Sunday, May 04, 2008

Before Game Seven

Good God, I am nervous. The lead up to this game feels a lot like the Pats-Giants Super Bowl. I felt good until right before the game. This feels the same way. I spent the morning diving into the Boston Globe and Atlanta Journal Constitution. Dan Shaughnessy said this game was an "embarrassment." A game that should never have happened, a game that will be forgotten if the Celts win and move deeper into the playoffs; but possibly a game that could morph into a rallying cry for every underdog from here forward. Just as the Yankees - Red Sox 2004 series will forever be a rallying point for teams down 3-0... back to check in at halftime. Kevin Garnett just screamed on the Jumbotron, it nevers get old...hopefully this isnt the last time we see it this season....

First Quarter:
It seems like the refs are not going to get too involved in this game. Game sevens are under a microscope, and the NBA does not need the refs blowing a series for either team. The Hawks are getting to the bucket but not getting the calls. The Celtics owned the glass, but Joe Johnson was allowed to run a little too free and he hit his only three attempts, all from behind the arc. Celts need to keep the pace where it is and make sure Joe Johnson doesnt get hot and carry the Hawks...

Second Quarter:
This game is D-U-N done. There is no way the Hawks come back. The refs are not giving them any fouls going to the hoop, they can't score, and they are not forcing the Celts to miss so they can get out and run. They showed Mike Woodson talking to his team before the game, he told them to "defend, rebound, and get out and run." They have done none of those things, and that is why they might struggle to score 70 points. Their dominance at home today will lead to the constant questions of their Jekyll and Hyde act. If it keeps up can they win the Championship? Only time will tell...

End of Game:
Phew, well the Celts escaped this one. A seven game series against an eight seed is a little embarrassing, however the way they won their home games was unreal. They absolutely dominated game seven. People can talk about how this series should not have gone this far, but it means they are forgetting how good the Celts and Hawks were at home. Personally I don't think the Celts will struggle with the Cavs in the next round, especially on the road. This series was like a great tennis match between two monster servers. Each player managed to hold serve, and the better tennis player held on during the tie-breaker. The Cavs are an outside shooting team without the type of explosiveness that the Hawks had. I understand LeBron can win a series by himself, but the Celts defense is the best in the league, and they will be prepared.
The Celts beat the Hawks all three times they faced them in the regular season. They won by 23 the first game in November, the final two games were competetive though. The Celts won by 10 and 9. So this Hawks team was improving all season.
More to some this week on the Celts and the playoffs...

No comments: