Just Another Missed Opportunity For The Celtics
BOSTON (CBS) - The injury riddled Celtics could have used the extra days off before the Eastern Conference Finals, but instead now have to play in, as Paul Pierce would say, an "anything can happen" Game 7 Saturday night at the Garden.
In Wednesday's 86-75 Game 6 loss in Philadelphia, the sluggish Celtics were just one run away from sneaking back into the game and stealing it from the 76ers. They trailed by just four points heading into the fourth, but never put it together. The Celtics finishing the night shooting just 33-percent from the floor, and were only close because of their 20-for-23 effort from the free throw line.
It's just another lost opportunity for the Celtics.
Boston never got into any rhythm , and Paul Pierce was really the only Celtic to show up. The captain scored a team-high 24 points, with 13 of those coming from the line. Pierce was in attack-mode all night, but unfortunately none of his other teammates joined him.
Ray Allen showed his age, and then some, going 4-for-11 from the field for nine points in 26 minutes. Brandon Bass, after a huge Game 5, was just 2-for-12 to finish with eight points. Kevin Garnett scored 20 points, but his 9-for-20 shooting from the floor was nearly all from 15-feet or more, and Elton Brand and Lavoy Allen kept him out of the paint for the better part of the evening. Without the ball getting to KG down low, the Celtics weren't able to get any ball movement going, and their offense remained stagnant.
But the biggest blame has to fall on Rajon Rondo, who looked disinterested and out-of-sync all game. Just 4-for-14 from the floor, Rondo finished with nine points, nine rebounds, and six assists. Those assists would have been higher had KG or Bass hit more of their jumpers, but Rondo never established himself on the offensive end. He was even more frustrating on defense, with Jrue Holiday torching him for 20-points. On numerous occasions, Rondo looked like a bull fighter with Holiday blowing right by him to the hoop.
It was a telling sign when the game broadcast showed a shot of Pierce trying to wake Rondo up on the bench between the third and fourth quarter. Despite the Pierce's best efforts, Rondo still looked as though he was sleep-walking through the game's final frame.
While credit has to go to the 76ers, the Celtics did not do themselves any favors. Despite Philadelphia trying to let them back in -- they did miss 11 of their 28 free throws -- the Celtics let those chances slip away with 17 turnovers, which led to 19 points for Philly. The 50-50 plays that had gone Boston's way in the second half of Game 5 went in the 76ers favor this time around, as they showed much more hustle and heart to lose balls and long rebounds.
This Celtics squad is now 10-13 in their first attempt at close-out games, but their inability to end a series has only come back to haunt them on two occasions; the 2009 East Semis against the Magic, and the 2010 NBA Finals against the Lakers. In 2009, the Magic stunned the C's (who were without Kevin Garnett) on the Garden floor as they made their way to the NBA Finals that year. It was the perfect example of an "anything can happen" Game 7.
With two days off, the Celtics will likely come out firing on Saturday and there is a good chance the series ends with a Game 7 blowout. But Boston's inability to close out a series is going to cost them some rest, something they would absolutely need heading into a series against Miami or Indiana.
But then again, if they show up like they did Wednesday night, they will have plenty of time to rest this summer.
