It is true that Game 7s are among the most entertaining events in all of sports-especially as the stakes rise. With a trip to the NBA Finals on the line, the Evil Empire Heat and the Celtics will face off in Miami tonight. Even with six games in the books, there are a number of questions that remain heading into this game.
-Will the LeBron James that went absolutely ballistic in Game 6 show up? Or will the LeBron that folded like a cheap tent against the Celtics in the 2010 playoffs and disappeared for large portions of last years’ NBA Finals be more present/
-Will the Celtics stick with the strategy of double teaming Dwayne Wade and letting LeBron get his?
-How many fairweather, poor form, punk Heat fans will actually be present for the full 48 minutes?
-Does Rajon Rondo have another superstar making performance in him? Do the old guys have one more bucket to dip in the well? They’ll need it.
I think a lot of folks think that the Celtics are toast after LeBron eviscerated them in Game 6. They’re old, they’ve won a ring, and it’s very possibly the last hurrah for this group. This a proud, tough team, and it’s all hands on deck. Minutes counts go out the window in Game 7. There’s time to rest in July.
I’ll be popping in and out throughout the night to update the post with terribly biased observations and jokes at the expense of Chris Bosh’s manhood. Join me in the comments.
(Pic via)
8:30- I’m already two cocktails in, and almost puked when they talked about how ‘seriously’ LeBron is taking Game 7. It’s his job. He’s the league MVP. I’m supposed to be impressed that he’s taking this seriously? ESPN wants you to be impressed that LeBron hasn’t wet the bed since his childhood, essentially.
8:40- What’s funny is that, regardless of who wins tonight, I’ll be rooting for OKC in the Finals. Oh, the Miami crowd is fired up! Proves there really is a first for everything.
8:44- Wade and Garnett both get quick fouls. It’s worth watching to see if they call this thing tight early to keep it from getting chippy. Because it will get chippy.
8:52- So far, Boston hasn’t done much in the way of doubling at all. At some point, they will. They’ll throw the zone out there as well. Hell, Doc Rivers might throw a shoe at LeBron to slow him down if he has to.
8:54- Chris Bosh checks in to the loudest cheer he’s gotten since his appearance on the finale of Rupal’s Drag Race.
9:05- I see the ‘Stand-up and Cheer’ sign has been turned on for the benefit of the Heat fans.
9:08- A whole lot of folks will beat themselves off over that LeBron block, even though he also kneed Rondo in the back.
9:09- End of Q1-Boston 27-Miami 23. Boston has to be thrilled-they took what was likely Miami’s best shot between now and the 4th, and have a 4 point lead. LeBron has been very aggressive, but the Celtics are being more physical with him and making life harder. LeBron also did some chirping at the ref on his way off the floor, but I could say that during a blowout in January and nobody would be surprised.
9:24- I don’t know how to say this clearly enough but: That 3rd foul on Garnett was a real stretch. Every big man in the league does that move on the block with the ball in hand. Interesting time to call it.
9:31- If you’d told me before the game that Brandon Bass was going to be key for the Celtics tonight, I would have asked you what happened to the other four starters. But, hey, good for him-he’s always been a solid guy.
9:34-Brandon Bass is EVERYWHERE! The Heat just called timeout so Erik Spolestra could grab a program and figure out who this guy is.
9:37- Unrelated, but-that Total Recall reboot? Really? Call me when you remake Point Break.
9:39- An MC Hammer reference? Someone PLEASE give Jeff Van Gundy a coaching job. Please.
9:44- Pretty play by LeBron and Wade, but any other guy in the league gets a HUGE T for that little hang-and-kick routine on the rim that James just did.
9:47- I switch to Fox Saturday Night Baseball for a minute during the break, and now that the Indians-Cardinals game is over, I’m greeted by Joe Buck. Fuck you, sports karma. Fuck you.
9:52- Halftime- Boston 53-Miami 46. Doc Rivers has to be thrilled. He barely had Garnett in the 1st half, and they extended the lead while he was out. Pietrus has clearly been the most effective defender on James this entire series. Expect to see more of him in the 2nd half. The Heat are far from out of this-they can score in bunches, and they still have the best two players on the floor at any given time. It will be interesting to see the last round of adjustments-it’s no secret that Doc Rivers is the better coach. A lot of moving parts, indeed. If Boston leads into the 4th quarter, the Heat’s reaction-especially LeBron’s, will be very interesting to watch.
10:06- Funky start so far to the second half. Both teams look disjointed. Battier hits another 3. Someone might oughta put a hand in his face…
10:12- I’ll go ahead and say it-the Celtics are in better shape without Garnett on the floor right now.
10:14- Give this to the Heat fans in the stands right now-there’s not a better group of front runners in the league.
10:19- The zone was destined to appear at some point tonight. Also, if you let Mario Chalmers get to the rim, ever, you deserve to lose. I’d be shocked if there were 10 other teams in the league he could start for.
10:27- Right now, Boston seems to have no answers on offense. or on the boards. Rondo’s going to have to start finding ways to probe the lane.
10:31- Rondo hits a 15-footer and a three. Somewhere in his head, he’s Don Cheadle’s character at the end of the scene from Oceans Eleven where the booby trapped cop car blows up, running away going ‘They weren’t expecting that shit’ while laughing like a child.
10:33- End of 3-Tied at 73. Considering we’ve had multiple OT games in this series, it is only fitting that Game 7 will come down to the last 12 minutes. For Boston, this is probably all they could hope for. On the road-tied with a chance to take it in the last 12 minutes.
10:36- Erik Spolestra’s end of 3Q speech ‘manage your emotions, stay in the moment’ is this a Game 7 or a high school graduation? Jesus.
10:38- Ryan Hollins is afraid of the basketball. Positively terrified.
10:41- An extremely aggressive drive for a 3-point-play by LeBron. Boston has to make him work harder than that. Allen’s answer confuses the crowd. Apparently, that wasn’t supposed to happen.
10:47- Small tangent: I get that LeBron is the most exciting player in the league. He’s a freak of nature, etc. But ESPN, Jeff Van Gundy, etc have hitched their wagon so tightly to him that it’s kind of gross. If it was possible for a cable network to be a Stage 5 clinger, it would be ESPN on LeBron.
10:51- If you’d told me before this that Chris Bosh would have three 3-pointers in the playoffs, let alone tonight, I’d have expected to own your car by midnight. Boston is in serious trouble right now. They don’t have the firepower to answer this. I think they need to bring in Pietrus and go small. Chris Bosh isn’t going to go into the post, so fuck it. Put Pietrus on LeBron and let Bass handle Bosh.
10:59- Or, Boston could make -0- line-up changes, and the Heat immediately put a foot on their throat. It’s doubtful that Boston has the firepower to come back at this point.
11:02- That one probably did it. Wade bounces off of Bass, flings himself backward while shooting, and makes the shot. Allen misses a three. Ball game.
11:04- I could sit here and say some things about how impressively the Heat attacked in the fourth quarter, but I don’t want to. I could say terrible things about LeBron, but who cares? It’s no secret what I think. So, we’ll get the match-up the NBA wants-Miami-OKC. It will be entertaining, b/c OKC has something that neither Boston nor Miami has-legitimate, ass-kicking size and length. Miami won’t be able to sit back off of Russell Westbrook the way they did to Rondo this whole series, and the driving lanes will undoubtedly be fewer and farther between.
