This was a night where I would have much preferred to be relaxing on my couch, as opposed to being stuck here at the office.
Too great playoff games for Chicago teams tonight, one that ended happily and one that ended in disappointment.
How about Joakim Noah? His steal, dunk over Paul Pierce (left) and free throw gave the Bulls the lead for good in a 128-127 epic, triple-overtime thriller at the United Center. Derrick Rose blocked a shot attempt by Rajon Rondo to preserve the lead, and all of a sudden this series is tied 3-3.
I didn't think the Bulls were capable of pushing the Celtics to seven games, but you have to give them full marks. This is one of the best NBA playoff series I've ever seen, if not the best. Never before has a series featured three overtime games. This one has had FOUR. Two single-overtime games, a double-overtime game and now a triple-overtime game.
I'm not the biggest NBA fan or the biggest Bulls fan, but if you can't enjoy this great series, you might as well turn in your sports fan card. The drama has simply been awesome -- great shots by both teams, and also some critical mistakes under pressure. Hard fouls, fights, heroes, villains all kinds of shifts in momentum. You just can't ask for more.
Now, it's back to Boston for a decisive Game 7 on Saturday. It would only be fitting if that game goes overtime as well.
The Blackhawks game was a great one tonight, too, although that one ended in disappointment as the Vancouver Canucks prevailed 5-3 in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals.
The Hawks faced a 3-0 deficit heading into the third period, but they rallied on a pair of goals from Patrick Kane and a game-tying strike from Dave Bolland. Unfortunately, Sami Salo scored with 1:13 left to give Vancouver the lead, and the Canucks added an empty-netter to ice the win.
Game 2 is Saturday night in Vancouver. We'll see how the young Hawks respond as they face their first series deficit of the playoffs.
Great time to be a sports fan in Chicago, huh? You just can't beat this excitement. This is the first time since 1997 that both the Hawks and the Bulls made the playoffs in the same year. No matter the outcome, this has been a joy to watch.
I hope the Celtics win the whole thing this year, and I hope Doc Rivers goes out and say "Never Underestimate the Heart of a Champion" when he talks to the crowd as he carries the trophy around. That's what the Celtics displayed Saturday night. They played like champs. They were tough and resillient. They were never flustered, and that type of character will help them in this year's playoffs. I just thought the Bulls had too many obstacles to battle for Game 7, and that's why losing Game 2 really hurts now.
I felt Boston was a better team because I like their young players that complement Pierce and Allen. Glen Davis had a great series, and I think he is going to be even better. Davis' performance is one reason why I think the Celtics can win at title even without KG. Their bench was great. I thought Scalabrine's leadership through great play in the second quarter got the Celtics going. Remember the Bulls started out well in the first quarter, and it sure looked like it was going to be Chicago's night until Scalabrine saved the day. That was the difference to me. I think the fact everyone on that Celtic team can wear that uniform and feel like they can play just show the fabric of this team.
I have been a critic of Doc Rivers in his first few years, but now I am impressed with the job he has done especially last year. I thought he did his best coaching performance of his career in this series. He got the most out of everyone in that roster for this series, and that even includes Stephon Marbury. I liked how he got the right guys in the lineup during the game. He did a good job of motivating these guys during the tough times. He never flinched. He knew how to use all of his guys, and he got them to perform. He has become an elite coach along with Mike Woodson and Mike Brown. Maybe one day, Vinny Del Negro and Michael Curry can get to that level.
I had a great feeling the Celtics were going to win this game Saturday night because they were at home, and they knew what's it like to be in a win or go home situation with couple of Game 7s against Atlanta and Cleveland last year. Also, I never thought the Bulls were that great. They had couple of good players in Derrick Rose, who had a breakout playoff series against Boston, and Ben Gordon, who was more hot than cold in this series though in Game 7, he stunk for most of the game outside of the first quarter. That's it, and that's the problem. Doug Collins talks about the Bulls being an elite team next year when Game 7 was over, but I disagree with him. They need to dump some players.
Thomas and Noah did okay, but that's the problem. Okay is not good enough for one thing, and those two are inconsistent. I keep hearing about Tyrus Thomas' young talent, but there was a reason why the Timberwolves never even wanted him when the Bulls were interested in getting Garnett. Thomas is just too inconsistent. For every great game he had, you can bet he will have many clunkers. Just where was he in Game 7? This is his third year in the league, and at some point, he either figures out how to be a consistent player or he is just not. To think the Bulls bypass Brandon Roy for Thomas. As for Noah, he is a good role player, but again, he has offensive deficienices, and he is always in foul trouble too often, and you saw that in Game 7. If I am John Paxson, I try to find a sucker that will take those two. Trade them while their value is high because honestly, I don't see any growth on those two.
The only good players on the Bulls are Rose, Hinrich, and Gordon, who is a free agent by the way, and it's hard for me to think Reinsdorf is going to pay Gordon the max, and I don't think Gordon is worth the max player because he is a shooter, and shooters go hot and cold. If Gordon can ever demonstrate that he can score his points from the paint along with shooting from the arc, then yeah I would pay him, but he doesn't so he is not worth that money.
To me, the Bulls are still a mediocre team with this mismatched bunch. I know DSpivack wants to compare this team to the Hawks at WSI, but he is offbase. The Hawks have three players that you can build a team around in Joe Johnson, Josh Smith, and Marvin Williams. The Bulls have one in Rose, and that's it. If the Bulls are serious about contending for a championship next year, they better get Bosh. Also, they need to learn how to be physical and know the concept of playing defense.
I think the Bulls got way too much credit for what they did. They played well in this series, but I also have to wonder how this series would fare if KG was playing. I don't think Bulls' bigs do much in this series if Garnett played.
The better team won in this series, and Orlando is going to find out how tough it's going to be to beat Boston. Cleveland and the Lakers are going to find that out too when Boston plays them.
Or maybe Boston isn't going to play Cleveland or the Lakers. Obviously, they are not championship-caliber without Garnett. The Celtics did well to get by the Bulls and force a long series with Orlando.
I was surprised with the outcome Sunday night.
I thought Orlando was done after Game 5, which they blew a big lead, and then just imploded. Didn't think the Magic had it in them, and I sure didn't expect the Celtics to fall apart or not show up last night at their court.
Cleveland can rest easy now. They should be in the NBA Finals. There is no excuse for them in not being there either with Boston, who I felt was the only team along with the Lakers that can beat them.
If I was surprised with how Orlando was able to win Game 7 at Boston, then think about how stunned and shocked I am about the outcome in the Eastern Conference Finals. At least, I won't be alone with regard to what's going on between Orlando/Cleveland. If anyone thought the Magic were going to win the series, they were full of it. I picked the Cavs to win the Eastern Conference Finals, and then lose to the Lakers in 4 in the NBA Finals.
Lebron will not have to deal with the indignity of getting swept in the NBA Finals for the second time in his career because the Cavs are done. The Magic are leading this series 3-1 after last night's win because the Magic have a better supporting cast than the Cavs. Maybe those that have been witnesses to Lebron should have saw it coming, which includes myself.
Much has been made about how good Mo Williams is, but I can't help but think Mo Williams is Mo Williams. He is not Chris Paul, Derrick Rose, Tony Parker, Devin Harris, Rajon Rondo, and Chauncey Billups. He is in the level of Chris Duhon. He will give you good minutes and score some points on a give night, but that's it. He is not a guy that I would want to rely on in a tight game, and it has been obvious in the Eastern Conference Finals. The fact that he has had a great year is a testament to how great Lebron is and how Lebron makes others better.
The Cavs front line have been exposed as frauds. Look at how Dwight Howard has easily dominated them in this series. Illguaskas and Bulls reject Wallace have seen better days, and after their no-show performance in the NBA Finals couple of years ago, why should things change all of a sudden now?
The Magic have a superior supporting cast. Howard has been playing like a man possessed on both ends of the floor, but it's not just him. Hedo Turkolgu and Rashasd Lewis have shined in this series, and they are good players than the media gives them credit for.
I know one poster at WSI went out of his way to go savage Lebron, but he is missing the point. I thought Lebron played as well as he could. In the NBA, you need a strong supporting cast to win playoff games, which is how Magic and Larry won championships. The only guy that was an exception was Michael, and there won't be another guy like that no matter how good Kobe, Lebron, or any other superstar is.
Danny Ferry sure better come up smart this summer in getting a big time supporting cast, which is something Kevin McHale did in the summer of 2003 with Kevin Garnett being a free agent after the 2003 season. McHale got Spreewell and Cassell for KG to work with, and the Wolves went to the Western Conference Finals in 2004. This is the type of magic Ferry better come up with or Lebron will likely be leaving Cleveland to a team that he can win with.