The Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics fans in the crowd needed their sweeping brooms for the fourth game of the first round of the NBA Playoffs. They could take it by the handle and brush injury riddled New York Knickerbockers right off the Madison Square Garden sacred floor.
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| Madison Square Garden |
Game 1: 87-85 Celtics, Knicks
Game 2: 96-93 Celtics, Knicks
Game 3: 113-96 Celtics, Knicks
Game 4: 101 - 89 Celtics, Knicks
The team is finally putting it together like the Vintage Boston Celtics 
of the past there is a team that has the tools to win it all.
of the past there is a team that has the tools to win it all.
The masterful play of the floor general Rajon Rondo as he seemed to orchestrate a masterpiece in front of the fans leaving the Knicks fans to point of rage. From every angle he would hit the rim or pass to the other all-stars on the team. He had been here before, and the playoff fire burned in the first round. In all four games he displayed the skills that should be playoff MVP bound! Celtics game plan of letting him penetrate and dish was the perfect plan that the knicks had no defensive plan to stop, and they didn't. His versatility showed in the four games in game 2 he scored 30 points, in game 3 he pulled down 11 rebounds and in game 3 he also had 20 assists to finish off a triple double in the break out game 3. Rajon Rondo Four Stat Line: 76 points - 29 rebounds - 48 assists
The scoring was put to the test as the fast break was the offensive plays drawn on the chalk board by coach Doc Rivers. Every play seemed to be up the court in seconds with alley-oops, layups, short jumpers and dunks slamming the rim it was a field day for Paul Pierce. The love of the ball has always been Paul's passion. Give him the rock and let him us his skills to find the rim. Chauncey Billups hurt allowed a little freedom and a little freedom was all it took and in game 3 it was really apparent with a 38 point night.Paul Pierce Four Game Stat Line: 89 points - 17 rebounds - 10 assists
Wait a minute! Not all the scoring came from the classic layup or the thunder dunk. Ray Allen had to get his points. Ray does what he has done in the past and that's find the 3 point line and bombs away. Carmelo Anthony having to literally play all defensive positions he could not find the time to get out to the perimeter where Ray feeds his passion for the 3 point shot. Let the ball come to him and he will light up the scoreboard. In game game 3 (seems like a trend) he shot 8-11 from three point range and scored 32 for the game. He ended the series with 88 points one point from the Celtics leader Pierce with 89 points. Ray Allen Four Game Stat Line: 88 points - 18 rebounds - 9 assists
Kevin Garnett, the man in the middle with the wingspan of a condor had his days in the paint. The paint was green in the eyes of Kevin Garnett, because he owed it averaging over 10 rebounds a game. The Knicks offense had to find a different route to the basket because the green in the paint wanted to swat a block on every possession! With all the attention on the guards Garnett was able to use his defensive skills to get the ball to the outlet man Rajon Rondo to let the magic happen. Great teams in the past, even the Bulls with Dennis Rodman, had great rebounders. In there last championship run we saw some hobbling from an injury to the big man in this series it was the Knicks that were hobbled Amare' Stoudemire had an ailing back due to spasms and Garnett took advantage of the situation and helps his team by banging the boards. Kevin Garnett Four Game Stat Line: 62 points - 45 rebounds - 14 assists
The center position was supposed to be the "Big Aristotle" Shaquille O'Neal's spot but injuries bled over the the other bench and bit Shaq. So, Doc Rivers had to go to the center by committee approach. Jermaine O'Neal and Glen "Baby" Davis filled in for him "Nicely". There roles were limited due to the skill sets of each player and the all-stars they were playing with on each given night. They held their own and contributed to the overall sweep of the Knicks by adding to the stat line and giving a spark when needed. When Jermaine sprained his wrist in game 2 Davis filled in the gaps and with his size we always knew he could.
Jermaine O'Neal Four Game Stat Line: 22 points - 16 rebounds - 4 assists
Glen Davis Four Game Stat Line: 26 points - 20 rebounds - 4 assists
The bench had little to do since the starters were mostly healthy. I guess rest for the next round is what they needed because there is a next round. Most of the minutes went to Jeff Green and Delonte West allowing the fowards and guards to save their legs. Well game 3 had its down time to let the bench get some playoff minutes to pad their lifetime stats. Both players did average over 13 minutes a game and saw some brilliance form both of them. 
Jeff Green Four Game Stat Line: 24 points - 14 rebounds - 0 assists
Delonte West Four Game Stat Line: 8 points - 8 rebounds - 5 assists
The team has its eye on the ball on top of that trophy that back from the Los Angeles Lakers. Is there a more rivaled NBA storyline than the Celtics vs Lakers and who is the best franchise in NBA history? The green and the luck of the Irish is flowing this year.
