NBA fans won’t have to wait 10 years to see a replay of the landmark Celtics-Bulls showdown that ended Saturday with an anti-climatic thud following five unforgettable finishes, a playoff record four in overtime totaling seven extra stanzas.
Despite the relatively dull 109-99 finale in Boston’s favor, I’ve got to believe the league will begin airing the classic series as soon as it rewinds.
Other than an astonishing 16-point contribution from nuclear sub Eddie House in Game 7, nobody’s performance approached the staggering standards set previously.
Who said the Bulls owned a large bench advantage? Oh, that’s right, it was Doug Collins … until Brian Scalabrine stroked a couple long jumpers and House’s first mortar round zeroed in on the circular rim.
His memory sufficiently jogged, TNT’s lead analyst (if that doesn’t say it all) suddenly remembered a solid playoff game Milk Fed Veal played for the Nets back when. And after some additional offshore drilling by House, Collins reminded insignificant other Kevin Harlan (viewers, too, of course) he’d told us, “Watch out, he can get hot!” following House’s initial make.
Sure enough, Collins’ toady pretended, I think, that was news to him.
If it seems as if I’m picking on Collins, it’s only because I am. His bosses don’t know enough basketball to comprehend they’re being stiffed of real info or genuine insight — it’s what you’d expect from a guy always auditioning for his next big payday on the sidelines or the front office — but, judging by my e-mails, there are many of us who aren’t as easily fooled.
This is the classless column you get — petty, shallow and impolite — when pin-up players fail to live up to the hype of must-see games.
Paul Pierce and Ray Allen combined for 43 points and occasionally produced clutch baskets in an unanticipated area (see below), but neither took control when it counted (except at the free-throw line), and there were plenty of opportunities — for both sides; the Bulls simply failed to knock to tottering champs off their feet.
Ben Gordon wound up with 33 points, yet shot 7-23. Down 89-86 with a little over five minutes left, he also attempted an unconscionable 3-pointer off a fast break and had it blocked by Pierce (see above), who transformed it (missed drive, offensive rebound and assist) into a Kendrick Perkins layup.
Given one last chance to atone for that very mortal sin, Gordon had it commandeered by lead official Steve Javie. Down five, Gordon spun left baseline on House, who put two hands on him as he went by and elevated for the four-foot miss.
Throughout the fourth quarter, the three-man crew called pinky slaps and brush fouls in favor of Pierce and Allen — ignoring countless moving picks, I might add, which has become prevalent in the postseason — yet Javie, looking dead-on at the play, saw no evil.
You tell me, commissioner; I was under the distinct impression two hands on a ball carrier is an automatic foul. Or has another rule been changed without teams and fans being notified?
After busting out for 36 points and 12 rebounds in Game 1, Derrick Rose came up weak in four of the next six games. The rookie is so regal that a 9-of-18 shooting night is nothing to brag about, because he never got teammates their shots (three assists) or kept the pressure on Boston’s interior (one free throw) decorators.
I saved the best for last. Going into last night, Rajon Rondo was averaging a triple-double — 21.5 points, 11.7 assists and 10 rebounds — but had hurt his left ankle late in Game 6. Or was it his right? Actually, member of the Boston media believe both are hurting. That ended his disruption of the Bulls’ “D” with flash floods and chase-downs of long rebounds and fights for them in traffic.
As they say in the Army, “There’s always that 10 percent that doesn’t get it.”
During halftime intermission, Charles Barkley said with conviction that Rondo hasn’t shown the same aggression since smacking Brad Miller in the face to end Game 5. Ernie Johnson and Kenny Smith may not have nodded their heads in agreement, but they certainly didn’t disagree with Barkley or mention his ailing ankles.
If Rondo had a stomach problem due to eating something spicy prior to Game 7, as the club reports, that doesn’t explain him grinding gears last night in the first half against Orlando. Why the sudden energy surge after intermission? I don’t want to know.
Barkley also maintained with a straight face it was a mistake to take the ball out of the hands of Pierce and Allen, leaving Scalabrine and House alone on the perimeter.
That’s right, in Barkley’s bugged-out brain it makes infinitely more sense to ensure Pierce and Allen hoist up all the shots and resulting free throws than having two reserves flick pressure shots.
Naturally, not a dissenting word from the peanut gallery.
As for Rondo, unable to jump and penetrate in usual pogo stick fashion, he manufactured a mere seven points, five rebounds and 11 assists. So much for averaging a triple-double in a seven-game series; no longer do I care if he would’ve been the first or if someone else had done it before. The older I get, the more often I get like this.
