Celtics Title Town

There are so many things to say about tonight's "closeout game" that turned into a Celtics yard sale.   Lebron played a beautiful game.  That's for sure.  Rondo played a beautiful half game, proving once again that he is for real.  The kid is a star.  He's one summer's hard work on shooting away from being a true superstar.

 The fans at the Boston Garden - wow.   Wow.   The way a third of the audience stayed till the bitter end, and then gathered around the court chanting for the team - that literally brought tears to my eyes.  I will always treasure that moment, even though I only saw it on tv.  It was such a heartfelt tribute to a team that has brought us five incredible years.  I don't think anyone seriously thinks we will win in Miami.  I mean, for us to win there is not beyond the realm of possibility, but it's highly unlikely.   So that was really our goodbye to the Big Three era, wasn't it?   It gave me chills.  It was such a special moment, such an emotional moment.

So much for the nice things.  What can one possibly say that's nice about this team coming out flat and lethargic for a THIRD time this season for a closeout game?  How many times this season have we seen this?  How many times have we seen this team look like one of those pickup teams one sees at the Y, where four old guys have somehow managed to persuade a hot shot kid to play on their team and give them a last shot at playground glory?  I think someone described the Celtics that way on twitter, very aptly.  I swear to God, if I see Garnett go off one more time against people who call him and the Big Three old, when in fact they ARE old, and when in fact they DO PLAY LIKE THEY ARE OLD, I will really crap myself.  I'm sick of it.  How does a team come out with their heads in a foggy miasma THREE TIMES for closeout games?

That the Celtics would play such a pathetic game is insulting enough.  Then to try to pass it off when challenged on this by the press, after the game,  makes it even more insulting.  Do they think we are totally stupid?   We saw them come out without energy.  We saw them miss shot after shot.  We saw them not moving on offense.  We saw them playing lethargically on defense.  One intrepid reporter asked during the press conference where the "balls and grit" were, by chance.  I think it was Ray who faced that question.  He tried to pass it off.  How do you pass off pissing all over THREE closeout opportunities in three playoff series?  

But what was more frustrating than anything was the second half.  After all, I get it that this team is old, beat up and tired.  They just didn't have it.  They wanted a rest more than they wanted a win.  That's cool.  It's understandable.   Paul has been playing on a messed up knee.   Ray has been playing on pain-racked ankles.  KG is that hip problem.   It's perfectly understandable that they just couldn't reach down and find that umpteenth wind tonight.  

BUT WHY DOES THE GAME PLAN FOR THE SECOND HALF INVOLVE TAKING THE BALL OUT OF THE HANDS OF OUR BRILLIANT YOUNG STAR WHO WAS HAVING A BRILLIANT GAME, AND FORCING THE OFFENSE THROUGH THE HANDS OF PAUL PIERCE, WHO WAS HAVING A TERRIBLE GAME?   Rondo is getting his head ripped off for the five turnovers in the first half.  Geez, at least he was trying to make something happen.  That's what we surely wanted him to do.    He didn't lay down like the rest of the team seemed to do.  He fought like a warrior ... until Doc took the game out of his hands and put it into the hands of the Diva of  Divas, Paul Pierce.

I couldn't believe my lying eyes when they told me that, yes, they are going to feature Paul all second half, shutting down Rondo.  So this is the coach that everyone says is so so brilliant?  Once again, in the key moment, Doc chooses to pander to the Big Three.   Smarm Master Doc  emerged triumphant 

Wow.   Just wow.

Grumpy, Gimpy and Grampy got their way, I guess.    And to think that we continue to hear that Rondo is so LUCKY to be playing with three HOFers.  Just like that kid as the playground playing with the four old guys.  He should thank his lucky stars.