc’s confidence in Rajon being full speed. This could be gamesmanship on Doc’s part. It could be a message to Rondo hoping he hears this and does not even think about it. Only time will tell if Rajon’s injury wasn’t as serious as first thought. One thing for certain…Phil Jackson is probably somewhere saying he faked it.
Celtics forward Brian Scalabrine is with Miss Massachusetts contestant Jackie Bruno down at the Garden. Scal tries teach her basketball while Miss Mass shows Scal how to be even more of a sex symbol than he already is.
Laura Behnke of "Celtics Now" talks to some Celtics and Lakers fans to see who is superior. The clear winner is made evident as one Los Angeles resident shifts the conversation to the Patriots losing the Super Bowl. Does the biggest city in the country have a NFL team? I forget?
Check out the newest podcast from Rich Levine as we all await Game 4 of the NBA Finals. Rich is once again joined by Nick Altschuler from the Improper Bostonian. If you have a question for "The Dino Radja Experience", email us at dinoradjaexperience@gmail.com.
Comcast SportsNet has taken the show on the road to Los Angeles for the NBA Finals all this week! Join Mike Gorman, Donny Marshall, Greg Dickerson, Gary Tanguay and Laura Behnke as we bring you all the stories, talks to the stars, and deliver the most coverage as the Celtics look to capture Banner 17. Here is the schedule of Comcast Sportsnet’s coverage of the NBA Finals this week.
GAME 3: TUESDAY, JUNE 10
6:30pm - Mohegan Sun Sport Tonight "On the Road" in L.A. presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods
7:30pm - GMC Trucks Pregame Live (CSN)
9:00pm - Boston LA Lakers (ABC)
NE Ford Dealers Postgame Live right after the game (CSN)
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11
6:30pm - Mohegan Sun Sport Tonight "On the Road" in L.A. presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods
7:30pm - "Drive for 17" presented by Mohegan Sun
Live from Los Angeles
Hosted by Mike Gorman and Donny Marshall
10:00pm - Mohegan Sun Sport Tonight Late Edition "On the Road" in L.A. presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods
GAME 4: THURSDAY, JUNE 12
6:30pm - Mohegan Sun Sport Tonight "On the Road" in L.A. presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods
7:30pm - GMC Trucks Pregame Live (CSN)
9:00pm - Boston LA Lakers (ABC)
NE Ford Dealers Postgame Live right after the game (CSN)
FRIDAY, JUNE 13
6:30pm - Mohegan Sun Sport Tonight "On the Road" in L.A. presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods
7:30pm - "Drive for 17" presented by Mohegan Sun
Live from Los Angeles
You may not know it, but that Celtics jersey you wore to the game last night, or that you’ll wear to the bar tomorrow night says a lot about who you are. It says a lot about your lifestyle. A lot about what makes you tick.
What follows is a breakdown of Celtics fans by their jersey of choice. It’s important to note that not every fan has every characteristic. It’s just that if you own said jersey, there’s a good chance you fall into one of the categories below it.
As always, players are listed alphabetical by first name:
Brian Scalabrine
*You’re white
*You played JV basketball your junior year of high school
*You miss important plays because you are turned around yelling at the people behind you to up stand and clap.
*You lose your voice on weekends
*You wouldn’t be caught dead with a mixed drink
Eddie House
*You’re under 6-feet-tall
*When you’re playing pick up games you never set foot inside the three-point circle unless you’ve been cherry picking and get an uncontested fast break lay up.
*The Entourage character you best relate to is Turtle
*You have at least one older brother
*At some point in your life, you’ve been prescribed ritalin
Glen “Big Baby” Davis
*You weigh more than 220 pounds are fewer than 150.
*If all your friends voted, you’d win the superlative for “Guy Most Likely to Take His Shirt Off When He’s Drunk”
*You’ve been booed off of a karaoke stage
*You drink a lot of Diet Coke
*You tailgate for every Patriots game, regardless of whether you’re going.
