Captain's Thoughts: A Sad End to a Happy Era for Celtics

In what could be the last game of the Big Three Era in Boston, the Celtics fell to the Heat 101-88. It was likely the last time that Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen were all on the same floor on the same team in a meaningful game.

It was a brutally painful end to an enjoyable 5 seasons. So even though the ending wasn't a triumphant one, and there was no ride into the sunset with an 18th NBA Championship trophy in tow, I'd argue that as a whole the story of The Big Three was happy one.

In the Big Three Era, the Celtics won 5 divisional titles, 2 Eastern Conference titles, and an NBA Championship. They won 11 playoff series (they'd won 10 between the 1986 NBA Finals and the start of the Big Three Era). They had a .693 winning percentage and won 273 regular season games. They rekindled the rivalry with LA. They won rings for Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen. And they made sure that the number 34 would one day hang in the rafters of the Garden with the other Celtic greats.

More important than all that, the Big Three Era made the Celtics relevant again. Before, the C's were struggling on the court and were struggling for attention in a town that had Super Bowl and World Series winning teams. The Big Three Era returned the Celtics to prominence in this town. And nationally, Boston was once again a focal point of the Basketball world.

It's been a very special 5 years.

Now, let's talk about Game 7.

The Celtics and Heat were tied 73-73 going into the 4th. The Celtics led 82-81 with 8:00 left in the 4th. Then the Heat went on a rampage and the C's cooled off. They outscored the Celtics 20-6 from that point on. The Heat executed, the Celtics didn't.

The common explanation for this is that the Celtics "had nothing left in the tank." They simply ran out of gas. That may be. And it might be part of the reason Miami was able to pull away so quickly. I'm not quite sure that's the reason, though.

This Celtics team has been very streaky all season, especially with their shooting. Hot for 10 minutes, cold for 10 minutes. They've blown several leads (and built several leads) in the postseason because of this streakiness. They were cold at the end of the 4th last night, but it didn't look much different from previous cold stretches.

And give credit to the Heat for their execution. I hate that I have to do that, but they made the big shots in the 4th last night. They made the momentum swinging plays (example: late in the 2nd Celtics had a chance to go up by 9, Pietrus turned it over, then LeBron dunked to make it a 5 point game). They played better than the Celtics, especially in the clutch.

I'm not calling the Celtics a team of chokers. You can't be both a Choker and a Champion, and you can't be a Choker if you're also the underdog. But the Celtics could have won this series if they played just a little bit better. The effort was there, but not the execution.

Earlier in the series, the Celtics got cold at a key time and let another game get away from them. Game 2, remembered mostly for bad officiating, saw the Celtics up 5 points with 3:00 left in the 4th. And they couldn't hit a shot. Miami took a lead, then the Celtics had to miraculously tie it, hope for LeBron to choke (which he did), and go to OT. Which they eventually lost, thanks in part to the refs. But the C's had that game in their hands, and didn't execute.

And that's fine. The Bruins didn't execute against the Caps. The Patriots didn't execute against the Giants. It happens. I'm not trying to lead an anti-Celtic crusade here. I'm not trying to criticize them or call them losers. It just seems like every time the Celtics lose, there's always an explanation and it never includes the phrase "didn't play well enough to win." It's either the refs, or their age, or health, or injuries, or running out of gas.

It's okay to admit that these guys are human, and that it's tough to execute perfectly for 16 games and win an NBA Championship. If anything, I think it emphasizes how impressive their 2008 title was. The NBA Playoffs are a grind. Only a freak could play their absolute best in every single game.

Anyway, in 10 years we won't remember this game much. We'll remember the players, but not for their shooting percentages in the 4th quarter of this game. We'll remember them for what they did the 5 years they were here. They brought pride back to the Green and White, to the most storied franchise in the NBA, and to Boston.

-The Captain

"Let's do it"

Bring On Miami.

Don't underestimate the "Grit and Balls" of the Celtics

Trade Wade and Bosh?

For Dwight Howard?

I don't think that this will happen, but I'm very intrigued about it. Dwight Howard obviously had a tough year for Orlando with the injury that made him miss the playoffs, and the whole is he staying or leaving talk. But this would be very interesting for both teams. Because for Miami, Wade and LeBron just don't work, it's awkward because they are friends and in transition they are phenomenal. However, they both need the ball to dominate and it just doesn't work. Also, the way the Cap situation is working, they will never be able to sign anyone with Wade/ Bosh/ Lebron using all of their cap money. So if they traded Wade and Bosh for Dwight Howard, they will free up some money even after signing Howard to an extension. Having LeBron and Howard is a better start than Wade/Bosh/Lebron, especially the fact you can sign other players too. Obviously Orlando would do this in a second, because they get a ridiculous return for Howard. No need for rebuilding you get 2 star players.

This series with the Pacers is not over yet, but..... things are looking grim in Miami.

Around The NBA

94 Pacers, 74 Heat
Miami is in big trouble. They are down 2-1 to the Pacers and the next game is at Indiana. The Pacers absolutely throttled the Heat and have been on a tear. Not to look ahead, but I almost rather face the Heat with Bosh, than the Pacers. The Pacers have a great center in Roy Hobbert, who swallowed the Heat last night with 19 points, 18 boards and 5 blocks. The Heat had no answer for him and for David West. The Heat just have nothing left. Unless Lebron and Dwayne Wade score 90 points combined they have no shot. LeBron didn't stink up the joint as much as Dwayne Wade. Wade was non existent he shot 2-13 and had 5 points. The most he did during this game is get into it with Erik Spoelstra. There have already been Wade/Bosh for Howard rumors this morning.

I also found this funny:

105 Spurs, 88 Clippers

The guy they say is the best point guard in the game Chris Paul has been flat out awful this series. He has had a total of 16 points and last night he had 10 points, 5 assists and 8 turnovers. When was the last time you saw our guy in Boston have a game like that......... never. The Spurs look unbeatable, everyone on that team is good. Forget their big 3, the team is complete. And other teams throwaways in Boris Diaw, Danny Green and Stephen Jackson fit in Greg Popovich's scheme perfectly. The Spurs could win the Championship easily.

Wade And LeChoke Let Pacers Even Series

Usually when you have 8 more turnovers than the other team, and have a stretch missing 24 of 29 shots on the road you don't win. Well, the Pacers did in large part to the choke job the LeBron and Wade down the stretch.

James scored 28 points for Miami and Wade finished with 24, though both failed to convert big chances late. James missed two free throws with 54.3 seconds left and Miami down one (tell me you haven't heard that before), Lebron also had a shot blocked by George with 1:22 left, and Wade was short on a layup that would have tied the game with 16 seconds left.

You can fault James and Wade all you want, but when no one on the rest of your team scores more than 5 points it's tough to win. Guys like Mike Miller (0-3, 2 Rebs, 3 TO), and Mario Chalmers (2-10, 5 pts, 3 rebs, 0 asts) have to give them something. Yet, we have been down this road so many times with James that it's hard not to say he just doesn't come through when it matters. It wasn't like he was doubled team, he was at the free throw line with his team down 1 with 54.3 secs to play and choked. If it was a one time thing, I would say "shit happens", but Lebron is literally covered in shit at this point.

Without Bosh the Heat really miss that "other guy" that can score. Also, people don't really give credit that Bosh distributed pretty well from the post. They are going to miss that. I think the Heat will win this series, but just like the Celtics series it's going to be 6 or 7 games.

Around The NBA

89 Knicks, 87 Heat (Miami leads series 3-1)
Carmelo Anthony had to be great for the Knicks to win 1 game against the Knicks and he was. Melo scored 41 big time points to carry the Knicks. Amare Stoudemire came back from the gruesome hand injury he suffered from punching the glass after a game 2 loss. Amare had 20 and 10 in the winning effort. The Knicks won the game, but this series is almost over, especially after Baron Davis suffered this gruesome knee injury:

Also Miami had a chance to win or tie the game at the last second but in typical late game Miami fashion, LeBron didn't want the ball with the game on the line and that forced Dwayne Wade to execute the ugliest last second shot attempt ever. I don't know if that's what Erik Spoelstra drew up, but how you didn't give LeBron the ball in that possession is absurd, Lebron was on fire in the 4th and most importantly hitting his free throws.

92 Lakers, 88 Nuggets (Lakers up 3-1)

This crazy lady made things a little bit more interesting in this series, but the Lakers were able to hold off a surging Nuggets team. But the play that changed this game is when the game was tied at 86 and foreign player Danillo Gallinari ran into Pau Gasol and fell to the ground and acted like he was shot (an obvious flop job) and the ref recognized it and didn't call the foul (rightfully so) and then the Lakers found a wide open Ramon Sessions for 3 because the defense was without another defender because Gallinari was on the ground and Lakers were up 3 and didn't look back.

89 Sixers, 82 Bulls
Philly takes control of this because D Rose and Noah were out. Big whoop they are up 3-1.