PIERCE OUTDUELS LEBRON, BOSTON MOVES ON

It took the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavilers seven games to finally give us a basketball contest that didn’t hurt our eyes, or think you were watching a NBA game straight out of the 1950’s. But in the end of a brutal, ugly, and boorish game seven series, both teams finally delivered.

Some may argue that after watching the first six games, Boston and Cleveland had better put on a performance worthy of a winner moves on, loser goes home contest. What they gave us was this generation version of “Larry-vs-Dominique “. 

Paul Pierce did more than just single handily lead Boston to the Eastern Conference finals against the Detroit Pistons starting on Tuesday. He saved Ray Allen and Doc Rivers from a summer of torment from fans and media alike. He saved the legacy of Kevin Garnett which would have been damaged severely if the Celtics had lost Sunday. And he temporarily put a halt on the ascension of LeBron James who did everything he could to lead Cleveland to the next round.    

 

 

 

 

Pierce was tremendous from the start. He made a strong commitment to go strong to the hoop, getting to the free throw line 12 times today (with the exception of  game five, Pierce went to the foul line a total of 21 times). He was clutch and consistent in his outside game, draining pull up jumpers from 12-17 feet, and went four of six from the 3 pt line. As Pierce said afterwards, “I had it going, LeBron had it going and we just didn’t let up. Neither one of us wanted our teams to lose.”

This is the Paul Pierce the Celtics are going to need if they’re going to have a chance to defeat Detroit.  As I stated in my comments about Boston before, Pierce is the only player on the team who can consistently get points for himself and others. He is the only player for Boston who commands a double team, and is the only player on the Celtics who can get a decent shot anytime they need one. Who else on this Boston Celtics team do you want to shoot when the offense is breaking down, or when the shot clock in nearing zero? I would listen to the argument of Ray Allen before the playoffs started but after two series played, I don’t know if we’ll see that Ray Allen again this season.

Allen was invisible for most of the series and spent a good part of the fourth quarter in game seven on the bench. The Celtics have no chance, NO CHANCE, if they get a repeat performance from Allen against Detroit. When your best outside shooter shoots 18% from the field, score in single digits in three of the seven games (including zero in game one) and Boston still win the series, consider yourself lucky. The bench play of Eddie House and P.J Brown was critical in energy (House), hustle (House), rebounds (Brown) and timely points scored (Brown) Sunday and they must continue to get contributions from off the bench.

From a Cleveland Cavilers standpoint, this was a series of close but no cigar. They will look back at the golden opportunities missed throughout this battle and wonder what could’ve been.

The chances in game one when it looked like Boston were trying to give Cleveland the victory. The first two games of the series where LeBron shot an incredible 8-42 (including 0-10 from the three point line) from the field.

Sunday, King James finally had the breakout game everyone thought he would have. Using in strength, speed and athleticism, James enforced his will on the game and seemed ready to add another chapter to the LeBron legacy.

 

But instead it was Paul Pierce who won this titanic battle and etched his name into Celtic lore with a performance from the ages. In Celtics history, this game will live long.  

Sunday, King James finally had the breakout game everyone thought he would have. Using in strength, speed and athleticism, James enforced his will on the game and seemed ready to add another chapter to the LeBron legacy.

 

But instead it was Paul Pierce who won this titanic battle and etched his name into Celtic lore with a performance from the ages. In Celtics history, this game will live long.