Last night you saw one of the best basketball games I have ever seen in my life. The problem is on the very same night we saw some of the worst things about the NBA you will ever see. First, right before the Celtics game starts they had the lottery drawing (more on this in a later post). Before the picks were ever announced I did a quick look down the "most likely to get the #1 pick list", because I knew damn well the Bobcats weren't getting it. Looking down the list I see the Hornets. The team that is owned by the NBA (to be sold soon), hmmm I wonder who will win. Either I'm a God, or the NBA is turning in the WWE, because that's exactly what happened.
Whatever, who gives a fuck. The Celtics are coming on.
Celtics came out hot going up by 15 point at one point. Everything was clicking. Rondo is doing whatever he wants, Pierce hitting his fadeaway, all is well. The Heat rally and are able to close to gap to 7 by halftime. This is worrisome, as the Celtics are the older team and the Heat are starting to gain some confidence.
2nd half starts horribly. Heat score 35 points in the 3rd quarter. It looks like all is lost. Really, at this point I am debating whether or not I should just call it a night and get some sleep. Heat go up by 7 points, KG looks like he might puke, Rondo has played ever minute of the game, yet Rondo gets his legs under him again. It was one of the most amazing playoff performances I have ever seen in my life. Celtics rally...
Celtics are down 3, and Ray Allen ties it with just 34.3 seconds left tied in the 4th. LeBron comes down and misses a layup, but gets his own rebound. It's Rondo vs LeBron one on one. Rondo is yelling at him the entire time. Getting in his head. LeBron gets a somewhat open look, but like so many other times in his career he misses it.
Going into overtime, I still didn't think the Celtics had a chance. Pierce at this point had fouled out on a bullshit call. Rondo scored all 12 of Boston's points in overtime, but it wasn't enough, as the Heat finally pulled away, but this is just where the story starts.
Rondo went in for a layup with 1:33 left in overtime. He gets hit right in the face by Wade, no call from that point on the Heat buried the Celtics. It changed the whole game. Heat got an easy lineup, it was basically a 4 point turnaround. I normally wouldn't say that, but Rondo was hitting everything.
I hate blaming refs, but this game how can't you. Instead of writing a whole thing about how bad it was, let's just do it in list form...
- Celtics attempted 29 free throws, LeBron alone attempted 24.
- The Heat as a team attempted 47 free throws.
- LeBron had 2 fouls called on him all game. Since the Pacers vs Heat series started LeBron has never had more then 2 fouls called on him in any game. Wade also only had 2 called on him.
- Wade hit Rondo in the face no call.
- LeBron has 4 more free throw attempts (24) then field goal attempts (20).
- Celtics F Greg Stiemsma had four fouls in the first quarter, the first NBA player to do that since 2009.
You have to wonder if the comments made before the game, where the Celtics said they were going to put the Heat on the floor had any influence on the game. Listen, I think the Heat are the better team. I think they were going to win this series, but last night the Celtics out played them and they should've won.
Rondo, you are the most confusing player of all-time. I can't figure you out, and I'm done trying. Last night, was one of the most amazing games I have seen any player have. I don't know why you can suddenly hit jump shots, or why free throws aren't that big of a deal for you anymore, or why you can't bring it like this all the time, but I am done criticizing you. You are an enigma, but a great one.
Rondo's final stat line. 53 mins (whole game), 44 points (16-24), 10 asts, 8 rebs. All 12 points in OT.
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