The Celtics had significant offensive and defensive contributions from 9 players in Game 4. Rajon Rondo had only 3 assists and the Celtics still found a way to win. The Celtics made 3 three pointers in the entire game and still found a way to win. The Celtics picked up two technical fouls in the fourth quarter and still found a way to win. Kobe Bryant hit some incredible shots (including 6 three pointers) and the Celtics still found a way to win. The Celtics had to look at Pau Gasol's pathetic neck beard for 48 minutes and they still found a way to win.
Eight different players had at least one offensive rebound for the Celtics. The lineup of Nate Robinson, Tony Allen, Ray Allen, Rasheed Wallace, and Glen Davis absolutely carried the Celtics in the fourth quarter. Read that sentence again, it wasn't a typo. Glen Davis played with desire and took the ball into the body of taller defenders time after time. Watching Pierce, Garnett, and Rondo cheer those guys on from the bench was a thing of beauty. When you have future Hall of Famers cheering you on from the bench, its got to inspire you to play hard. Pierce, Garnett, and Rondo came back into the game with an eight point lead and less than three minutes left to play. Pierce scored seven points in the final minutes to close out the game.
Doc Rivers deserves a lot of credit for his substitutions in Game 4. He made sure that Rondo and KG got a lot of rest in the first half. He trusted his bench players and wasn't afraid to stick with them even when the game was on the line.
Down six with 40 seconds to go, Kobe threw the ball away and Rondo hit a layup to seal the game. You've gotta practice passing to make those clutch passes Kobe.
Once again, I think that the way that the bench played tonight absolutely reflects the leadership of the Celtics. Kevin Garnett demands every player to play the game with intensity on both ends of the court. Ray Allen demands every player keep his composure and is quick to correct them if they don't. Paul Pierce demands every player to play above and beyond their athletic capability.
My dad summed it up well, "This was the kind of game you have to win if you want to be a champion."
Ten Fast Final Facts
ReplyDelete1. It’s going to take a while for me to get over the fact that the Celtics were on the brink of elimination and were rescued by . . . drum roll --- Big Baby and Nate (sounds like a cartoon series). And not by one or two plays they made, but by a stretch run of good plays. Magic went into convulsions after the game over this.
2. This series has now reached the level of a war. The last three games have been decided in the last five minutes. As the series moves into the final three games (and I don’t think there’s anyone who doesn’t think this is going seven), it’s attrition time and will come down to who wants it the most and who can get it done in the fourth quarter.
2. The Lakers need Bynum. Without him Odum starts and they have absolutely no push from the bench (sorry Sasha, Shannon, Jordan, & Luke Walton).
3. The Lakers are a different defensive team in the paint without Bynum. Gasol and Odom are not known for their defense. These last two points being so, I can’t believe he won’t play Sunday night. The Celts must be ready to push, push, push the ball when he is in the game to make him run the court. I don’t believe he can do this enough to be effective.
4. Kobe and Gasol are going to get their points. Hopefully Pierce is over the hump and Ray is getting there. They need to be joined by Garnett in talking to Rondo and telling him to drive the ball and quit worrying about getting fouled and missing the free throws. We can live with the misses a lot more than we can live with a passive Rondo. Rondo’s spectacularly on and then disappearing style of play are bringing back memories of Tony Parker destroying people in the early rounds of the playoffs in 2003 and then disappearing in the Finals to such an extent that Speedy Claxton was in at crunch time. I love the energy Nate brings but he’s not the guy to be out there 30+ minutes.
5. Perkins and Wallace are both now just one T from a one game suspension --- how big is that??? Also, the way this series has been officiated could their status be any more iffy??? Normally I’m all for rules enforcing self-control but this is a bad rule --- it punishes players on teams that make extended playoff runs. The T count should be lower and start with each series.
6. Big Baby has to come up with some other celebratory move that the “primal scream & slobber.” It makes his dance moves look good (not an easy thing to do).
7. If the Celtics win, they get the trophy, Gasol has to shave his beard and Kobe has to get fitted for lenses to correct his staring problem.
8. It’s absolutely time to give Doc Rivers his kudos for coaching. The playoff run of the Celtics has attested to this. Sure he has a team of veterans, but they haven’t always played well and he has consistently found a way to get the most out of the team. He appears to coach intuitively so you don’t always understand what he’s doing but you can’t argue with the results.
9. The reason for the nickname “Trick or Treat Tony” needs to be revised. It’s no longer his offense may be good or bad --- it’s been generally bad. Even last night when he did a few positive things they were countered by an unbelievably bad three point shot at a critical time. However, his defense is a treat as he has been as effective as anyone on Kobe.
10. Best quote of the series, “We’re like Shrek and Donkey. You can’t separate us.” Nate Robinson on his relationship w/Big Baby. Nate and BB hanging out after the game --- I hope someone is smart enough to make sure they have chaperones.